This much-lauded return of one of Frederic, Lord Leighton’s final RA submissions is not quite as exciting as intended. Perhaps best to see it in Puerto Rico where it’s the star of the show? Flaming June It’s not normally the Royal Academy I come to for small, free exhibitions. The National Gallery is a more […]
Sadie Clark’s Algorithms is a relatable, hilarious, Queer rom-com for the modern age. Algorithms “A bisexual Bridget Jones for the online generation”. That’s what Algorithms is billed as, and what it more than lives up to. Sadie Clark writes and performs as Brooke: almost thirty, a hopeless romantic, and working at dating app start-up Slide […]
The Playground Theatre sees the world premiere of Agathe, a look at the real life events leading up to the assassination of Rwandan head of state Agathe Uwilingiyimana. Content warning: discussion of violence, murder and genocide. Agathe There can be few things more inspirational and more harrowing on the London stage right now. Agathe, a […]
Shaun Blaney explores d/Deafness and zombies in an energetic new play, Deaf as a Post, at Barons Court Theatre. Deaf as a Post It’s certainly ambitious. To stage a dystopian, zombie sci-fi story, in a pub theatre, with a cast of three, in a little over an hour. Then add in making it a metaphor […]
Love Steps is the lyrical, inspiring playwriting debut from Anastasia Osei-Kuffour. Through words, movement and music it explores the steps to finding, and keeping, love. Love Steps I feel like I’m rather getting into choreopoems at this stage. We’ve seen a couple before on the blog. The original one was for colored girls who have […]
Despite some impressive physical theatre techniques, Flabbergast’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream fails to cast a spell at Wilton’s Music Hall. A Midsummer Night’s Dream I know A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of the most frequently performed of Shakespeare’s plays, but I do enjoy it nonetheless. I like its rambunctious energy, its humour, and the […]
Sammy Trotman bares all in That’s Not My Name, a frank look at labels vs. lived experience in mental health. Content warning: contains discussion of mental health and mental health diagnosis and treatment. That’s Not My Name “75 minutes of ‘complete carnage’ in the form of stand-up, sketch and musical comedy speaking to the insanity […]
A darkly comic monologue, Sarah Richardson’s Sun Bear is a reminder that perspective is everything. One person’s c-word might be someone else’s survivor, supporter or friend. Content warning: contains discussion of abusive relationships. Resources for anyone affected can be found here. Sun Bear A sun bear, so the freesheet tells us, is “a small bear […]
A series of painstakingly constructed sketches reveals much about the nature of the artist in Frank Auerbach. The Charcoal Heads at the Courtauld Gallery. Frank Auerbach. The Charcoal Heads It’s fascinating sometimes how much you can glean from a few simple works. In this case a series of charcoal sketches, completed by Frank Auerbach in […]
The Hayward Gallery’s current exhibition, When Forms Come Alive, is visually impressive. But does it do the artists and artworks a disservice by not going beneath the surface? When Forms Come Alive There is no doubting that this is an aesthetically pleasing exhibition. Instagrammable, even. From the first space you enter, where soft, organic forms […]
