I know we are in strange, cruel, enlightening pandemic times but it is not very often that a grown man can sit in front of his laptop in the morning and have tears streaming down his face. But this album - One Voice - did that to me. And in doing so I discovered a voice, a new voice, with the clarity of pearls gently dropping into the cool, crystal-clear water of mountain streams combined with an endearing passion that truly tugs at the heartstrings. Specifically what did it for me was the … [Read more...]
The Dock Brief by John Mortimer at the Cockpit Theatre London
John Mortimer’s two-hander is a classic of the genre - the genre being plays set within a legal framework: Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose (1964) comes to mind as does Terrance Rattigan’s The Winslow Boy (1946), as well as David Hare’s Murmuring Judges (1991). Mortimer was a lawyer by trade but after the success of The Dock Brief - originally a radio play - he went on to pen the popular Rumpole of the Bailey, commissioned by the BBC as a Play For Today before being developed as a series for … [Read more...]
The Spine by Nathan Powell at Camden People’s Theatre | Review
Stumbling around in the dark I found myself at the Stage Door of Camden People’s Theatre and was astonished to find a large skip filled with empty energy drink bottles. Someone must be high on ener-drenaline I mused. As the lights came up on the show I found out who. This vibrant, kinetic, pulsating and uber-energetic show keeps us on the edge of our seats throughout and I defy anyone to watch it and not leave the theatre re-vitalised and, well, energised. There’s some depressing stuff to … [Read more...]
Life and Death of a Journalist at the Vault Festival – Cage | Review
Ostensibly, this is a play about a journalist fighting for freedom of expression with a sub-plot about the journalist’s tortured and disintegrating relationship. Or: it’s a play about a journalist’s tortured and disintegrating relationship with a sub-plot about a journalist fighting for freedom of expression. I can’t decide between the two. Each of the two plot-lines takes up the same amount of script but the attempt to fit them together displays all the clunkiness off iron shoes on a … [Read more...]
Review – Raphael Wakefield: Wengerball at The Vaults Festival
Cards on the table: I have to declare a non-interest. I’m a Spurs supporter. This is a solo show about Arsenal. The Wenger Years to be precise. So if you support Arsenal you’ll adore this show. Though if you love football, and don’t follow Arsenal, then I believe you’ll still appreciate this show. Even if you love football but support Spurs and are not too keen on their North London rivals then I’m pretty convinced you will find plenty to like and admire in this show. And if you’ve just … [Read more...]