Lyndsey Turner’s revival of After the End couldn’t have been better timed, what with post-lockdown, outbreak of war, the scandals in the Met office and the rise of “incel” culture. Dennis Kelly’s play premiered in 2005 and that’s what the reviews said then. I guess this might make After the End timeless.
Courtesy of The Other Richard.
From the moment this production of Equus begins, it succeeds in engulfing its audience into the world it creates. Peter Shaffer’s text returns to the London stage in a co-production between Theatre Royal Stratford East and the English Touring Theatre and it’s a production that delivers on every level. It conjures up disturbing imagery in its staging choices that echo the characters feelings, as well as pay detailed attention to every movement made by the actors. This all results in creating a world that both fascinates and repels its audience for all the right reasons.
In April 2008, the world was left stunned after it had emerged that a non assuming man, Josef Fritzl, had in fact imprisoned his daughter Elisabeth Fritzl for 24 years. In this time, Elisabeth would mother 7 children, with 1 passing away and 3 being brought up by her mother and father. This spine chilling episode would inspire Emma Donoghue to create her Commonwealth Writers’ Prize winning novel Room, is a narrative set in similar conditions to that of Elisabeth but told from the perspective of a 5 year old named Jack.
Courtesy of Theatre Royal Stratford East.
What’s great about the human experience is that no 2 characters are the same, similar to fingerprints. We all assume, we all judge a book by its cover and it’s inherent that we compartamentalise and stereotype. It can be seen as being an easier path to fit in and follow the crowd no matter how old you are, however Le Gateau Chocolat’s Black completely dismisses this notion and fiercly shines a beacon on self expression and being yourself.
Courtesy of Robbins Photographic.
Mihbaj: A traditional Bedouin implement made of a wooden base with a footlong pestle that serves both as a coffee grinder and as a percussion instrument. A tool once emblematic of a once unified, once proud and once beautiful Syria, Riad Ismat‘s topical production gives a voice to the unheard who find themselves right in the middle a conflict that over the last few years has seemed to only escalate and dominates the Western media.
As a teen, we’re at odds with the world. We’re no longer a child, and therefore refuse to be conned by the fairytales and feigned truths that once gripped our imaginations. We begin to fight the opinions of our nearest and dearest, whilst coming to grips with both physiological and emotional changes, let alone educational expectation. Add the universal feeling of struggling with identity and contending with societal expectation and there you have a recipe for complete and utter emotional mayhem. This is a rite of passage that Meera Syal‘s 1997 novel, Anita and Me manages to warmly encapsulate.
This Christmas Theatre Royal Stratford East is giving a new twist to the classic tale of Robin Hood! Full of laughter, brand new songs and festive cheer Robin Hood tells the story of the prince of thieves on a mission! Join him and his merry band of men as they take from the rich to give to the poor whilst undertaking a quest to save good King Richard and the poor people of StratEastHam! Will they save the day? Or will the fearless Maid Marion get there first?
Theatre Royal Stratford East are getting set for their autumn season, where they’ll witness Ché Walker’s, The Etienne Sister‘s take over the East London stage for the next month. A family drama placing the spotlight on three fiery characters, the production promises an evening of hard truths, confrontations and an original soundtrack. Ahead of the production’s opening night, Theatrefullstop were lucky enough to speak to actress and singer Allyson Ava-Brown, who plays Bo, about working with her fellow cast members, whether she identifies with Bo, and what it’s like working with Ché Walker!
Whether you’ve forgotten to prepare a sandwich for lunch, or are looking for a quick fix after school, or a long days work, there’s no doubt that a box of chicken and chips can offer a tasty yet affordable meal solution. An inner city staple, the Chicken and Chip Shop is more than just a fast food outlet, it also encapsulates a microcosm of metropolitan life.
The Etienne Sisters sets to warm up the Theatre Royal Stratford East Stage this autumn. Written and directed by acclaimed playwright Ché Walker, the drama also features a musical component. The songs featured however would no be made possible without the assistance of a composer and songwriter. Cue both Sheila Atim and Anoushka Lucas, who have teamed up with Walker to create a musical landscape in which the characters inhabit. Ahead of The Etienne Sister‘s debut in Sepetember, Theatrefullstop were lucky enough to speak to singer/songwriter Anoushka Lucas about collaborating with Walker once again, her approach to writing songs for the production and gives advice to aspiring singer/songwriters!