The Bristol Old Vic hosts Little Bulb Theatre, a collective of excellent singers and physical performers who retell the myth of Orpheus through the medium of a recreated Berlin cabaret club. The evening pays tribute to Django Reinhart, and the legend of Orpheus, all of which is hosted by Edith Piaf. It was an eccentric evening, to say the least.
This may not have been a brief encounter, but it was brilliant! According to Simon McBurney, the Amazon rainforest has no regard for western time frames, and neither, apparently, does he. The Encounter took several years to write, or rather, to create, and the result relies almost entirely on sound. Each seat in the Old Vic’s main theatre is fitted with a set of headphones that feeds McBurney’s voice into our ears. The textured foam backdrop that stretches up to the ceiling not only provides a dry environment for the sound, but also allows for the clever light design to reflect both the weather, and the protagonist’s ever worsening mind set.
The immediate impression one has on first experiencing the set of Raymondo is a positive one; the sultry light of a number of vintage lamps dimly illuminating the distressed, but homely, items of furniture create a welcoming and rather beautiful impression, while, at the same time, the slightly haunting aesthetic is redolent with the promise the imminent revelation of secrets – it is a set, in short, about story-telling.
Genesis is the result of the collaboration between the acclaimed Belgium choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and the Chinese dancer and choreographer Yabin Wang. They created the show mostly in Beijing alongside other dancers from their own renowned companies: Eastman and Yabin Studio.
Riot Act presents at the Courtyard Theatre a new version of The Seagull under the name The Misbegotten Hope of The Dirty Bird. It sounds bold, philosophical and avant-garde but actually there are few surprises and worthwhile changes to the original play.
Darcy Oake really knows how to put on a show. The atmosphere is instantly created with literal smoke and mirrors and a short video in which Oake shows off his illusory tricks. It’s no surprise that Oake did so well during his time on Britain’s Got Talent, as there are clear signs of similar hype techniques used in both shows. This kind of melodramatic build up can really work up the crowd, but not half as effectively as when Oake does take to the stage and delivers a quick succession of impressive dove tricks.
Mike Bartlett‘s modern history play, boldly written in Shakespearean blank verse, won the Olivier Award and The Critic Circle’s Award for Best Play and was named “Play of the Year” by a variety of publications. After a successful run at the Almeida, it transferred to the West End and is now touring with a new cast and Robert Powell in the title role. Directed by Rupert Goold, the production is a fictional account of what might happen should Prince Charles become King in the not so far away future.
When I heard I was to be reviewing Blahblahblah, a spoken word poetry evening, my heart sank. I am ashamed to say that I considered a couple of bad experiences in GCSE English and the odd sepia-tinted recital on YouTube sufficient evidence to consign ‘modern poetry’ to my ‘self-indulgent and annoying’ pile. I confess my bigotry here in the hope that my conversion might give like-minded individuals cause pause for thought. That said, this is Bristol. I’m probably preaching to an already very well-informed choir. If so, you won’t be surprised to hear that I could not have been more wrong.
Situated in the centre of Manchester lies a very dark secret… Its name… Pomona. Many have speculated the goings on of this mysterious setting, however their questions and speculations appear to be as useful as a never ending corridor… as questions multiply, and yet remain unanswered.
Sometimes the harshest of situations can extinguish the most fiery of family dramas. In the case of bereavement, this can truly test the limits of a family’s circumstances and beliefs. A family can either become stronger in their bond, or disband and live fractured lives. Cue Ché Walkers, The Etienne Sisters. A tale of bereavement, sisterhood and disheartning truths.
