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 […]
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 […]
A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the ultimate pastoral production by sustainable touring company The Handlebards. The Handlebards: Taking Shakespeare Back To Its Roots The thing about Shakespeare is… well there are a lot of things about Shakespeare. His mastery of language. The timeless themes. The complex characters. And the fact that some of his plays […]
A thought-provoking new play about nostalgia, technology and loneliness, Ned is on at Theatre Peckham as part of Peckham Fringe, 30-31 May only. Ned Have you found yourself wondering, recently, whether a computer might take your job? Joked about it with friends or colleagues? Felt left behind by technology? A bit of a Luddite? Afraid? […]
Ryan Calais Cameron shows off his playwriting range in Retrograde, the story of a young Sidney Poitier faced with a difficult decision. Retrograde If I haven’t kept up with Ryan Calais Cameron’s recent work, it’s only due to overcommitment to evening outings on the part of the Salterton Arts Review. I saw an earlier play, […]
An energetic and uplifting musical treatment of 2001 novel The Secret Life of Bees is all about the musical numbers and the talented cast. The Secret Life Of Bees I snuck in just before the end of the Almeida run of The Secret Life of Bees. Based on a 2001 novel by Sue Monk Kidd, […]
A new play at the Arcola Theatre, The Misandrist is an edgy tale of sexual discovery. Don’t bring your mum. Warning: some content and links very NSFW. The Misandrist I was very curious about The Misandrist. A two-hander, it is billed as “a penetrating new play”. With pegging, no less. But how would this work […]
A lyrical journey through London and beyond, Jan Noble takes a tragedy as his starting point to create something beautiful in Body 115. The Story Of Body 115 I first noticed the memorial plaque a few years ago, on a wall at King’s Cross Station. It references a tragedy which occurred on 18 November 1987. […]
