Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ satire of Dion Boucicault’s 19th Century play An Octoroon brings the audience to confront questions of race, labels about race and how we represent them in theatre both in the past and today.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ satire of Dion Boucicault’s 19th Century play An Octoroon brings the audience to confront questions of race, labels about race and how we represent them in theatre both in the past and today.
The subject matter of immigration has been banded around for years now; a matter that has been a crucial player in terms of the significant political decisions made within the UK. With the effects of Brexit starting to impact our economical and societal landscape, the concept of ‘home’ couldn’t be anymore of a hot topic. Initially showcased 2 years ago during the Leave/Remain campaigns that would see the UK ultimately decide to leave the EU, Ilé La Wà (We Are Home) would later draw parallels with the shocking revalations of the Windrush Scandal. Playwright Tolu Agbelusi talks us through her debut topical play.
The programme of Cardiff’s Biennial International Arts Festival, like any great arts festival spans genre, demographic, medium and delivery. Covering an experimental Laura Marling, hip hop, visual art and cabaret it promises at the very least; diversity.
LONELINESS in our modern, digital age is something we often see cropping up on the cabaret scene as a central idea for exploration. However something we don’t often see is a fully realised analysis of the science behind loneliness, complete with all the jargon and musical numbers about tits.
Defying and literally crashing through the fourth wall, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, currently at the Cambridge Arts Theatre, is uproariously funny and will rock your Shakespearean world. With the promise of ‘meta-fiction’, celebrity guests and pixiness, you will not be disappointed, apart from the absence of said celebrities.
We’re incredibly lucky in the UK in that we have a wealth of choice when it comes to shows that are on offer. The purchasing of tickets, or the researching of the latest shows have been made that much easier by the various ticket buying websites available. Seatplan’s accessible website allows for customers to pick from various cities – London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Milton Keynes, therefore the emphasis is not only placed on the capital’s selection of shows.
In celebration of our 5th birthday this July, we’ll be collaborating with 5 theatres to give away a pair of tickets to 5 of London’s top theatre shows. You could win a pair of tickets to: The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives at the Arcola, Pity at the Royal Court, The One at Soho Theatre, Che Malambo at Sadler’s Wells or Circolombia at the Underbelly.
Cheryl Glickman is a single woman in her early 40s. Although successful in her job at a women’s self-defence company, she has self-esteem issues and suffers from a perpetual lump in her throat. Her obsession with her 60-year old colleague Phillip doesn’t help. Philip is more than willing to point her to a chromatherapist for her condition but this isn’t quite what Cheryl is hoping for. Instead of reciprocating Cheryl’s feeings, Philip is lusting after a 16-year old girl and asks Cheryl for advice on his sexual advances.
Generation upon generation, there’s a feeling of ‘our way’ being the best way to navigate a situation. There’s no better example of this type of framework than within the fabric of a familial home. The continue back and forth between parents and their children is what makes for powerful conversations as well as unavoidable clashes. Winsome Pinnock’s Leave Taking channels this ever moving energy to reveal a family of strong women battling the day to day.
Brian Friel‘s classic 1980 play, set in a Irish hedge school in 1830’s rural Donegal subtlely intertwines themes of language, culture and memory with well drawn characters and some deft dramatic devices. Ian Rickson’s simple yet expansive production for The National’s Olivier theatre skillfully illuminates this well trodden masterpiece of British playwriting, offering an engaging, resonant and well rounded theatrical experience.