Feel / Feel/More / Reading Gaol

Feel : June 17th/18th, King’s Head Theatre

Feel/More : June 10th/11th, King’s Head Theatre

Reading Gaol : July 23rd – August 2nd, Theatre N16

London Fringe theatre company Proforca present three of their shows this Summer: their debut piece of new writing, Feel, and the five response pieces to it, Feel/More, play the King’s Head Theatre in June, followed by Reading Gaol, an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s final work, at Theatre N16 in July/August.

***** “extraordinary (…) hops between being ingeniously witty and soul-wrenchingly moving” The Spy in the Stalls on Feel

In Feel, two couples struggle with saying what they feel in a world where love can be swiped on a whim and the path of your whole life is determined by the delay of just one train. Feel is a search for fulfilment, second-hand love and the hope of one day becoming something better than you are – because sometimes, to follow your heart you have to give it away to someone else. Feel/More is a response piece to Feel, with five new monologues touching on the themes within, five new characters tackling the same stories.

**** “brilliant – the deep message will make you ask yourself questions” London Theatre Reviews on Feel

These revivals will be followed by a restaging of Proforca’s new piece Reading Gaol: an exploration of the deprivation of liberty experienced by prisoners at the turn of the Century. Combining Wilde’s orginal Ballad of Reading Gaol with brand new pieces of writing and physical theatre, Reading Gaol explores oppresion, censorship and conformity in our increasingly conservative society, from the grime of Victorian England to the forests of Africa and back.

Proforca Theatre Company’s mission is to create great theatre performances which challenge, confront and engage audiences. Artistic Director David Brady says: “After receiving critical and audience acclaim for both Feel and Feel / More during our March runs, we are delighted that our adventure for both of these shows continues. These two shows showcase the amazing acting talent from early stage actors as well as really fierce new writers with a point of view we are pleased to champion. We’re also thrilled to be able to present a brand new re-working of our production of Reading Gaol in a fantastic new space at Theatre N16 which serves as a busy but brilliant climax to a fantastic six months for the company.”

Title Feel / Feel/More / Reading Gaol

Playwright Feel: James Lewis

Feel/More: Fergus Church, Harriet Lambert, James Lewis, Simon Marshall

and Stephanie Silver

Reading Gaol: Catrin Keeler, James Lewis, Simon Marshall, and Erin Read

Director David Brady

Producer Proforca Theatre Company

Performance Dates Feel: June 17th – June 18th 2018, 7.30pm

Feel/More: June 10th – June 11th 2018, 7.30pm

Reading Gaol: July 23rd – August 2nd 2018, Monday – Wednesday, 8.30pm

Running Time Feel: 110 mins (incl. interval)

Feel/More: 75 mins (no interval)

Reading Gaol: 110 mins (incl. Interval)

Venue Feel / Feel/More : King’s Head Theatre, 15 Upper St, London N1 1QN

Reading Gaol: Theatre N16, 5 Ashley Road, London N17 9LJ

Ticket Price Feel: £18/£15 (concessions)

Feel/More: £15/£12 (concessions)

Reading Gaol: £14/£11 (concessions)

Box Office King’s Head Theatre (kingsheadtheatre.com) Theatre N16 (lineupnow.com/event/reading-gaol)

Links Proforca Theatre Company website (proforca.co.uk)

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – until 9 June 2018.

Reviewed by Antonia Hebbert

4****

A Broadway producer has sex with rich old widows to raise money, then puts on a merry musical about Hitler which he hopes will fail … With its swastikas and tapdancing Stormtroopers, The Producers might come as a shock to audiences that don’t already know it. It will be familiar to many though, as a 1968 cult film by Mel Brooks, which he turned into a hit Broadway musical in 2001, and then a film of the musical in 2005.

Deliberately outrageous, part slapstick, part satire, peppered with surreal moments and cultural references – all this is a huge challenge for the multi-talented young artists of Guildford’s Performance Preparation Academy.

Directors Lewis Butler and Nick Charters ensure that the ensemble’s energy and enthusiasm are at full throttle throughout, but the first half felt strained at times, as the cast sometimes seemed to be battling with their soundtrack. The show’s age may be a problem too: things that were provocative and anarchic in the 1960s can seem clichéd now. It’s in the second half that the evening really hits its stride, with the ‘Springtime for Hitler’ show-within-the-show, and the unravelling of the producers’ plan.

Jordan Harrison is strong as producer Max Bialystock; Jordan Newman is convincingly naïve as his accountant Leo Bloom. Keeley-May Clarkson seemed uncertain at first as the Swedish assistant Ulla, but in the second half especially had all the necessary presence and glamour. Charles Camrose also blossomed in his role as the super-camp Hitler. Jack Oliver made an elegantly nervy Carmen Ghia, and Carys Gaylor was appealingly quirky in her various appearances. The ensemble dancing is impressive throughout, and costume designer Louise Pieri gives us a splendid array of barmy outfits.

This was a show of two halves: three stars for the first, but four for taking flight after the interval.

CHANNING TATUM’S MAGIC MIKE LIVE

SELLS £1 MILLION IN FIRST HOUR OF ON-SALE

IN LONDON

MAGIC MIKE LIVE TO OPEN AT THE HIPPODROME CASINO ON WEDNESDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2018

PREVIEWING FROM SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER

One hour after the box office opened last night, Sunday 3 June, Magic Mike Live had already sold £1 million pounds’ worth of tickets for the brand new production at the Hippodrome Casino in London’s Leicester Square.  Conceived and co-directed by Channing Tatum, Magic Mike Live is a large-scale, live production show based on the hit films Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL, which will open in The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino on Wednesday 28 November 2018, following previews from 10 November. 

Executive Producer, Vincent Marini said, “We are delighted that London and the rest of the UK have welcomed Magic Mike Live with open arms. Our fans almost broke the internet last night and while weekend performances are selling out fast, the weekday shows currently have the best availability.”

The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino is being transformed into a magical, intimate, 325-seat performance space for Magic Mike Live.  From the bespoke entrance off Cranbourn Street, to the specially curated lounge and bar experience, to the cast of world-class performers, Magic Mike Live is a complete evening of unparalleled entertainment for guests aged 18 and up.  They will enter Magic Mike’s mythical Club Domina and marvel as a group of extraordinary artists perform a 360-degree dance and acrobatic spectacular in front of, behind, and above them.  Sexy dance routines intertwined with one-of-a-kind acts, will be presented by a diverse cast of performers from around the world for this hot new production.

The show has been hailed as “the modern strip show we deserve” by USA Today and celebrated as “the show that has everything you could ever want” by Glamour UK.   

Magic Mike Live in London is co-directed by Channing Tatum and Alison Faulk, with Teresa Espinosa as associate director, and choreographed by Alison Faulk, Teresa Espinosa and Luke Broadlick.  The Executive Producer is Vincent Marini with General Management by David Ian Productions. The production designer is Rachel O’Toole, with scenic design by Rob Bissinger and Anita LaScala (Arda Studio), costume design by Marina Toybina, lighting design by Philip Gladwell and video design by Luke Halls.  Musical supervisor is Jack Rayner, with sound design by Nick Kourtides.  Dreya Weber is aerial choreographer & aerial apparatus designer.  Production management is by Simon Gooding and Matt Jones and casting is by Jason Styres CSA.

Magic Mike Live is produced in London by Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, Greg Jacobs, Peter Kiernan, Steven Soderbergh, Nick Wechsler and United Talent Agency in association with Warner Bros., Vincent Marini, The Hippodrome Casino, Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman, TSG Entertainment & Ashley DeSimone, Richard Winkler, and The Creative House.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Magic Mike Live

The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino

Cranbourn Street

Leicester Square

London WC2H 7JH

Website:  www.magicmikelondon.com   

Twitter:  @MagicMikeLDN

Facebook:  @MagicMikeLDN

Instagram:  @MagicMikeLiveLDN

Box Office:  0844 453 9091

Performances:  Tuesday to Sunday 7.30pm and Thursday to Sunday 10.00pm

Ticket Prices:  from £29.00 including booking fees

Current Booking Period:  to Sunday 28 April 2019

Running Time:  approximately 90 minutes

Magic Mike Live guests must be at least 18 years to attend – appropriate photo ID will be requested on arrival at the venue – gambleaware.org

POLKA THEATRE APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Polka Theatre for Children has today announced the appointment of Lynette Shanbury as Executive Director and joint CEO. Shanbury is currently Executive Director of Spare Tyre and will be joining Polka in August, following the retirement of Stephen Midlane, who steps down after 41 years with the company.

Shanbury brings with her a wealth of experience built up over more than 15 years in theatre. She is currently Executive Director of Spare Tyre, a leading participatory arts charity which produces theatre with ‘voiceless communities’ including adults with learning disabilities, dementia, carers and women who have experience of violence.  Prior to this, Shanbury was Executive Director at Little Angel Theatre in Islington where she worked for eight years.  As Executive Director, she will be joint CEO with Polka’s Artistic Director, Peter Glanville.

Commenting on the appointment, Sarah King, Chair of Trustees at Polka Theatre, said “Stephen Midlane leaves big shoes to fill so we could not be more delighted Lynette will be joining us.  She has clearly achieved an enormous amount at Spare Tyre, which like Polka, is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation. With an ambitious capital project underway, attracting someone of Lynette’s calibre was key. She brings that rare combination: strategic flare and organisational ability combined with a genuine commitment to children’s theatre and the values that are so central to Polka.”

Lynette Shanbury added “I am thrilled to be joining Polka at this pivotal moment in its history. Polka Theatre has a very special place in the ecology of the UK theatre sector.  It manages to balance being a theatre company of national and international significance, producing innovative and ambitious new work, whilst still being absolutely grounded in its local community. It is a much-loved venue that genuinely has children at its heart. I cannot think of a better place to continue my career, being inspired every day by the children who flock through the theatre’s doors.”

Peter Glanville, Polka’s Artistic Director said today “I am extremely pleased that Lynette will be joining us as Executive Director and Joint CEO. The next few years are going to be the most challenging and exciting since Polka first opened – in addition to the FUTURE POLKA redevelopment, we also have a highly ambitious closure programme, working with strategic partners both locally and nationally, as well as a major project commissioned to celebrate our 40^th anniversary. Lynette brings a drive, knowledge and passion for children’s theatre and the impact of the arts, which is going to be crucial as we move forward with a bold artistic vision for the future. 

ABOUT POLKA THEATRE:

Operating for almost 40 years from its venue in Wimbledon, Polka is Britain’s leading theatre venue for children ages 0 – 12. Over 90,000 children, along with their families and teachers, from across London and the South East visit each year to see inspiring, new theatre including plays, opera, dance, digital theatre and puppetry as well as interactive storytelling and creative learning workshops. Although firmly rooted in the local community, Polka is a theatre company of national and international significance with productions travelling across the UK and overseas to cities as far apart as Toronto, Istanbul, Shanghai, Sydney and Hong Kong.

ABOUT the FUTURE POLKA theatre redevelopment

FUTURE POLKA is the theatre’s initiative for reimagining and developing Polka Theatre for future generations and as a vibrant hub for the local community. The project includes establishing a national centre for Early Years theatre, the opening of Polka’s first onsite rehearsal studio, supporting its PolkaLAB professional development programme and improving access throughout the venue to enable greater participation by actors and audience with mobility impairments.

FUTURE POLKA represents an exciting opportunity to ensure the survival of a pioneering, world-class theatre for children and much-loved centre for its local community. As of this week, Polka Theatre has raised nearly 70% of the project’s £6.5 million target.

For more information, visit: https://polkatheatre.com/futurepolka/

Website: www.polkatheatre.com

Twitter: @polkatheatre

Facebook: @polkatheatre

National Theatre’s War Horse gallops back on stage.

Next week the hit show makes its third visit to The Lowry

The National Theatre’s acclaimed production of War Horse is returning to The Lowry next week (Wed 13 – Sat 30 June 2018). The show made it’s regional premiere at the Salford venue in 2013 and when combined with its subsequent runs in 2014 and 2018 will have been seen by over 220,000 people in The Lowry’s Lyric Theatre.

During the shows three week run The Lowry will also host the first ever ‘relaxed’ performance of the hit show in the North West, taking place on Thu 28 June at 2pm. The relaxed performance is for anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed environment in the theatre, including people with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, people with sensory and communication disorders, and those with learning disabilities.

War Horse is the heart-warming tale of Albert Narracott, his beloved horse Joey and their extraordinary journey through the First World War.

Thomas Dennis will play the central role of Albert Narracott with Jo Castleton taking on the role of his mother Rose Narracott.

Amongst the 34 strong cast is Bolton born and current Manchester resident Adam Barlow (Greig/Schweyk/Sergeant Fine) and Manchester University graduate Samuel Parker (Joey/Topthorn Hind).

They are joined by: celebrated folk musician Bob Fox (returning as Song Man), Marcus Adolphy (Carter), Peter Becker (Friedrich), Joelle Brabban (Emilie), Lucas Button (Joey Hind), Jasper William Cartwright (Billy/Heine/Klebb), Chris Charles (Joey/Topthorn Heart),Jonathan Charles (Bone/Vet Martin), Sebastian Charles (Topthorn Heart), Anna Chessher (Joey/Topthorn Head), Nicky Cross(Joey/Topthorn Hind), Max Gallagher (Geordie), Chris Garner(Allan/Manfred), Andrew Hodges (Sergeant Thunder), Lewis Howard(Joey Heart), William Ilkley (Arthur Narracott), Ben Ingles (Lt Nicholls), Billy Irving (Goose/Schnabel), Elan James (Topthorn Hind),Kiran Landa (Annie), Gwilym Lloyd (Ted Narracott), Jack Lord(Klausen), Stephen Love (Topthorn Head), Toyin Omari-Kinch (David),Tom Quinn (Joey/Topthorn Head), Domonic Ramsden (Joey/Topthorn Heart), Arinder Sadhra (Paulette), Tom Stacy (Joey Head), Elizabeth Stretton (Matron), Simon Victor (Stewart/Heine/Ludwig).

War Horse, which has been seen by over seven million people worldwide, completed its record-breaking eight year London run at the New London Theatre on 12 March 2016.  It has won 25 awards including the Tony Award for Best Play on Broadway.  Directed by Marianne Elliottand Tom Morris, Nick Stafford’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s remarkable story is the most successful play in the National Theatre’s history.  It features ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing, galloping horses to live on stage.
 
War Horse received its world premiere on 9 October 2007 at the National Theatre, where it played for two seasons before opening at the New London Theatre in March 2009.  Since then, War Horse has been seen in 97 cities in 10 countries, including productions on Broadway, in Toronto and Berlin, with touring productions in the UK and Ireland, North America, the Netherlands, Belgium and China.

War Horse is directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, designed by Rae Smith, with puppet direction, design and fabrication by Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler for Handspring Puppet Company, lighting byPaule Constable, and movement and horse choreography by Toby Sedgwick, with video design by Leo Warner and Mark Grimmer for 59 Productions, songmaker John Tams, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Christopher Shutt.

Katie Henry is the revival director and Craig Leo is the associate puppetry director.  They are joined by assistant puppetry director,Matthew Forbes and resident director, Charlotte Peters.
 
The tour of War Horse coincides with the Centenary commemorations of the end of the First World War and follows the production’s sold-out tour of the UK and Ireland in 2013-2014.
 
War Horse is produced on tour by the National Theatre.
 
Listings Information 
War Horse
Lyric Theatre
Dates: Wed 13 – Sat 30 June
Times: 7.30pm, 2pm on selected dates
Tickets: £28.50 – £55.50
Relaxed Performance: Thu 28 June, 2pm
Website 

The Grand Theatre, Leeds – until Saturday 9 June

Reviewed By Dawn Smallwood

5*****

Elvis Presley, The King of Rock and Roll, has returned – courtesy of Steve Michaels, an award winning tribute artist who has gained worldwide attention for his rendition of Elvis. Michaels has even performed alongside Elvis’ musicians and his support singers. Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield (original story writer) have the pleasure bringing This Is Elvis starring Michaels on the current UK Tour and Leeds is the sixth stop.

This Is Elvis is set in 1968 when Elvis appears in his first live TV special, which subsequently will become to be known as “The ’68 Comeback Special”, and the high ratings re-establish him the major music star of the 1960s. He eventually performs at the International Hotel in Las Vegas and reconfirms his reputation as “The King”. This tour coincides with the 50th anniversary of this TV special and his songs are played as if they were performed live yesterday.

The first act opens up with the build up to the TV special at the NBC Studios where a number of well known musical numbers are played including the infamous and then at the time controversial Hound Dog, the memorable All Shook Up and slow emotive Love Me Tender. There is a brief interlude when Elvis and his management are back in Graceland, Memphis, and eventually they travel to the International Hotel Suite in Las Vegas to prepare for Elvis’ opening night. The second act focuses solely on the opening with a number of show stopping and well known songs including Blue Suede Shoes, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling, Suspicious Minds, Can’t Help Falling In Love With You and Jailhouse Rock.

There are some poignant moments where Elvis’s vulnerability as a human being surfaces and his thoughts are drawn to his family especially his late mother and his relationship with his wife, Priscilla. Such thoughts are expressed in the moving Bridge Over Troubled Water, the gospel sounding Peace In The Valley and the reflective, tinged with regret, Always On My Mind. What is significant is the statement which Elvis makes is about music being universal – it is “black” and “white”, it is “north” and “south” and it is “rich” and “poor”. This reaffirms his awareness of the racial segregation, the political discrimination, and social inequality that was happening then in the United States and beyond and all summed up in An American Trilogy.

This Is Elvis certainly has got the audience up on their feet and they participate in the many songs that are played and sung especially in the Second Act which supposedly replicates Elvis’ Opening Night concert in Las Vegas. It is a well thought and planned musical which pinpoints Elvis’ rock and roll career and moments where his vulnerability is picked up and this could be considered a defining factor. Michaels portrays Elvis perfectly in movement and song and is supported by a very talented cast with some doubling up as the bands musicians. With a live band, under the direction of Steve Geere, and stunning staging, courtesy of Andy Walmsley and support from Nick Richings and Dan Samson; this is a show stopping energetic musical worth a night out for. Whether you’re an Elvis fan or not you’re moved, physically and figuratively, from beginning to end. An unforgettable entertaining evening!

On tour until August 2018

SELLADOOR FAMILY AND HARTSHORN – HOOK 

PRESENT

Go wild as Matt Terry – Winner of 2016’s X-Factor is announced to play Alex The Lion in the brand-new stage adaptation of Madagascar – The Musical opening at New Wimbledon Theatre on 16 July prior to a UK Tour.

Since winning X-Factor, Matt has been non-stop. He’s been recording music all over the world including Miami, LA and Scandinavia. After a top 3 hit with Ed Sheeran penned winner’s single When Christmas Comes Around, he released his debut album ‘Trouble’ in November 2017. His first single from the album, Sucker For You has had nearly 60 million streams on Spotify. After Sucker For You, Matt went back to his Spanish childhood by featuring on Enrique Iglesias’s smash single, Subeme La Radio alongside Sean Paul.

Matt tells us; ‘I am so excited to be making my acting debut in the brand-new production, Madagascar – The Musical. It’s a childhood memory for all of us! I can’t wait to be playing the lead role of Alex and bringing him to life. Expect incredible costume, set and cast. And the music is immense! It will be an awesome night for everyone to enjoy. See you all there.’

Matt will be joined by cast including Antoine Murray-Straughan,Timmika Ramsay, Jamie Lee-Morgan, Shane McDaid, Laura Johnson, Jessica Niles, Victoria Boden, Matthew Pennington and Darren John.

Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar – The Musical  follows all of your favourite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.

Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York’s Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends – Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo – have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for them. Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape – with the help of some prodigious penguins – to explore the world.

This wacky adventure for the whole family is brought to life by Selladoor Family, the producers behind James And The Giant Peach, Seussical and The Owl And The Pussycat and Hartshorn – Hook, producers of the Olivier Award winning Rotterdam, Murder Ballad, Urinetown and American Idiot . Madagascar – The Musical is directed by award winning Kirk Jameson with choreography from Fabian Aloise. Designed by Tom Rogers, with Lighting design by Howard Hudson, Sound Design by Chris Whybrow, Musical Supervision from Mark Crossland and Puppet Direction from Emma Brunton.

Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime. Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, you’ll have no choice but to “Move It, Move It!”

For tour and booking details visit www.madagascarthemusical.co.uk  and find us at @MadUKTour

CHANNING TATUM’S MAGIC MIKE LIVE

COMES TO LONDON

MAGIC MIKE LIVE TO OPEN AT THE HIPPODROME CASINO ON WEDNESDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2018

PREVIEWING FROM SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER

One year after its acclaimed launch in Las Vegas, Channing Tatum is bringing a brand new production of Magic Mike Live to the Hippodrome Casino in London’s Leicester Square.  Conceived and co-directed by Tatum, Magic Mike Live is a large-scale, live production show based on the hit films Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL, which will open in The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino on Wednesday 28 November 2018, following previews from 10 November.

The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino is being transformed into a magical, intimate, 325-seat performance space for Magic Mike Live.  From the bespoke entrance off Cranbourn Street, to the specially curated lounge and bar experience, to the cast of world-class performers, Magic Mike Live is a complete evening of unparalleled entertainment for guests aged 18 and up.  They will enter Magic Mike’s mythical Club Domina and marvel as a group of extraordinary artists perform a 360-degree dance and acrobatic spectacular in front of, behind, and above them.  Sexy dance routines intertwined with one-of-a-kind acts, will be presented by a diverse cast of performers from around the world for this hot new production.

“In so many ways Magic Mike Live is a perfect fit for us,” said Simon Thomas, CEO of The Hippodrome Casino.  “Since 1900, the venue has been delighting, shocking and reinventing the way London and its visitors are entertained. This is yet another example of how the Hippodrome resolutely refuses to stand still. As we prepare to close our theatre for a three-month, multi-million pound refurbishment, my senior management and our 730 employees look forward to joining all of London in giving Channing Tatum, the incredibly talented performers and his world-class production team, the warmest welcome the capital can muster.”

The show has been hailed as “the modern strip show we deserve” by USA Today and celebrated as “the show that has everything you could ever want” by Glamour UK.

Magic Mike Live in London is co-directed by Channing Tatum and Alison Faulk, with Teresa Espinosa as associate director, and choreographed by Alison Faulk, Teresa Espinosa and Luke Broadlick.  The Executive Producer is Vincent Marini with General Management by David Ian Productions. The production designer is Rachel O’Toole, with scenic design by Rob Bissinger and Anita LaScala (Arda Studio), costume design by Marina Toybina, lighting design by Philip Gladwell and video design by Luke Halls.  Musical supervisor is Jack Rayner, with sound design by Nick Kourtides.  Dreya Weber is aerial choreographer & aerial apparatus designer.  Production management is by Simon Gooding and Matt Jones and casting is by Jason Styres CSA.

Magic Mike Live is produced in London by Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, Greg Jacobs, Peter Kiernan, Steven Soderbergh, Nick Wechsler and United Talent Agency in association with Warner Bros., Vincent Marini, The Hippodrome Casino, Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman, TSG Entertainment & Ashley DeSimone, Richard Winkler, and The Creative House.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Magic Mike Live

The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino

Cranbourn Street

Leicester Square

London WC2H 7JH

Website:  www.magicmikelondon.com

Twitter:  @MagicMikeLDN

Facebook:  @MagicMikeLDN

Instagram:  @MagicMikeLiveLDN

Box Office:  0844 453 9091

Performances:  Tuesday to Sunday 7.30pm and Thursday to Sunday 10.00pm

Ticket Prices:  from £29.00 including booking fees

Current Booking Period:  to Sunday 28 April 2019

Running Time:  approximately 90 minutes

Magic Mike Live guests must be at least 18 years to attend – appropriate photo ID will be requested on arrival at the venue – gambleaware.org

The List Festival Party, London

The Harold Pinter Theatre, London – until 11 August 2018

Reviewed by Sharon MacDonald-Armitage

4.5****

There is a rather uncomfortable voyeuristic feeling to the opening of Nina Raine’s Consent. What appears to be an almost perfect upper middle class scene of new parents, barrister Ed (Stephen Campbell Moore) and wife Kitty (Claudie Blakley) as they share the joy of their new born child with their friends and barristers Jake (Adam James) and Rachel (Sian Clifford), however, there is an impending feeling that something is not quite right.

Through the inability to decide in what direction a sofa should face these first world problems take a backseat when Ed discusses the rape case he is prosecuting against fellow barrister and friend Tim (Lee Ingleby)  who is desperate to be in a relationship, like his friends and as such the butt of many of Ed and Jakes jokes. Once Tim is matched up with over exuberant actress Zara (Clare Foster) there appears to be a somewhat perfect symmetry to these harmonious couple’s lives.

The seriousness of the rape is played down as Ed flippantly banters on about the working class woman who had drunk too much and didn’t behave in the manner he expected a rape victim to behave and did she really not give consent? This is exacerbated by him taking on the victim’s accent and mimicking her as if to detach him from the seriousness of the intellectual and legalise discussion and play down the impending court case.  Coupled with clear tension between Jake and Rachel there is an undercurrent of friction about to come to a head, but from what direction is yet to be seen.

Raine highlights issues of marriage, relationships and betrayal and how the perspective of one person’s view of consent is very different when the tables are turned. Roger Michell’s direction allows for the actors to explore. There is a sharp realisation of how the legal profession work and how the “technicalities” leave victims crushed. Heather Craney is superb as the rape victim and transforms from strong and bewildered to devastated and ruined on finding her story shattered in court. Ed uses her own history of depression against her, whilst her alleged rapist doesn’t have his previous sexual misdemeanours even mentioned. This leaves a rather uncomfortable seat squirming feeling, with the audience who once felt the need to laugh at Ed’s ridiculing of her but now have empathy with her situation.

The cyclical structure of the play sees the tables turned on the main characters forcing the audience to think carefully about relationships and how despite trauma nothing much changes

What a detailed observer of human nature Nina Raine is, this is an intellectual and challenging piece of superb theatre and should not be missed