Antic Disposition specialises in “presenting innovative interpretations of classic plays.....in historic buildings and unusual non-theatre spaces”. Since Christmas 2012 the company has presented its adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in the mid-16th century Middle Temple Hall in the City of London. This spectacular venue, in which Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night was first staged, adapts splendidly to Dickens’ tale, almost as if it were made for it, and one reason, one hesitates to say … [Read more...]
Mother Goose Starring Ian McKellen and John Bishop
A friend of mine posted on Facebook for all to see earlier this week: ... "we saw Mother Goose in Brighton....amazing cast of brilliant talent.....such a good show, so funny... honestly best panto I have ever seen ... EVER... do go if you can, totally wonderful!". So who am I to disagree!! Why is it so good? Firstly, and perhaps unusually for a pantomime, the script by Jonathan Harvey is very, very witty and clever. Clever, because young people (ie children!) can get a lot out of it as … [Read more...]
Handel’s Messiah: The Live Experience – Theatre Royal Drury Lane
This performance of Messiah promised to “immerse audiences in a powerful and theatrical new setting....... imaginative lighting design, visual effects, choreography and staging”. In the programme, the conductor, Gregory Batsleer says that in 2022 “classical music is regarded as dull and stuffy..... this isn’t about dumbing down”. For this particular performance, the eighty-strong London Symphony Chorus was seated raked upstage on Drury Lane’s stage, not an ideal venue for a choir as much … [Read more...]
12:37 at Finborough Theatre
I have seen some outstanding acting recently at the intimate Finborough Theatre, and this new play is no exception. The highly talented cast quickly and skilfully draws the audience in so that we feel fully involved in the epic tale they are unfolding. The story of 12:37 begins in 1935 in Ireland where two Irish Jewish brothers are forced to leave and move to England. We follow their lives and loves during World War Two ending in Palestine in 1946 and the creation of the state of Israel … [Read more...]
The Lavender Hill Mob at Brighton Theatre Royal
Phil Porter’s new play, following The Boy With Two Hearts, is an adaptation of the 1951 Ealing Studios’ film of the same name which starred Alec Guinness as lowly paid bank clerk Henry Holland, who contrives to steal a van load of gold bullion and turn it into models of the Eiffel Tower with the help of Alfred Pendlebury (Stanley Holloway). The excellent programme notes state that “the Ealing view of Britain was a nation of individualists... cheerful good-natured people... that tolerated … [Read more...]
Come Bargain With Uncanny Things at COLAB Tavern
Southwark’s Colab Tavern specialises in presenting 'immersive' and 'interactive' theatre where the audience does not just hear and see the production, it actively takes part. Its mission is to “put audiences centre stage in fantastical worlds that allow them to tell the story for themselves”. The venue says that its shows are accessible to all, which is not quite true owing to the presence of unlit steps in the venue, which, at times, everyone has to use. Come Bargain With Uncanny Things is … [Read more...]
An Inspector Calls – at Theatre Royal Brighton
It is now 30 years since Stephen Daldry decided to make his National Theatre directing debut with J B Priestley’s 1945 'time' play An Inspector Calls. This landmark production of what was considered then to be a dated piece of theatre is still as involving and gripping as it was all those years ago - perhaps even more so - and has introduced many young people, who often study it for GCSE English Literature, not only to Priestley, but also to 'theatre'. Last night the Theatre Royal was filled to … [Read more...]