Tea cosies. Yes, tea cosies. You think you’re in for a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred, eviscerating exposé of how drugs are bought and sold online and it transpires the show is about tea cosies. To be fair it’s a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred eviscerating exposé of how tea cosies are knitted and the … [Read more...]
Review of Time for Tea at the Etcetera Theatre | Camden Fringe
We are informed that Time For Tea is based on the Cowgate, Edinburgh fire of 2002: one of the three characters, Max, gives real-time witness to the conflagration whilst sporting a Deliveroo jacket. Deliveroo was created in 2013. Forgive me then, if I say that this anachronistic mishap left me a … [Read more...]
Review of Jonathan Larson’s RENT at Frogmore Paper Mill
Wow. This spectacular site-specific production of Jonathan Larson’s enduring musical Rent is a wonder to behold, a sumptuous song-fest to enjoy and a spiritual boost for all the senses to get immersed in. The old Frogmore Paper Mill lends itself superbly as the near-slum, New York tenement, … [Read more...]
Review of Pressure at The Ambassadors Theatre
There’s that iconic 90’s song by Crowded House - you remember it? - Always Take The Weather With You: whereas the song was not necessarily based on the central character of Pressure there is no doubt that Dr James Stagg was exactly that guy - someone who always took the weather with him. Even as a … [Read more...]
Review of Julie at The Lyttelton, Royal National Theatre
Kitchens. I’ve seen a few good ones at the National - thinking back a (good) bit to Ayckbourn’s A Small Family Business and more recently Nine Night in the Dorfman. But this kitchen, in Julie, is the biggest kitchen that you or I are ever likely to come across anytime, anywhere, anyhow. It’s … [Read more...]
Review of Return to the Forbidden Planet at Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Forget R2-D2, forget C-3PO, forget BB-8 and even forget Daleks: if you want the real deal in robotic action then you won’t do any better than getting along to Upstairs @ the Gatehouse for the superlative production of Bob Carlton’s wondrous sci-fi/pop-classic/Bardoramic musical Return To The … [Read more...]
Interview with Neil Gore Writer/Performer We Are The Lions Mr. Manager
We Are The Lions Mr. Manager returns to Tara Arts next week, after a long, well-supported tour all over the country, before it heads off to the Brighton Festival to conclude its run. Writer/Performer Neil Gore tells me that it’s been a palpably intensive but very rewarding run with audiences … [Read more...]