Based loosely on the Kafka play The Trial, the Unicorn Theatre’s production of The Trial of Josie K – now a 12-year-old girl played by Nkhanise Phiri – retains the surrealism of the original but gives it a setting suitable for children aged 9-13.
‘It’s the performances that make this Christmas show shine’: PINOCCHIO – Unicorn Theatre
The use of fairytale, music and the goodie/baddie dichotomy remain in Pinocchio at the Unicorn Theatre, but the eggy, set gags and joke routines of panto are thankfully left out. Colourful, detailed design (by Jean Chan) and puppetry (by Chris Pirie) give the show a festive lushness, but it’s the performances that make this Christmas show shine.
From online festivals to streaming platforms, here’s a digital theatre catch-up to lift your spirits
Welcome to our first 2021 round-up of digital shows available for you to watch in the next few weeks.
From large-scale musicals to Zoom experiences, student showcases to the Bard, film and comedy, children’s theatre to audio pieces, storytelling to…
‘Engaging but not without their darker side’: Paper Aeroplane / Clever Cakes / The Twits (Online review)
Three of London’s most prolific children’s theatres make the OnComm Award finalist’s list.
‘The key to the show’s success is its simplicity’: The Polar Bears Go Up – Unicorn Theatre (Online review)
The Polar Bears Go Up sees the Polar Bears off on an adventure to rescue a balloon, utilising multiple inventive methods of transport to climb higher and higher until, eventually, they end up in space.
‘Cuts to the heart of what it is to have a voice’: CINNA – Unicorn Theatre
I, Cinna is a small masterpiece of unshowy writing and performance that is some of the best small-scale theatre of its time, equally satisfying to audiences of young people and adults.
‘Misses the mark’: DIDO – Unicorn Theatre
I was brimming with excitement to see how the Unicorn Theatre would reframe Dido and Aeneas, as they’re usually so successful in fulfilling their aim to produce inspiring and invigorating work for young audiences, but the power and emotion of the score doesn’t really come across.
‘Not clear exactly who this production is for’: DIDO – Unicorn Theatre
Dido attempts to make opera accessible to young people, but it hasn’t gone far enough to create a vibrant, engaging story for adults or children.
‘Deceptively simple & wonderfully surprising’: THE SHOW IN WHICH HOPEFULLY NOTHING HAPPENS – Unicorn Theatre
The Show In Which Hopefully Nothing Happens is a deceptively simple and wonderfully surprising little show for little ones, but grownups, particularly those with a penchant for the strange and self-referential will find this an utter delight that reminds us to find the joy in the day-to-day.
‘A first-rate piece of children’s theatre’: ICARUS – Unicorn Theatre
A first-rate piece of children’s theatre, this retelling of the familiar myth Icarus (by playwright Katrin Lange, directed by Cressida Brown) challenges a young audience to reflect on whether to believe everything they’re told.
‘Some of the best of this year show anger, fear, uncertainty’: Top Ten productions of 2018
Growing global discontent has been the hallmark of 2018, and 2019 is looking even worse. The last few years have marked a rise of the far-right, but theatremakers in opposition are letting audiences know it from the stage. Some of the best shows of this year show anger, fear, uncertainty or simply let the world know that enough is enough – it’s time for a fairer, more peaceful society that pays homage to all of its people.
‘A rollercoaster of scares, laughs & moments of pathos’: PHILIP PULLMAN’S GRIMM TALES – Unicorn Theatre
In short, Philip Pullman’s Grimm Tales is a fine Christmas show for all the family – but don’t be surprised if you have some questions to answer afterwards!
‘Great chemistry between the two actors’: THE END OF EDDY – Unicorn Theatre
The End of Eddy, starring Alex Austin and Kwaku Mills (in his professional debut) star in this tale of growing up poor, an outsider in a rural France.
‘This is what children’s theatre can & should be’: BEGINNERS – Unicorn Theatre
Whimsical design, innovative dramaturgical devices and an unwilling to patronise young people with obvious storytelling combine to create Beginners, a marvellous and thoughtful piece of theatre for all ages.
‘Performances are winning, script charming’: OTHELLO — Unicorn Theatre
It’s hard to know how to reframe the complexities of envy and irrational hate in youthful terms for Othello at the Union Theatre, but though Cornelissen doesn’t always quite manage it, the result still offers an intelligent take on the classic story.
NEWS: Unicorn Theatre appoints Justin Audibert as new artistic director
The Unicorn Theatre has announced the appointment of Justin Audibert as the company’s new Artistic Director. Justin will take up the position in summer 2018, taking over from Purni Morell who steps down as Artistic Director this spring after nearly seven years in the role.
BEOWULF – Unicorn Theatre
Two walls of Marshall amps sit either side of gleaming trusses. A DJ booth manned by a black-clad figure sports a banner for a place called Heorot. Smoke seeps through vents in the floor and a woman in goth metal dress prowls the stage.
LAIKA – Unicorn Theatre
Sami and his mum are preparing for her to go to Mars for years and years and years. Both obsessed with space, Sami’s proud of her but worried that he might never see her again.
NEWS: Justin Audibert directs new Beowulf for young people at Unicorn
Justin Audibert directs Debbie Korley as the brave, bold and charismatic Beowulf in Chris Thorpe’s searing new version of this ancient, epic masterpiece opening in October.
THE MAN WHO KNOWS IT ALL – Unicorn Theatre
Understated clowning, public failure and live music create a metatheatrical world of mediocrity that is meant to be challenged. A musician supports a showman that claims to know it all, but who really can only partially list items in categories like ‘colours’ and ‘weather’, and bungles up counting in several languages.
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