From today, as an exclusive to its annual members, A Spotlight On Leading Ladies, a concert featuring West End stars Alexia Khadime (currently playing Elphaba in Wicked), Christine Allado (Hamilton, Prince of Egypt) and Emma Hatton (Wicked, Evita, We Will Rock You) will be available to stream for a limited time only.
Policarpa Salavarrieta or La Pola (1795 -1817) was a Colombian seamstress who was ultimately assassinated in 1817 by Spanish Royalists. An integral figure within the struggle for independence from the Spanish, her political ambition would see her spy for the Revolutionary Forces and play her part in securing Colombia’s future. Her fiery legacy living on centuries later through ‘The Day of the Colombian Woman’. Inspired by her unwavering bravery and loyalty, writer and performer Giullianna Martínez presents HóPe, a one woman show also inspired by Martínez’s mother’s battle with Multiple Myeloma.
Psychologist Harry Harlow (1905-1981) in the late 50s went onto make a landmark discovery within the field of psychology – concluding that ‘comfort’ was an integral force in the formation of attachment within mothers and their children, as opposed to food which would have been the general consensus beforehand. With human connection a vital component helping us to foster relationships and process the world around us, to possibly lose this will be a devastating prospect. Tapping into this fastly emerging world of robots, AI and isolation, Polymorth Theatre and Different Theatre present Chemistry, an urgent look at our current climate, one where we see ourselves on the cusp of a digitally overrun world.
On Sunday 28th May 2023, the results of the Turkish general elections were revealed. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of right wing party ‘Justice and Development’ securing his position as Turkey’s 12th president which he has held for 20 years now. His opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the centre left ‘Republican People’s Party’ seen as a genuine rival but losing out to Erdogan’s 52.1% victory. A commentary on the many years of political unrest leading up to this year’s final result, Turkish native Betal presents Goodbye Erdogan – political theatre at its purest.
Earlier on in the year, London Theatre Week offered a plethora of discounted tickets to many of the West End’s much loved theatrical classics including Newsies, The Mousetrap, The Book of Mormon, 42nd Street and The Rocky Horror Show. Now returning once again for a limited time only, London Theatre Week’s Summer Theatre Sale offers the perfect opportunity to plan prospective theatrical nights or days out with family, friends or loved ones. With tickets starting at £25, you’re spoilt for choice, shows such as We Will Rock You, Guys & Dolls and OKLAHOMA! amongst other critically acclaimed productions included within this promotion!
Cues both overt and covert dictate how women should behave, perceptions of the ‘model woman’ deeply rooted in a patriarchal gaze and drummed into our consciousness throughout our lifetime. In a time where we’re breaking down issues of gender, sexuality and mental health amongst other human qualities, we’re asked to question the systems and structures that once were and navigate a new, fairer world. An exploration of femininity and what this means to the OnTheNose cast, 60 Minutes of Mood Swings unashamedly shatter the patriarchal lense in which we’ve observed the world for millennia and usher in something excitingly new
Located on an unforgiving patriarchal-centric boot camp, OnTheNose await the harsh instructions of an overseeing eye. The bootcamp’s aim to transform these five – already powerful in their own right – women into the so called societal ideal. Taking on the ‘ugly duckling trope’ we often see play out in various arenas, where we’re invited to watch an individual’s process of transformation into a ‘better’ version of themselves, the show lightheartedly pokes fun at this, and with it cleverly starts to pick at the hidden truths as to why the quintet hold the insecurities that they do.
A mental health condition that has an affect on one’s mood, Bipolar Disorder, when broken down translates as ‘Bi’ = two and ‘polar’ = completely opposite – usually misunderstood, the condition alludes to the states of mania and depression that an individual shifts between (Mind). With 1 in 100 people receiving a diagnosis and it often developing from the ages of 15yrs to 19yrs old (NHS). Delving into a man’s processing of his diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, Beardance Theatre present Brighter, an attempt to demistify and humanise the condition.
Although an exciting, otherworldly industry to be a part of – one responsible for igniting the imaginations of many, the world of acting can often be a precarious one, one where you’re left eagerly awaiting opportunities that could lead to that career defining role or two. Juggling a 9 to 5 with castings a reality for many passionate about performance, hopeful that their dreams will become realities. Returning to the Bush Theatre after a critically acclaimed run in 2021, writer and performer Nikhil Parmar presents Invisible – a one man show looking at the moments behind the scenes, in between the acting roles, laying bare the emotional turmoil that lies behind what we see on our screens and stages.
Courtesy of Henri T.
Tonight, the Heavy Music Awards 2023 has announced the winners of their 2023 event, at the world’s biggest celebration of rock and metal music at OVO Arena Wembley.
Charlotte Sands
A packed line-up featuring nearly every single musical playing in the West End has been unveiled ahead of this year’s West End LIVE. This free celebration of London’s world-leading theatre scene comes to Trafalgar Square on the weekend of 17 and 18 June.
