LondonTheatre1

London Theatre: Tickets Reviews | News | West End | Off-West End | UK Touring Productions

Mamma Mia The Party Tickets
  • Home
  • London Musicals
    • Plays in London
    • London Theatres
      • Matinees
      • Seating Plans
      • Ambassadors Theatre
      • Duke of York’s Theatre
      • Fortune Theatre
      • Harold Pinter Theatre
      • Lyceum Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
      • Piccadilly Theatre
      • Richmond Theatre
      • Trafalgar Theatre
  • News
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Ballet
    • Cabaret
    • Children’s Theatre
    • Circus
    • Comedy
    • Dance
    • Immersive
    • Music
    • Musicals
    • Opera
    • Plays
    • UK Show News
  • ATG Tickets
    • Alexandra Theatre
    • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
    • Brighton Theatre Royal
    • Bristol Hippodrome
    • Edinburgh Playhouse
    • Glasgow Theatre Royal
    • Grand Opera House York
    • King’s Theatre Glasgow
    • Kit Kat Club London
    • Leas Cliff Hall
    • Liverpool Empire
    • Manchester Opera House
    • Manchester Palace Theatre
    • Milton Keynes Theatre
    • New Theatre Oxford
    • New Victoria Theatre Woking
    • New Wimbledon Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
    • Princess Theatre Torquay
    • Regent Theatre Stoke
    • Rhoda McGaw Theatre
    • Richmond Theatre
    • Stockton Globe
    • Sunderland Empire
    • Swansea Arena
    • Victoria Hall Hanley Stoke
  • Dancewear
  • Newsletter
Home » Theatre News » Review of Black Shuck at The Bedford Pub

Review of Black Shuck at The Bedford Pub

May 15, 2016 Last updated: July 5, 2017 1:13 am By Rachel Borland

Black ShuckThe Bedford is a fantastic little venue in up and coming Balham. Very lively and steeped in history and character; the perfect place to watch a little ‘Fringe Theatre’.

Black Shuck is a brilliantly written short piece by Duncan Hands. In one hour he manages to create an atmospheric scene that walks the fine line between comedy and horror. That’s how I like my horror; laced with a bit of humour so it’s not so scary. With just two main characters involved in one ongoing extremely dubious and totally illegal scenario. The space in time whilst we wait for ‘the delivery’ is spent watching a brother and sister in law squabbling and keeping their nerves on edge with the telling of a local legend; ‘Black Shuck’ the ghostly demon dog with the shaggy black hair and the burning red eyes! Tensions are fraught awaiting their shipment; family secrets a full moon hidden behind the clouds and a patrol of RAF planes overhead add to this jittery atmosphere. It reminded me what would happen if the cast of ‘Shameless’ were to attempt to become big time drug dealers – Chaos!

I cannot praise the acting highly enough. Rachel Nott is amazing as the tough girl, dragged up through the care system, doing anything and everything she has to, to support herself and her little sister Lucy. Rachel portrays Martha’s confident and controlling ways with humour and vulnerability whilst maintaining her tough exterior. Martha’s not a nice girl but you can see where she has come from and what she has been through and have a begrudging respect for her. Her partner in crime (literally) is Art her brother in law; married to her beloved little sister.

Art is played wonderfully by Alexander Pankhurst. He plays the simpleton whilst dropping in a wealth of knowledge about the natural world around him. Alexander’s comedic performance is a joy as there are so many layers to him; I very much enjoyed watching him swap from fool to expert and from light hearted to dark and back again. The most incompetent drug dealers you could choose and both with hidden agendas; what could possibly go wrong?

The production team are very much part of this show, mixing in radio conversations between the dodgy duo and their mysterious dealers and by utilising the little space they have creating the atmosphere well with well-timed lighting and in turn complete darkness alongside the constant sounds of the sea and the occasional howl of a dog… A very enjoyable hour with a very entertaining script and very talented actors. Well worth a watch.

4 stars

Review by Rachel Borland

Blackshaw Theatre Company
Black Shuck

“Sea-eagle to coot, come in please, can you hear me? Over.”
“Yes, yes, bloody yes!”
Rucksacks…Check. Walkie-Talkies…Check. Hip flask…Check. Gun…gun?!

Ruminating on the local myth of ghostly dog ‘Black Shuck’, two (inept) would-be smugglers await a shipment on the Norfolk Coast. Join us, where comedy meets horror in this hour-long new play by Duncan Hands.
More info at www.blackshawonline.com

Musicals by Candlelight Tickets

Everyman – Miracle Theatre – Brighton Fringe and Tour

Everyman is one of the earliest printed plays, originally written in Middle English and first performed around 1510. It is a morality play, popular … [Read More...]

We Started To Sing at the Arcola Theatre

After being closed for over two years due to covid, the Arcola Theatre has re-opened with Barney Norris’s love song to the people who raised him, We … [Read More...]

Dickens Theatre Company’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The schools and educational work of the Dickens’ Theatre Company is evident in this production of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde – the storyline does not … [Read More...]

La Clique at Underbelly Festival | Review

Now in its 15th year, La Clique have firmly established their place on the world burlesque circuit and this year’s London cast bring their infamous … [Read More...]

Lotus Beauty by Satinder Chohan at Hampstead Theatre

Warm, funny and lacerating, Satinder Kaur Chohan’s new play opens with a fly-on-the-wall look at the daily attempts women make to be accepted and … [Read More...]

London Theatre 1 and London Theatre One are Registered Trademarks Copyright 2022 www.LondonTheatre1.com
By using our website you’re confirming that you’re happy to accept our use of cookies.
Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising - About Us - Newsletter - Contact Us

As an Amazon Associate our website receives a commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.