The inaugural London Pub Theatre of the Year Awards took place at Lion and Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town on Sunday 27 October. Eighteen pub theatres were in the running for the major title of LONDON PUB THEATRE OF THE YEAR 2019. Run by London Pub Theatres Magazine the event also includes two awards for personal achievement, and joint runners up to the London Pub Theatre of the Year Award; five awards in total.
Brave Badger Theatre presents a compelling verbatim play by Harriet Madeley about retribution, rehabilitation and forgiveness, based on interviews with the perpetrators and victims of violent life-changing crime, one involving a murder case.
Whispering Beasts puts on Irish plays exploring what they call the Irish voice. It would be wonderful to hear their thoughts on the country’s best known playwright writing much of his work in French but that is irrelevant to this review. That playwright is of course Samuel Beckett. Beasts are now putting on three of his lesser know short works at the Old Red Lion, a venue perfect for the intimate, disturbing feel of the plays.
George Carlin said: “Capitalism tries for a delicate balance: It attempts to work things out so that everyone gets just enough stuff to keep them from getting violent and trying to take other people’s stuff.”
Imagine if you will, that you regularly hang out with a certified genius. A man you love, and who loves you so that he bases his magnus opus greatly on you, and the group of friends you share. Now imagine that what binds you as a group is illegal, your own upbringing makes it out as a sin and said magnus opus will bring attention to your group. Finally imagine, that after said genius releases his book, he abandons your own art for another man. If you can imagine that, you have an idea of the pressures and problems Patrick McBride bring to his portrayal of John Gray in The Picture Of John Gray at the Old Red Lion Theatre.
