Ever sit down in the theatre and realise the play is in Russian? Because that will happen if you visit the Barbican Centre and to see Cheek by Jowl‘s Measure for Measure.
BareTruth Theatre‘s latest work sees them partner up with production company, Time Won’t Wait and charities Plan UK and Forward UK to produce a piece of theatre shedding light on a subject matter that has only recently started to receive awareness within the west. Statistics show that there are currently 170,000 women living with the affliction of FGM, and have until now lived in silence. Although there is a slight awareness in the west, there is still very little knowledge of the life threatening practise.
I didn’t quite know what to expect from The Play That Goes Wrong. Its marketing seems deliberately vague so I am unsure how the play would proceed. An announcement made prior to the action starting informs us that we are about to witness a production by the haphazard Cornley Polytechnic Society, a 1920’s mystery, ‘Murder at Haversham Manor’.
As the lights go down in the Savoy Theatre we are treated to Jule Styne’s swinging overture played by the live orchestra. The curtain goes up to reveal a raggle-taggle bunch of child vaudeville auditions acts only for Mama Rose (Imelda Staunton) to interrupt, bustling her way through the audience to rapturous applause.
Whispering Beasts puts on Irish plays exploring what they call the Irish voice. It would be wonderful to hear their thoughts on the country’s best known playwright writing much of his work in French but that is irrelevant to this review. That playwright is of course Samuel Beckett. Beasts are now putting on three of his lesser know short works at the Old Red Lion, a venue perfect for the intimate, disturbing feel of the plays.
How many times have you seen 38 performers on the same stage? Have you ever? What does it even look like? Well it is awe inspiring, especially when those 38 are members of the talented National Youth Dance Company and guided by the talent of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.
So It Goes is the first production from On The Run theatre company. It is about actor/creator Hannah Moss’ father and his death. The piece is a two hander created and performed by Hannah Moss and David Ralfe.
Copyright Richard Davenport
When watching a theatre performance, film or TV programme, it may be very easy to focus your attention on the lead actors. Award ceremonies always acknowledge the performances of one actor, however, with every great performance, there must be a strong ensemble of actors to help carry the narrative. With auditions and theatre competitions, the focus mainly lays in the performance of monologues, however actors Jesse Ayertey, along with Arlindo Peti, Co-Founders of the East London Shakespeare Company have noticed the need for a competition that takes into account the collaborative nature of theatre, with their acting event, Duologue Slam. Ahead of the event, Theatrefullstop were able to speak to Jesse about organising the event, why Shakespeare plays an imperative part in the event, and where Jesse pictures Duologue Slam in 5 years time.
This will be the first Duologue Slam of 2015, how are you feeling ahead of the event?
Feeling really good about it. It was initially suppose to be a one-off event but it’s great to be here again.
Step aboard the travelling puppetry theatre, as the Puppet Theatre Barge settles in the heart of Little Venice in Warwick Avenue. If you’re stuck for ideas of how to spend the rest of the Easter holiday, then why not treat the family to a slice of marionette puppetry… on a boat!
Compiled by a myriad of storytellers hailing from Western and Southern Asia, Arabian Nights, or One Thousand and One Nights has captured the imaginations the world over with stories of love, betrayal and adventure!
