A vibrant insight into a space at the heart of a culture, Barber Shop Chronicles is sharp, provocative and a truly engaging watch. An odd experience to not be in the room in a show that takes care to develop atmosphere, some of Inua Ellams’ intensity and liveness is lost.
Courtesy of Marc Brenner.
Ralph Fiennes (Mark Antony) and Sophie Okonedo (Cleopatra) stand out in a fast-moving adaptation of the iconic tragedy. Slow to start and a little too traditional for my taste, it grows into itself, until tension boils over and the slippery language of politics becomes sharp and intense.
Courtesy of Johan Persson.
As the theatre industry, upon many other industries have suffered closures due to the Coronavirus outbreak, collectively we’re experiencing a period of uncertainty. With venues postponing performances until future notice, online streaming platforms offer the perfect alternative for theatre lovers looking for the latest theatre productions to catch up on.
A cutting shrine to an England that never existed, Death of England, examines tormented, terrified masculinity in the wake of a father’s death. Clint Dyer and Roy Williams (Co-Writers) do an excellent job in using this timely confession to muddy the waters of an increasingly polarised world.
Courtesy of Helen Murray.
The script has moments of brilliance, the performances are nuanced and layered, the soundscapes are brilliant and yet I sit wondering if this is actually any good. It should be, there isn’t a disastrous artistic decision I should slate, but there is a lack of cohesion that leaves the play feeling incomplete, or that’s deliberate?
Courtesy of Brinkhoff-Moegenburg.
Three sisters lie broken and devastated, a body limp stage left, and the cry of an African song rings out as the final call of a martyr, Inua Ellams’ complete reconstruction of the Chekhov classic leaves a lot of very uncomfortable questions hanging over the stage.
Courtesy of The Other Richard.
Thought provoking, unsettlingly tense yet frequently witty and playful, Ian Rickson’s production of the timeless Irish classic seems concerningly relevant in the political volatility of the pantomime of politics.
Courtesy of Catherine Ashmore.
In the now infamous words of Brenda from Bristol ‘not another one!’ was exactly my reaction when hearing the season announcement that Tartuffe would be making its way to the Lyttelton stage at the National Theatre. But, you can never have too many plays by dead white guys, so off I went to Molière’s comedy classic that flirts fact with fiction and pokes fun at the bourgeoisie.
Having Recently won the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright, Natasha Gordon has enjoyed critical acclaim with her thought provoking debut show, Nine Night.
Project Manager Alex Turner has overseen the preparations for this year’s TheatreCraft. An event aimed at those aged 16 to 30 looking to learn more about theatre disciplines off stage, the initiative will see industry professionals give talks and workshops, as well as a careers fair at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel offering attendees the chance to meet some of the UK’s leading theatres, companies and education providers. Read on to find out more about this year’s event.