Six Lips aim to re-imagine the Jacobean play The Duchess of Malfi with a fashionable new approach. The staging of the play as a catwalk presents a monochromatic style with ease, and the choice to place the cast within the modern world of tabloid journalism and superficial attitudes is an ambitious one. Whilst this does pay off in some instances, the media parallels within the narrative do not fully align as intended.
Full of glitz, glamour and plenty of sparkle Elf the Musical is a fun night out for the whole family. Leaving the cold British weather outside and entering a magical world inside, whilst of course tucking into a mulled wine and mince pie.
This being my first experience of Knee High‘s work, I’m afraid I can’t compare it to their previous critically acclaimed shows. That said, if Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other Love Songs) is even remotely representational, their reputation as one of Britain’s leading touring companies is spectacularly justified.
Unfortunately Christian Rizzo’s d’apres une histoire vraie is not a performance to write home about. The dance, if you can really call it that, does not surprise, engage or grab the audience’s attention whatsoever. Possibly due to it being very internal and closed off from the world (or stage space) around it, or simply just too abstract for people to understand.
This is my first visit to the Chelsea Theatre, a vibrant performance space and community hub near World’s End that has attracted some of the biggest names in contemporary performance, such as Franko B, Gob Squad, and Annie Sprinkle. November is dedicated to the festival SACRED 2015: The Identity Issue. Sixty artists have come together to explore the four aspects which help us to define ourselves –age, gender, ethnicity and sexuality.
Red Rope‘s production of Liz Lochhead‘s adaption of Dracula is a worthy, well-timed revival. Directed by Matt Grinter, a well-established figure on the Bristol theatre scene, the production takes place very much on location in Arnos Vale Cemetery, in an imposing stone building which towers darkly over this ideal gothic setting.
As a teen, we’re at odds with the world. We’re no longer a child, and therefore refuse to be conned by the fairytales and feigned truths that once gripped our imaginations. We begin to fight the opinions of our nearest and dearest, whilst coming to grips with both physiological and emotional changes, let alone educational expectation. Add the universal feeling of struggling with identity and contending with societal expectation and there you have a recipe for complete and utter emotional mayhem. This is a rite of passage that Meera Syal‘s 1997 novel, Anita and Me manages to warmly encapsulate.
A subtle fluorescent glow, featuring a revolving disco ball sets the scene for this exclusive exhibition. I promenade through performance space one, (the bar), free glass of champagne in hand, I observe the elitist audience that has gathered. One of all sexualities, expressing freedom, liberty and confidence, this is a show for everyone. Just Like a Woman is an exhibition of shows, debates, instillations and screenings looking at the performance of identity- the ways femininity can be ‘performed’ and representations of how gender can be queered through performance. This striking production presented by the Live Art Development Agency, working in collaboration with The Chelsea Theatre, is an exploratory piece discovering a sense of identity, gender and feminism.
Combining contemporary dance with an Afro-Caribbean twist, Tavaziva‘s Africarmen takes audiences on a journey through the extremities of the human body. Dealing with the themes of death, love and temptation.
London has to be one of the richest cities in the world in terms of the countless entertainment and dining options that are on offer. But how, with that much choice, can a decision be made as to where to go and what to do? Well, ICEBAR London’s Tom Hunter may very well be on hand to make your decision that much easier, as he speaks to Theatrefullstop about the venues unique ice sculptors, collaborating with Sweden’s very own ICEHOTEL and why London rocks!
Hi Tom! You’re the Head of Sales and Marketing for the very forward thinking and trendy, ICEBAR LONDON. How would you describe the venue in a sentence?