London gets its own pop-up, zero waste theatre in The Greenhouse, whose season begins with To the Ocean, a modern version of a classic myth. The Greenhouse It was the concept of the theatre that first drew me in. The Greenhouse is the UK’s first zero waste performance space. This means in practice that it […]
Nicholas Hytner’s take on the classic Broadway musical Guys & Dolls sees innovative staging and great performances combine into an unforgettable evening. Back At The Bridge It’s been a while since I’ve been at the Bridge Theatre. During the pandemic it was an absolute lifesaver: within walking distance from me at the time, and one […]
Tim Minchin and Danny Rubin take on beloved 90s film Groundhog Day in a return of their musical version at the Old Vic. Funny, heartfelt and endlessly rewatchable, I may like it better than the original. Groundhog Day Who among us has not seen the 1993 film Groundhog Day, in which Bill Murray plays grouchy […]
Don’t come if you’re in a hurry, but for those with some time up their sleeves, Isaac Julien: What Freedom is to Me is a stylish and thought-provoking, immersive experience. Isaac Julien I’m coming around a little to film-based art. When I was younger and less patient, I resented the demand on my time. Because, […]
Mark Povinelli brings an overlooked figure from history to life in the world premiere of The Return of Benjamin Lay. Just Who Is Benjamin Lay? I don’t recall having been previously to a play co-written with a historian. For me, a historian myself, this was a definite draw. The Return of Benjamin Lay is currently […]
A large-scale exhibition on modern art at the National Gallery, After Impressionism has some lovely works to offer, but slotted into a narrative that plays it rather safe. And where are the women? A Popular Subject, A Popular Exhibition This is perhaps my own fault: I went on a Saturday afternoon. Please somebody stop me […]
In its UK premiere at London’s Park Theatre, Paper Cut explores love, injury and disability as a young soldier returns home from Afghanistan. Paper Cut “It’s just a paper cut,” Kyle is heard to remark on a number of occasions. Deflectionary humour, its aim to create distance, to close down the subject. Because it wasn’t […]
Something of a marmite production, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! uses all the tricks in the book plus some new ones to shake up this classic musical. Oklahoma! I do like approaching productions from a place of determined ignorance. Sometimes (like my annual outings to A Christmas Carol) I know the plot of the thing I’m […]
A play for anyone, cast live on stage, Out Last First is a universal love story and a lesson in inclusive theatre-making. Our Last First Our Last First began, as did so many things (including the relaunch of this blog) as a lockdown project. During a socially distanced walk an idea was born in the […]
The placement of this exhibition of art by Ai Weiwei in London’s Design Museum prompts us to think about the meanings of art and objects. Ai Weiwei: Making Sense adds ever more layers onto the work of this most famous of Chinese contemporary artists. Ai Weiwei: Making Sense It’s been a while since I’ve ventured […]
