The winners of the 2022 Evening Standard Theatre Awards, in association with Garrard were revealed at a dinner last tonight at The Ivy, West End.
The winners of the 2022 Evening Standard Theatre Awards, in association with Garrard were revealed at a dinner last tonight at The Ivy, West End.
Folklore ties us back to our ancestral roots, narratives that effortlessly incorporate the lands they were birthed in and carry with them profound messages. The tale of Eze and the Kola Nut Tree within the Igbo (eebo) language native to Nigeria, West Africa one that ties those of the Nigerian diaspora, in particular Igbo to their horticultural roots. Initially debuting at the 2020 VAULT Festival, Tania Nwachukwu‘s The Kola Nut Does Not Speak English embraces what it means to be connected to one’s familial home yet embrace their UK heritage.
Media forms an integral role within the societies we live in, bulletins actively shaping how we all go about our daily lives. With the power to connect our realities with those across the globe, conversations, discussions, debates are started off by the reporting of various issues. Delving into the unpredictable world of journalism, Sam Hoare’s Press serves as a contemporary look at the lengths taken to bring news worthy stories to the front.
Milli Bhatia directs yet another outstanding play at the Royal Court by Jasmine Naziha Jones, a playwright that stared shame back in the face with smoke, cheap thrills, bells and whistles and ran with it. What we all really want to see is someone else face what we couldn’t, a storyteller that spits her truth out and an added bonus is doing it with style. A stunning production with pace and gut-wrenching symbolism that has made its mark on contemporary theatre. Extraordinary acting too from our playwright-cum-actor who amazingly plays a child better than she plays an adult. It’s the best exploration of intergenerational trauma I’ve seen on stage and to think this is only the start with this being Jones’s debut play. We love to see it.
The concept of freedom is a deep one, one that immediately evokes an emotional response no matter who you talk to. The tale of the ‘escape story’ one that throughout the generations has disclosed the soul destroying impacts of imprisonment against one’s own will, placing personal freedom at the fore. An exploration of the threat of personal freedom, Oliver Yellop’s production Tunnels ties the world of post WWII Germany to our present.
In an era where our steps can be counted, water consumption measured, our dating lives determined by a series of algorithms, possibilities made endless thanks to the vast number of apps made accessible at the click of a button, we’ve started to settle into our digitised revolution that is the early part of the 21st century. Our smartphones our very own personal assistants that we can sometimes feel at a loss if we don’t have them with us. Tapping into this reality, Discoland present timely production Lowkey Dying, a piece drawing on our current cost of living crisis and what this looks like through the lens of Millenials and Gen Z.
Whether you’re familiar with Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro or not, the eponymous anime aesthetic is something I’m sure many of us are familiar with – a mercurial, comforting , friendly, creature who happens to appear at just the right moments. Originally an animation released in April 1988, the Japanese cultural phenomenon has enjoyed success internationally having also received various accolades along the way. 34 years on, and the cult classic has been reimagined for the stage, receiving its premiere at the Barbican and realised by Tom Morton-Smith and director Phelim McDermott.
One of the world’s most recognisable musicals, Disney classic The Lion King continues to dazzle 28 years on. The tale of a lion cub destined for greatness but devastated by tragedy is of Shakespearean proportions. With a track list hummed and belted out by many, the show is one of those rare gems that hits the mark. Seeking inspiration from the much loved classic, Proud Embankment offer a a cheeky, modern rendition of the show with adaptation Lion Queen – an immersive drag brunch drawing on the classic’s animistic feature.
Migration forms part of our human existence, a necessary step to salvation, escaping a reality incapable of protection, hope and love. Whether you yourself have directly migrated, or from a lineage of those who have done so, this is a life altering experience that shapes communities. Drawing from this facet of humanity, dancers and choreographers Kristina and Sadé Alleyne present Far From Home, an existential dance work summing up what it means to be disconnected from loved ones out of necessity, and long for reunion.
Ensuring the health needs of the population are tended to within current constraints, the relentless forces that power the NHS no doubt themselves deserve a fair work/life balance and appreciation. Often overworked and underpaid, health professionals power through overwhelming work days with little to no rest, mental health taking a back seat and, the needs of everyone else taking first priority. Zoning in on a doctor working on the frontlines of an unnamed hospital ward, Nathan Ellis‘ Super High Resolution clasps onto what is to be on top of your game, in spite of being overwhelmed with the non-forgiving feeling of burnout and feeling voiceless.