Category: Uncategorized

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff – until 5 February 2022

Reviewed By Rhys Payne

4.5****

In Wales, we have been placed in a nationwide lock-down since the 26th of December which had meant that all theatres, cinemas and nightclubs have been forced to stay close. Wales Millennium Centre have decided to make up for lost magic by putting on one of the most fantastical musicals I have seen in a very long time! We had humans turning into rabbits, floating beds, talking fish, levitating broomsticks and combat-ready clothing (just to name a few) which created the spectacle that we all needed after the rough two years we have all collectively experienced!

For those who don’t know the musical production of “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” is based in the 1971 movie of the same name which starred Dame Angela Lansbury which I have to admit I have not seen before (but I absolutely must now!) The show follows three young children Charlie, Carrie and Paul who are forced to leave their home after it is destroyed by a falling bomb. Due to this narrative plot point, the musical production of this show opens with a rather intense and meticulous sequence depicting this intense loss that contained some of the most intrigue and smooth set/props transitions I have ever seen. The spectacular choreography meant that instead of focusing on the set changes and the actors carrying them out, the focus remained on the story that this section was portraying.

After both parents are killed, they are relocated into the countryside with an eccentric but prestigious Miss Price (played in this production by the wonderful Dianne Pilkington) Rightfully so the young children miss their family and home but after discovering that their new mother figure is a witch in training end up going on magical adventures back in London. Due to her own personal involvement with and losing her family to the war Miss Price searches for a spell that can help win the war but the journey doesn’t end up going as smoothly as they are expected!

I really enjoyed the number “A Step in the Right Direction” which was a direct and inspirational song that talks about how mistakes are an important part of developing a skill. After receiving her first broomstick, Miss Price is attempting to learn how to fly on it but this again is very complex. This number is the first point where we see magic performed on stage with the broom flying across the stage which was incredible to watch but also was used as a prop on the numbers dance sequence which was insanely clever! This was not the only bit of stagey magic in the production however as we repetitively see the character travel from location to location on a flying bed frame which again was awe-inspiring every time it happened!

The character of Emelius Browne aka the Magical Emelius Brown (played in this production by the talented Charles Brunton) went through one of the most incredible character arcs I have seen in a very long time. We met this character as he attempts to swindle money off passers-by with his magic tricks which were perfectly conveyed in “With a Flair” which was filled with classic parlour tricks. The balance of spectacle with undertones of deceit is very interesting which I think at some point I would like to have a go at and the fact this role involved physical magic tricks would make this such an interesting role to take on! He reveals that ‘the magic school’ that Miss Price has been subscribed to way in fact yet another scam. However, as the show progresses this character becomes part of the family which is a testament to Charles physicality and likeability! The song “Portobello Road” is a high energy number which has our lead character exploring a rather sketch market in such for a magic spell book. This was a huge ensemble number with pretty much, everyone, on stage, getting a chance to steal the spotlight but also again contained complex set and prop choreography!

Over the multiple lock-downs, we saw a rise in online theatre and apps. One app that has seen a sudden influx of users during these lock-downs was the video-sharing platform Tik Tok . One person in particular who rose to fame in this app during the lock-down periods was Robert Madge who wonderfully camp childhood videos were shared where they would recreate Disney parades, rides and performances to his parents to often hilarious reactions! Their out of time character performance sound like they should be monotonous but I have to admit every time they upload, they have me in stitches from laughing so much. This increased popularity then led to a series of performances of Rob’s original show “My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?)” which received fantastic reviews from viewers and critics alike! So when it was announced that Rob would be in a touring production of “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” that would be coming to Wales (after restrictions were lifted of course) I knew I had to grab myself a ticket. Rob is a trained theatre performer who turned to creating comedic videos during the lock-down as the theatres were closed so I was curious to see how their performance skills would translate from screen to stage! It wasn’t until “The Beautiful Briny” that we could truly see their incredible performance talent. Rob stood on the stage and performed with and as an extremely cartoon-esque fish who sang about hosting an underwater dance competition. They had everyone laughing throughout with exaggerated facial expressions (both on themselves and the fish!) which was amazing to experience!

I did think that the closing sequence of this musical was very intense for a children’s musical where a plethora of animated objects are fighting against soldiers and while the message of magic and family was the key focus it would have been quite unsettling if it had not been for the twist at the end. It was actually very emotionally powerful and had many audience members in tears. The fact that the show had staged this in a way that made perfect sense but also used exact copies of early scenes to show the circular nature of the show was very clever!

Overall this tour of “Bedknobs of Broomsticks” is a wonderful adventure that is crammed full of fantastic effects and magical moments that has come at a time where we as a society need it the most. As it is a Disney production, it is perfect for young children due to the magical elements but a more mature audience will understand and appreciate some of the more intense themes such as losing loved ones and war.

THE LOWRY, SALFORD – UNTIL 5 FEBRUARY 2022

REVIEWED BY ANGELOS SPANTIDEAS

4****

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a classic Sherlock Holmes thriller, with this adaptation taking a more playful and cheeky take on the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, trying to solve an almost metaphysical mystery in a play that turns into a suspenseful comedy with incredible joke timing and a story that maintains the investigative spirit of crime solving.

With the cast of the play being only three people, Niall Ransome depicts a less serious and almost naive version of Dr Watson, while Serena Manteghi and Niall Ransome juggle between multiple different roles, changing almost at lighting speed between them while at the same time creating a different narrative for each, with different comedy styles and personas.

What is most interesting about this play is the interaction that the actors have with the audience, while at the same time maintaining the fantasy of the storytelling on stage. From the beginning there is no fourth wall and the actors interact freely with the audience, while slight changes of the set and the use of simple props do just enough, in order to transform the stage to serve each part of the story. The three actors have amazing chemistry and each interaction brings laughs and at no point feels like there is even a slight inadequacy in the delivery of jokes and the portrayal of the different roles despite the size of the cast.

This play can only be described as comical and quite simply hilarious, brimming with infectious laughter and entertainment and is definitely suggested for a fun night at the theatre.

THE LOWRY, SALFORD – UNTIL 5 FEBRUARY 2022

REVIEWED BY ANGELOS SPANTIDEAS

4****

The Play What I Wrote is a comedy that is designed around the classic duo comedian pairing with a twist and has been recognised since its inception winning two Olivier Awards, for Best Comedy and Best Supporting Actor. The requirements for a play as such are simple, yet timeless: jokes, gigs and tons of physical comedy and the Play That I Wrote hits the mark every single time with Dennis Herdman and Thom Tuck having the most amazing energy on stage complemented perfectly by the supporting act, Mitesh Soni.

The Play That I Wrote is based on the premise of two comedians who both have different interests, with Dennis wanting to keep on touring as a comedic duo and Thom, disappointed from not being the funnier one, wanting to put on stage his latest original piece about the French Revolution. However, with Arthur pretending to be a certain theatre paragon, David Pugh, offering them £5,000, Dennis is conniving to persuade Thom to put on a Morecambe and Wise tribute act, leading to a series of acts that bring Arthur to impersonating not only David Pugh, but also Scarlett Johanson which is as hilarious as it sounds.

The play is very well known for having a twist in the second act, where a very famous guest makes an appearance as themselves joining the original production of Thom for the entirety of the second act, only to be joked about and misnamed by Thom and Dennis which brings another level of absurdity to the stage and ensures that the second half of the play is even more hilarious and ridiculous. The guest for the night was the brilliant Charles Dance whose seriousness and natural ability to command the stage create a contrast to the silliness of the rest of the cast, which accentuates even more the comical nature of the play.

The Play What I Wrote is a family friendly comedy, packed with jokes with the three actors, singing, dancing and showing comedic excellence which is rewarded by an audience that does not stop laughing for the entirety of the play.

Stars Announced for the World Premiere of Soul Sisters the Musical

Friendship. Fame. Betrayal.

From the producers of hit comedies Hormonal Housewives and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Red Entertainment are thrilled to announce the World Premiere of Soul Sisters, a brand new musical that is set to tour the UK this Spring.

Leading the cast of this gripping new musical is ex Sugababe Amelle Berrabah, who during her time in the line-up for the much loved girl band scored international chart success with Push The Button and About You Now. The Sugababes gained multiple BRIT Award nominations and industry recognition as one of the UK’s leading female vocal groups. Since leaving the band in 2011, Amelle has been working on solo material and concentrating on theatre projects. When asked about joining the original  cast of Soul Sisters she said

“When I read the script, I knew I wanted to be in this amazing show instantly. I understand the dynamics of being in a girl band, the unspoken bond, the friendship, the respect for one another and knowing what the other is feeling with just a simple look. The character I will be playing is called Dionne, a flirtatious, confident woman. Although the character is quite far away from who I am as a person, it is a very exciting role to play and I honestly can’t wait to bring her to life.”

Completing the cast is Bad Girls and Emmerdale star Nicole Faraday who has previously toured in the UK as Eva Cassidy in the critically acclaimed Eva Cassidy Story and Wendi Harriott who came to our attention with her powerhouse vocals on ITV’s The voice and has worked alongside some of the biggest names in the music industry including Rod Stewart and Jennifer Hudson.

Directed by multi-award-winning comedienne, respected writer and director Angie Le Mar. Le Mar’s career spans over thirty years, after becoming the first Black female stand-up on the British comedy circuit. 

“I am truly honoured to be directing this amazing musical. I grew up listening to Soul Music, it was not only the soundtrack to my life but to many people’s lives. David Kent the writer of Soul Sisters has given us a great relatable story of sisterhood, friendship, and so much more. This production will hit you on so many levels from beginning to end! If you love music, love Soul and the memories, you’ll love Soul Sisters.” – Angie Le Mar

Soul Sisters tells the story of Dionne, Monique, & Rachael, who have known each other for 30 years yet nothing can prepare them for the revelations that unfold during a reunion at a Soul Weekender. Together, they face the real, honest truth and express themselves in the only way they know how – through the very music that brought them together. Soul Sisters is an exhilarating new all-female soul musical that will take you on a journey of success, survival and sisterhood.

Matt Brinkler, Executive Producer at RED Entertainment said “Bringing new musicals and comedy to theatres all over the country is our passion here at RED Entertainment. We’re really excited for everyone to come and join us at Soul Sisters. It’s like the UK’s answer to Dreamgirls and everyone leaves singing the songs.”

Theatre Royal& Royal Concert Hall Nottingham – until Sat 5th February 2022

Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh

5*****

The stage strewn with suitcases, a soldier takes inventory of the audience and then begins to play wartime songs on a piano. Immersive, we are invited into the world of a witch, a wardrobe and lion…but first, it’s world war 2 and people are sending their children as far away to safety as they can.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe centres around four sibling evacuees, Lucy, Susan, Edmund and Peter Pevensie. Sent to Scotland to escape the bombing during the time of World War 2, parted from their parents, they are plunged into adventure upon the encounter of a peculiar Professor and his wondrous wardrobe. The children embark on unexpected adventures in the winter-locked land of Narnia through the fur filled wardrobe, in the spare room.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is, simply put, a stunning piece of theatre. The pace, the music, the action all combined to stimulate the senses in the best way. Children and adults alike loved it. I found myself regressing at points and lost myself in the drama and  camaraderie of the Narnians. There was laughter, at the antics of the Beaver folk and the most charismatic cat you will ever encounter and there were tears at loss, bravery and the true meaning of togetherness.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is filled with dynamic and dramatic direction, including flying and other spectacular effects. The bewitching set design and stylised costume, combined to bring together the two worlds of Narnia and World War 2 England seamlessly and at times, dreamlike. The quick set changes, with the use of light, flowing materials, floating doors, handheld movable fixtures, were genius and gave the production a dance like quality throughout, which reinforced all the musical numbers.

It was lovely to see such diversity in a traditional production, with the children being played by nonwhite actors. This showed adding diversity to a production does not interfere with the story telling and should be encouraged to add to the rich tapestry of performers we have in the industry.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’s mind-bending and beautiful mix of actor/musicianship and puppetry delighted, enthralled, and thrilled the audience. The puppetry aspects are spectacular with seamless and realistic fluid movements and sounds. The actor/musicianship are a revelation, they flooded the senses as we were surrounded by music and movement.

There were no standout actors/performers as they all worked so well together, and the sense of family flowed throughout. After taking their bows, they came back to reprise a song, all picking up drums, various instruments and singing, reinforcing the family feeling. The emotions could be seen on all the actors faces and engaged my heart and mind once more.

In the words of the Professor, ‘The mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open’. I would add the heart to that analogy and urge you to see this amazing production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, as you will have your heart and mind opened and filled with joy after seeing it.

Soho Theatre, London – 1 February 2022

Reviewed by Debra Stottor

4****

Think you can run the world better than the current crop of leaders? This may (or may not) make you think again…

Imagine you find yourself in a position of ultimate power – the leader of the world – with zero previous experience. What are the big issues you’d tackle first? And what about the unforeseen consequences of your decisions? How will the previously insignificant, totally unqualified and definitely powerless Cassie and Georgina cope? Will they turn into their vision of the perfect female leader – a combination of Ariana Grande, Mother Theresa and Jackie Weaver?

They say absolute power corrupts absolutely, and this is a satirical exploration seen through a female lens, touching on socialism, corruption, cronyism, power and diplomacy. Very much a piece for our times.

Comedy duo Thick ‘n’ Fast, otherwise known as Cassie Symes and Georgina Thomas, take us on a satirical comedy journey, playing three parts each, with just a change of jacket to indicate the change of scene. The news in particular serves as an opportunity for a string of quick-fire one-liners, with a so-bad-it’s-good running joke at the end of each bulletin.

The pace is fast, the jokes are good, the satire is right up to the minute – and if you need a crash course in world history, it’s served up here on flashcards, à la Bob Dylan doing ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’.

General Secretary was first shown as a lockdown livestream in April 2021, and it’s safe to say the piece has been reworked for this outing to take account of current events. Originally scheduled to be part of the cancelled VAULT festival, this was shown as part of Soho Rising festival. Thick ‘n’ Fast were Artists in Residence at Applecart Arts last year. Their debut show, Not Quite, sold out Soho Theatre and saw them named one of The Scotsman’s ‘Best Duos at the Edinburgh Fringe’ in 2019.

This is a duo worth watching out for in the future

WORLD PREMIERE OF AKRAM KHAN’S
JUNGLE BOOK REIMAGINED

OPENS AT LEICESTER CURVE IN APRIL 2022,
FOLLOWED BY A UK AND INTERNATIONAL TOUR

Akram Khan Company will present the world premiere of Akram Khan’s new work, Jungle Book reimagined – a deeply personal interpretation based on the original story of Rudyard Kipling’s much-loved family classic – at Leicester’s Curve Theatre, 2 – 9 April 2022. A UK and international tour will follow, taking in cities including Birmingham and Edinburgh.

In a near future world, a family is torn apart as they escape their homeland, devastated by the impact of climate change. Arriving alone in a deserted modern city, and with wild animals claiming the streets as their own, the child soon discovers unlikely allies in this strange new jungle.

Embedded in the roots of Kipling’s Jungle Book is the deep threat that mankind poses towards nature. In this new dance-theatre production, Khan and his team reinvent the journey of Mowgli through the eyes of a climate refugee. Featuring an original new score, ten international dancers and state-of-the-art animation and visuals, Jungle Book reimagined is a compelling and vital piece of storytelling about our intrinsic need to belong and bond with others, and placing the importance of connecting with and respecting our natural world at its heart.

A stellar creative team will be working on this reimagining of Jungle Book directed and choreographed by Akram Khan, and with script by Tariq Jordan, dramaturgy by Sharon Clark and original score by Jocelyn Pook. With sound design by Gareth Fry, lighting by Michael Hulls, visual stage design by Miriam Buether, video design and animation by YeastCulture, and the insight of film director Andy Serkis, the visual technology will turn the stage into a magical world that dives into the myths of today.

The cast of dancers include Lucia Chocarro, Tom Davis-Dunn, Thomasin Gülgeç, Max Revell, Matthew Sandiford, Pui Yung Shum, Fukiko Takase, Holly Vallis, Vanessa Vince-Pang, Luke Watson.

At the age of 10, Khan played Mowgli in Akademi’s Indian dance production The Adventures of Mowgli. Decades later, he is reuniting with this story and embracing it with a new sense of urgency. Akram Khan: “We are now living in unprecedented and uncertain times, not only for our species but for all species on this planet. And the root cause of this conundrum is because we have forgotten our connection to our home, our planet. We all inhabit it, we all take from it, and we all build on it, but we have forgotten to return our respect for it. So I believe that we must make changes from the grassroots up if we are to see a brighter future. And so I feel compelled to share the story – lovingly known as The Jungle Book – with children and adults from all cultures, in order to re-learn what we, as a species, have so conveniently forgotten. And I believe that the strongest and deepest way to tell this story is through the magic of dance, music and theatre.”

Jungle Book reimagined is recommended for ages 8+.

ViSiBLE TODAY ANNOUNCES FULL CAST AND NEW DATES FOR

THE WORLD PREMIÈRE OF

FIVE CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

ViSiBLE,a theatre company dedicated to creating work focused on later life, today announce the full cast and new dates for the world première of Five Characters in Search of a Good Night’s Sleep, devised by Mike Alfreds and Sonja Linden with the company – Geraldine Alexander, Andrew Hawkins, Sally Knyvette, Gary Lilburn and Vincenzo Nicoli. The production, originally postponed due to Covid-19 in 2020, opens at Southwark Playhouse on 29 April, with previews from 27 April,  and runs until 21 May.

Sonja Linden said today, “It feels wonderful and very special to reunite our fantastic cast of older actors to share this production, having had to postpone the 2020 run. In this show we explore the universal experience of sleep and those moments where it proves elusive, something that many, particularly as we get older can relate to.”

ViSiBLE presents

The World Première of

FIVE CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

Devised by Mike Alfreds and Sonja Linden with the company

Directed by Mike Alfreds; Set and Costume Designer: Agnes Treplin

Lighting Designer: Neill Brinkworth

Southwark Playhouse

27 April – 21 May 2022

Five insomniacs try to make it through the night. From dusk to dawn, they struggle with a crisis in their lives which they must resolve by morning. Increasingly conscious of their shortening futures and lengthening pasts, they fill their nights with distracting activities, desperate sleep techniques, evaluations of their lives, delusions, fears, panics and utter foolishness as they prepare to face the day.

Five Characters in Search of a Good Night’s Sleep has been developed over a two-year period through a series of workshop in which all the material for the play was created by the actors.

Mike Alfreds is an award-winning theatre director, adapter, translator, teacher and previous Artistic Director and founder of theatre companies Shared Experience and Method and Madness. His previous credits as a director include Year of Wonders, The Tin Ring (The Lowry), Cymbeline (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Wandering Jew, The Black Dahlia, The Cherry Orchard – Winner of Critics’ Circle Theatre Award(National Theatre), A Handful of Dust, Jude The Obscure (Lyric Hammersmith), La Ronde, The Miser, Arabian Nights (UK tours) and Bleak House (Royal Court Theatre). His credits as an author include Different Every Night: Freeing the Actor (2007), Then What Happens? Storytelling and Adapting for the Theatre (2013).

Sonja Linden’s credits as a playwright includecredits include Roundelay, Who Do We Think We Are? (Southwark Playhouse), Welcome to Ramallah (Arcola Theatre/York Theatre Royal), Crocodile Seeking Refuge (Lyric Hammersmith/UK tour), I Have Before Me A Remarkable Document Given To Me By A Young Lady From Rwanda (Finborough Theatre/UK tour/US tour), On A Clear Day You Can See Dover (Wilton’s Music Hall/UK tour), Asylum Monologues, Palestine Monologues (UK tours), Asylum Dialogues (Tricycle Theatre/UK tour), The Strange Passenger (Battersea Arts Centre/UK tour), The Jewish Daughter (New End Theatre) and Call Me Judas (Finborough Theatre).

Geraldine Alexander’s theatre credits include Draw Me Close (Young Vic), Oslo, Strange Interlude, Pillars of the Community (National Theatre), Persuasion, Breaking the Code, Present Laughter (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (UK tour), Holy Warriors, Titus Andronicus, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest (Shakespeare’s Globe), In Skagway (Arcola Theatre), The Empty Quarter (Hampstead Theatre), The Welsh Boy (Theatre Royal Bath), For Once (Hampstead Theatre/Traverse Theatre), In Praise of Love (Royal & Derngate Northampton), State of Emergency (Gate Theatre) and Holy Terror (UK tour/Duke of York’s Theatre). Her television credits include Oslo, The One, Bridgerton, The Child in Time, Marcella, Quick Cuts, Shetland, Extras, The Man, Forgotten, Bust and Miss Marple: Sleeping Murder; and for film, Messages, The Discovery of Heaven, Merchant Garcon, The Wall of Tyranny and The Nightingale Sage.

Andrew Hawkins’ credits for the company include Who Do We Think We Are? and Roundelay (Southwark Playhouse). Other theatre credits include Flight (The National Gallery, London), To the Bone (Rich Mix), Naked, Live… and Never Again (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Heldenplatz (Arcola Theatre), I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Written by a Young Lady from Rwanda (Finborough Theatre), A Wedding Story (Birmingham Rep/Soho Theatre/UK tour), King Lear (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Cenci, Katerina (Lyric Hammersmith), Time and the Conways (Theatr Clwyd/The Old Vic/UK tour and Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto), Married Love (Wyndham’s Theatre/UK tour), Nicholas Nickleby (Aldwych Theatre and Plymouth Theatre, New York), The Knight of the Burning Pestle (Aldwych Theatre), The Suicide (Donmar Warehouse/Aldwych Theatre), Baal, Pericles (Donmar Warehouse), and The Merchant of Venice and Robin Hood (Young Vic). His television credits include Martial Law, Bugs, Moving Story, Citizen Locke, Tropical Heat, The Black Tower, Good Behaviour and The Glittering Prizes; and for film, The Art of Love, Tomorrow Never Dies, Shadowlands, Son of the Pink Panther, The Object of Beauty, The Whistle Blower, Top Secret! and Chariots of Fire.

Sally Knyvette’s theatre credits include King Lear (City Lit Theatre), Divine Right (Birmingham Repertory Theatre), Jack and the Giant (Royal Exchange Theatre), Rule of the Game (Churchill Theatre/Yvonne Arnaud Theatre) and Sawn off at the Knees (Sheffield Theatres). Her television credits include as series regular Kate Sugden in Emmerdale and Jenna Stannis in Blake’s 7.

Gary Lilburn’s theatre credits include Trouble in Mind (National Theatre), Pinocchio (Citizens Theatre), As You Like It (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Trestle, The Hairy Ape, The Hostage (Southwark Playhouse), The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Golden Ass (Shakespeare’s Globe), Deluge, Buried Alive, Tuesday’s Child (Hampstead Theatre), The Cripple of Inishmaan (MGC at the Noël Coward Theatre/Cort Theatre, New York), The Kingdom, Angels and Saints (Soho Theatre), Calendar Girls (Chichester Festival Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre), The Man Who Had All The Luck (Donmar Warehouse), The Quare Fellow (Tricycle Theatre/Oxford Stage Company), To Kill a Mockingbird, Hen House (Arcola Theatre), The Weir (Royal Court Theatre) and The Measles (Gate Theatre). For television his credits include Belgravia, Paula, Catastrophe, Mrs Brown’s Boys, Pete Versus Life, I Shouldn’t Be Alive, Whistleblower, Single-Handed, Perfect Day: The Funeral, Pulling, Sea of Souls, 55 Degrees North, Dalziel and Pascoe, McCready and Daughter, My Family and Perfect Scoundrels; and for film, Philomena, Eden, Garage, and Veronica Guerin.

Vincenzo Nicoli’s credits for the company include Roundelay (Southwark Playhouse). Other theatre credits include The Merchant of Venice (Almeida Theatre), The Shawshank Redemption (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), The Revenger’s Tragedy (Hoxton Hall), The Kitchen (National Theatre), On the Waterfront (Nottingham Playhouse/Theatre Royal Haymarket), Yerma (Arcola Theatre), Pool Death (Salisbury Playhouse) and Things You Shouldn’t (Soho Theatre). His television credits include Roadkill, Housebound, Father Brown, Our Girl, The Coroner, I Want My Wife Back, Hank Zipzer, The Prey and Mr Selfridge; and for film, Captain Phillips, The Dark Knight, Enemy of the Unseen, Sixty Six, Rabbit Fever, Razor’s Edge, Odyssey, In Love and War, Joseph and Aliens 3.

FIVE CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

Listings

Southwark Playhouse

77 – 85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD

Box Office: www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/ 020 7407 0234

27 April – 21 May 2022

Tickets: £22 (£18 concessions)

Previews: £14

Recommended: Age 12+

York Theatre Royal – Tuesday 1st February 2022

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

4****

Eric & Ern is a tribute to the late, great duo Morecambe and Wise. I have fond memories of watching them on television with my family when I was a child, so I leapt at the chance to review this show, to see if it did them justice. I should imagine that the majority of the audience were like me, grew up on the old variety shows that are unfortunately lacking on our screens today.

Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens bring the two to life as “Little Ern” and Eric. They both have an uncanny resemblance, at least at a distance, and the mannerisms certainly hit the right note. Stephens really does encapsulate Eric to a tee, with his gestures, facial expressions, and physicality. In true Morecambe and Wise tradition, we are treated to various well-known sketches and routines that resonate with so many of the audience. The perfect example of this is the siren/ice cream joke, which had the audience shouting out the punchline and Stephens replying, “It’s almost as if they knew what was coming”.

Of course, we couldn’t have a Morecambe and Wise show with the guest entertainer. Vocalist Sinéad Wall gives a brilliant performance whilst singing Send in the Clowns, hilarious to watch with clowns and balloons involved. How she kept a straight face I do not know.

The show has slapstick, jokes, songs and dancing, some admittedly worked better than overs, but it had the whole package. We were all laughing, some did not stop. It takes you back to a more innocent time, the jokes may be a bit risqué, but they do not offend. I miss the good old days of variety acts hitting our screens.

Ashpitel and Stephens have great chemistry together, and on reading the programme you can understand why, they have been best friends for years, Ian was even best man at Jonty’s wedding. They are a perfect match to play this iconic duo, no one could do it better.

It is fitting that “Bring me Sunshine” was the finale. It had us all clapping and singing along and left us all on a high. This is a fabulous nostalgic show, perfect for the whole family, that is more than a simple tribute act. At times you really do feel that you are watching the real deal.

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre – until 5th February 2022

Reviewed By Emily Cliff

5*****

Anyone who is familiar with the strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde knows that this tale is not for the faint of heart and the play isn’t an exception. Exceptionally directed, designed and adapted to stage this play on a whole is captivating, dramatic and eerie in all the best ways.

Adapted for the stage by Nick Lane, those who a big fans of the classic will note when they come to see this play that there are some changes to the story and the characters. However, this isn’t inherently bad, it works really well providing the audience with the same eerie story with a glimmer of individuality thrown into the mix. The novella itself is quite slow burn, as is the play however somehow it manages to keep you completely hooked from the very first scene.

A performance that has to be noted and mentioned is that of Blake Kubena. His portrayal of both Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde was enthralling. The was a clear distinction between the two characters from the way he carried his body to the way he spoke and even the look in his eyes is what made the line visible between the two personalities.

Physical theatre was used a lot in this play to show the transition between Jekyll and Hyde but also to choreograph some of the more violent scenes. The last scene of act one shows Edward Hyde brutally murdering an innocent old man, however, the twist on this was that it was down completely in slow motion. This type of trickery in film can be easily achieved by slowing down the footage in post-production however, on stage is a little more difficult. The immense amount of control both Blake Kubena and Zach Lee had in this scene is almost incomprehensible.

Everything in this production is exceptional, from the delivery of the lines and the tone of the voices put on by the actors to the stage and the lighting. The set of the play is so simple with intricate details that pull the whole thing together. a spotlight in the corners of the stage were used to cleverly cast shadows and eerie silhouettes that just added more and more to the intensity of the play. Overall this play was simply electric in its atmosphere. Every word said, every action taken, had you hanging off the edge of your seat wanting more. The twists and turns kept you coming back for more and for one of the first times ever it seemed like the interval was too long, I just wanted to dive right back into the story. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a story everyone should experience once in their lifetime truly testing our moral compasses and the true will of mankind. “All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: and Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil.” – Robert Louis Stevenson.