On entering the Jerwood upstairs theatre one is first struck by Fly Davis‘ tongue in cheek set design: a tasteless boudour of pink satin, lace curtains and an intimate thrust staging in which the audience are also lit. The pre-show soundtrack of squelchy synth, hits a downmarket wine bar tone, the only thing missing is a bowl of car keys. It is dated, it is provincial, it is oh so British and it sets the tone perfectly.
Courtesy of Manuel Harlan.
Paul Birch’s technological thriller takes audiences on a journey through reality and the inner workings of the dominated virtual world we live in today. Audiences are made to feel under surveillance, as the stage space is littered with tall screens and futuristic style set pieces that entrap one within the robotically inspired storyline.
Courtesy of Shaun Conway Photography.
The story of settling into a new culture, having to assimilate and build up a life via independent means is a story that many immigrants share. Often travelling from their country of origin with little income and having experienced tough upbringings, whether that be due to political regimes, limited resources, social climates or for other various reasons, these factors only ever go on to strengthen an individual. In-Sook Chappell’s Mountains: The Dreams of Lily Kwok taps into this narrative of immigration, a dream play that marries the past with the present.
As a teen, figuring out who you are is apart of the daily routine. If you’re not questioning yourself about who you are, then you’ll probably find yourself at the receiving end of others questionable opinions about you. Identity is multi-faceted, Natasha Marshall’s Half Breed responds to this complexity.
Courtesy of The Other Richard.
CircusFest is big, bright, and bursting with talent, so much so that the standard of shows is very high. However No Show at the Sackler Space in the Roundhouse, seems more like a working progress than a fully polished performance (which, in a way, was their aim; being a show about not being a show, yet it did not live up to its full potential).
Oscar Wilde’s sophisticated and rib tickling drama takes audiences on a skip through country houses, lavish lounges and troublesome aristocrats. The York Theatre Royal is the perfect setting for this historical masterpiece that has survived the test of time, and is truly a tribute to classical theatre as we know it today.
Celebrating the world of modern circus with a diverse range of performances, CircusFest 2018 is not something you want to miss and after a day of lazy sunshine, why not get your blood pumping with some hand to hand acrobatics (don’t panic, I’m not suggesting you start cartwheeling around!), by watching an acrobatic duo such as Nikki and JD performing Knot at The Place.
There are approximately 22,500 Greeks living in Munich, more than in any other German city. Many of them arrived in the 1960s as so-called guest workers or to escape the military regime in Greece between 1967 and 1974. In recent years, the number of Greeks living in Germany has increased again, as a result of the economic crisis in Greece. Co-directors Anestis Azas and Prodromos Tsinikoris have collected stories of Greeks who have made Munich their home and present them in the framework of a documentary project at the Kammer 3, the studio space of the Kammerspiele.
Courtesy of Judith Buss.
Seeking inspiration from celebrated restraunteur and author Helen Tse’s (MBE) memoir Sweet Mandarin, In-Sook Chappell’s Mountains: The Dreams of Lily Kwokplaces a spotlight on Helen’s grandmother, Lily, a woman from modest beginnings in China who would later establish one of the first Chinese restaurants within the UK, located near Manchester. Her legacy lives on thanks to her three granddaughters, including Helen. Read on to find out more about the creation of the play!
Mountains: The Dreams of Lily Kwokwill shortly start its UK tour, how are you feeling ahead of the run?
I’m really excited that the show will be able to be seen across the country. It’s a fantastic story that hasn’t been told and we’re going to be playing in some great theatres including the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, which is the theatre I went to as a child.
French director Philippe Quesne began his career in the visual arts. After designing sets for theatre, operas and exhibitions for ten years, he created the Vivarium Studio Company in 2003 and directed his first show, La Démangeaison des ailes . Since 2014 he has been Artistic Director of the Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers in Paris and his productions are frequently invited to international festivals. Caspar Western Friedrich is his first production at the Kammerspiele.
Courtesy of Martin Argyroglo.
