As Halloween approaches, theatrical thoughts turn from jazz hands to zombie hands and there is suddenly a plethora of horror and ghost related events appearing in theatre-land. Not least among these is Séance: Conversations in the Dark and I was lucky enough to catch up with the production’s host, Christopher Howell. I started by asking Christopher to give me a … [Read more...]
Up Pompeii – An Audio Revival at the Shaw Theatre | Review
The British have always had a real affinity for smut. From saucy seaside postcards through to the “Carry On” movies, there is something about a double entendre and risqué gags that appeals to the British sense of humour. One of the true masters of this form was a comedian by the name of Frankie Howerd. One of Frankie’s biggest hits was a TV show called Up Pompeii!. … [Read more...]
Interview with Dan Ireland-Reeves
Back in February this year, I reviewed a one-man show at the Vault Festival which completely blew me away. The show in question was Bleach and I recently met up with Dan Ireland-Reeves, who conceived, wrote, directed and performed the show. I started by getting Dan to give me a quick biography. DI: I’m thirty-year-old writer, actor, waiter - as many actors often … [Read more...]
Interview with Linus Karp and Joseph Martin | Awkward Conversations…
Sometimes a show can take on a life of its own. What starts out as a small production above a theatre in Islington, turns into something much larger down the line. One example is Awkward Conversations with Animals I’ve F*cked which is about to start a nationwide tour. I had the chance to meet Producer/Performer Linus Karp and his partner Joseph Martin at the … [Read more...]
Review of Appropriate at Donmar Warehouse
According to Hercule Porto, the most likely time for one family member to kill another is during the Christmas holiday. Whilst I’ve never felt the urge to kill any members of my family over the Yuletide period I can understand his reasoning. However, any family get-together is fraught with potential danger and this is the central theme to Branden Jacobs-Jenkins play … [Read more...]
What Happens Next Will____Your____ at the White Bear Theatre
It's not often that a promotional video attracts me to a particular show but, having watched the one for What Happens Next Will ____ Your ___ at the White Bear Theatre, I knew I had to go and see the production. Two men on the roof of a 28-storey building. At first glance, they couldn't be more different. Alex (Ryan Whittle) is dressed in a ‘smart casual’ way that … [Read more...]
Charles Darwin: Collapsing Creation at Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
Few books have had such a profound effect on the history of mankind than that published in 1859. It expounded a theory that was not only revolutionary but also ran deeply at odds with the religious beliefs of the time. The book was called “On the Origin of Species” and the life of its prime author are the subject of Arthur Meek’s play Charles Darwin: Collapsing … [Read more...]
British Theatre Academy presents Dogfight at Southwark Playhouse
A musical set around the Vietnam war where the main protagonists are fairly repellent and with few redeeming features really shouldn’t work, should it? Well, Ben J Pasek, Justin Paul and Peter Duncan don’t agree and as a consequence, I had a visit to the Southwark Playhouse to see The British Theatre Academy production of their show Dogfight. It’s 1963 and a group … [Read more...]
Once On This Island at Southwark Playhouse | Review
Oh, how I love this time of year. Edinburgh in full swing and so the theatres in London are available to groups like the British Theatre Academy who are in residence during August with their version of Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty’s wonderful tale Once On This Island. On a stormy night in the Antilles archipelago, life goes on pretty much as normal. The … [Read more...]