The Real Thing
January 30, 2009
Tabard Theatre
27 January – 14 February
Infidelity. A single word from which stems a multitude of uncertainties—what boundaries must be crossed in order to be considered cheating; are they solely physical, or is emotional unfaithfulness just as destructive? This hovering grey area seeps into the onstage world of The Real Thing and guides the relationships of its characters through an array of conflicts, sometimes resulting in triumphs, other times in consequences. Read more
Aristides – The Outcast Hero
January 30, 2009
Greenwich Playhouse
27 January – 22 February
Aristides – The Outcast Hero tells the story of a Portuguese Consul’s determination to obey his own conscience in the face of overwhelming pressure and strife. Whilst the plight of Europe’s Jews in 1940, which forms the backdrop to this story, will be familiar to most who see this play, the setting of a Portuguese consulate in Bordeaux does shed some new light on this most harrowing of subjects. Portugal’s neutrality during the Second World War is seldom discussed in mainstream historical debate in this country and yet it was ultimately of huge significance to so many in Europe. Read more
Romeo and Juliet in the Docklands
January 30, 2009
The Space
27 January – 14 February
Mystery, masks and murder mark out this 21st Century production of Romeo & Juliet where predators and prey stalk each other in the closed confines of The Space, a converted church in the heart of the docklands where the play is set. There is an eeriness that haunts this physical theatre production. Silent hooded figures appear and disappear, like a chorus of the dead, speaking words of wisdom or foretelling gloom and doom. Both lovers fall prey to this spirit world and a whole new aspect of the play is emphasised. The lighting effects are well conceived, adding atmosphere and focus. Read more
Airswimming
January 30, 2009
Courtyard Theatre
27 January to 15 February 2009
A Doris Day wig, a whisk, two baths and two ‘moral imbeciles’ all feature in Charlotte Jones’ first play, which tells the story of two young women incarcerated in St. Dymphna’s Hospital for the Criminally Insane. This is not the usual set-up for an examination of social injustice. Read more
Julia Lee Barclay On … Apocryphal Theatre
January 30, 2009
In 2004 Julia Lee Barclay formed Apocryphal Theatre, a theatre laboratory whose aim is to explore new techniques in the creation of experimental theatre. The company’s latest project, Besides, You Lose Your Soul, appears at the Camden People’s Theatre from 11 February – 1 March and will use a text written by Barclay which the company will manipulate to create a new performance, combining photography, music, dance and visual art to present every night. Barclay told us a little more about the influences behind the play, and what we can expect as audience members.
Central London’s Arts Theatre Reopens with Toyer
January 29, 2009
Following a seven month hiatus, the Arts Theatre reopens its doors with Gardner McKay’s Toyer (25 February – 12 April, with previews from 16 February). Toyer, a psychological thriller adapted from McKay’s international best selling novel, is directed by William Schoular (Berkoff’s Women) and features performances by Alice Krige (Star Trek‘s Borg Queen) and Al Weaver (from Channel 4’s The Devil’s Whore). Read more
Why I Don’t Hate White People
January 29, 2009
Lyric, Hammersmith
22 January – 14 February
In his new one-man show, award-winning poet, playwright and performer Lemn Sissay sets out to explore a subject that has challenged many playwrights from Shakespeare to the present –race. It’s a serious subject, but the way he has chosen to approach it is to take the audience on a very personal and humorous journey through his life and experiences. Read more
The Unspeakable
January 29, 2009
Tristan Bates Theatre
27 January – 14 February
Huntington’s Disease is a hereditary disorder which affects the nerve cells in the brain, causing emotional, physical and mental changes in the personality. The symptoms are sudden changes of mood, aggressive behaviour lack of concentration, memory loss, and small involuntary movements which gradually become more pronounced. It can affect both male and female and the symptoms can appear at any age from 30 – 50 although even this is not predictable. Anyone whose parent suffers from the disease has a fifty fifty chance of developing it themselves. Read more
Alim Jayda and Carole Trangmar-Palmer are Waiting for What?
January 28, 2009
Sam Rice’s new play, Waiting for What, opens at new venue the Humble Theatre in Notting Hill Gate on 4 February, continuing until 26 February. A revealing look at what happens when the lives of strangers collide unexpectedly, the cast vary dramatically in experience, age and background. We talked to Alim Jayda and Carole Trangmar-Palmer, the youngest and oldest members of the cast respectively, about the play, their experiences, and the different ways they approach a performance.
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Little Angel Announce Their Spring Season 2009
January 26, 2009
Little Angel Theatre, London’s only building-based puppet theatre, have announced their 2009 spring season of puppetry for adults which runs from February to May 2009 ahead of the launch of Suspense, the theatre’s first ever festival of adult puppet work which will take place in October. The season palys host to eight visiting companies and begins with Hooray for Hollywood , a fractured tale set within the exploitative child pornography industry using both tabletop and shadow puppetry. It is presented by Puppet (R)Evolution on 21 and 22 February. Read more
