Etcetera Theatre London - News & Reviews

Imagine, if you will, a world where it has become possible, and then desirable, and then somehow established practice, for people’s ego to be suppressed at birth. Rats goes to some lengths to explain this concept – it needs to in order for it to be coherent, and even then, there are still questions about this kind of world and how it came about. Not everyone has had their ego suppressed – those who have are referred to as ‘rats’, and those who have not are ‘cons’. It’s one thing to have … [Read more...]

It’s a well-drilled production, this: a reasonably busy set (Russo Rainaldi) combines with some sprightly and energetic choreography (Becky Harrison) in a relatively confined performance space. There have been shows with considerably more room to manoeuvre that have had bits of set and props knocked into – here, everything retains its rightful place, and I found it quite remarkable that, with all the vigour this American musical gives demands of its characters, a balance was both struck and … [Read more...]

It’s not entirely convincing, at least not to me. Who gets offered a public sector job these days, on the spot, immediately after being interviewed? Anyway, long before accepting the position of Deputy Headteacher at Manor School, Jack Summers (Luke Harding) will at some point have been exposed to anti-bullying campaigns and strategies in the education sector. Why is it, then, that none of them appeared to be appropriate when he finds himself the victim of a bully even in his position of … [Read more...]

What does happen Beyond The Grave? Whatever goes on there, it must be pretty good: nobody comes back from the afterlife having decided that, after all, living on Planet Earth is more favourable. That’s the sort of level of suspension of disbelief required in this show, which seems to revel in ridiculousness. It’s hammy, it’s very silly, but it works. When a gravedigger (Darren Latham) tells Mr Benson (Ryan Penny) that he doesn’t have a designated employer but works full-time as a gravedigger … [Read more...]

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 little confused - one can’t blame a director’s misinterpretation of the script as the show is directed by writer Lita Doolan. Fortunately, I know Edinburgh well and thus could understand the multiple … [Read more...]