Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre- until 18th August 2024
Reviewer Alec Legge
5*****
Off to Queen Elizabeth Hall to see this musical show presented by the Rifco Theatre Company in company with the Watford Palace Theatre and HOME Manchester.
The show was conceived by Rifco’s Artistic Director Mr and is ‘an all singing, all dancing tale of heroes and villains, with the all the costumes and the spectacle of a Bollywood feature film. It tells the tale of being British in Bollywood and it explores what it takes to get to the top‘,
The story is that Frankie, Laila Zaidi, grows up having lost her mother and all she really wants is a loving family but she accompanies a friend to an audition where by chance she meets up with an up and coming director. He realises Frankie has talent and persuades her to come to Bollywood with him. Once there she becomes a star taking part in films and also becomes enmeshed with her co star Raju King, Geet Sagar, and becomes to all intents, a diva. However she comes to realise that the Bollywood industry is sexist and misogynistic with men always playing the leading roles. In the end she realises the truth and makes amends with her old friends and exposes Raju King for what he really is.
The dancing and singing sequences are all worthy of the Bollywood style with gorgeous and glamorous costumes and colourful dancing whilst being interspersed with sequences more akin to the west end musical genre. As a hybrid type show this really works and the fusion of the two cultures does not clash or seem disjointed. In essence it really works and should appeal to all types of audience.
In addition the show had a serious side by shedding a light on the failings of the Bollywood industry, ie sexism, misogyny and nepotism. In particular the research amongst British South Asian people working in the industry backed up these findings.
I am sure that we will see more of this type of show coming from Rifco in the future as they will carry on appealing to the British South Asian audience as well as well as appealing to an increasing audience drawn from the general theatre going population. I hope Rifco will go from strength to strength with this type of hybrid productions.
I really enjoyed this show and strongly recommend it. I hope that all the general theatre going population will not be put off seeing this production by thinking that it will only appeal to the British South Asian population as I think it will appeal to all.
EXTRA FINAL PERFORMANCE AND SUMMER MATINEES ADDED NEW POST SHOW TALKS WITH OTI MABUSE, ARLENE PHILLIPS AND AMY HART
“The ultimate Broadway musical from the golden age” Financial Times THE FIVE STAR MUSICAL
Starring
Music and Lyrics by COLE PORTER Book by SAM AND BELLA SPEWACK
Directed by Tony Award Winner BARTLETT SHER
BARBICAN THEATRE FROM 4 JUNE 2024 STRICTLY LIMITED ENGAGEMENT UNTIL 14 SEPTEMBER TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM KISSMEKATEMUSICAL.COM
With just eight weeks left of its summer residency, this is the last chance for audiences to see the critically acclaimed musical KISS ME, KATE, as the smash hit five-star Cole Porter sensation at London’s Barbican Theatre must close on 14 September. Described by the Daily Mail as “sexy and sassy” with “great songs, hot dancing and smart gags”, such is the demand for tickets that an extra performance has been added to the final week of the three-month run on Tuesday 10 September at 7.30pm.
In addition to the extra performances two exclusive post show events have also been added to the final weeks of this spectacular show.
Another Op’nin, Another Show – In conversation with Charlie Stemp, Georgina Onuorah and Hammed Animashaun. Musical theatre enthusiast Amy Hart will chat with cast members of Kiss Me, Kate about their own personal opening night rituals, their superstitions, what’s in their dressing rooms and what it’s like to form a new family of theatre folk! This talk will take place following the 7:30pm performance on Wednesday 7 August. Entry is free to ticket holders for that performance.
5, 6, 7, 8 In conversation with Leading West End Choreographers – A fascinating and thrilling discussion about choreography in the world of West End musicals, hosted by Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse with guests Arlene Phillips and choreographer of Kiss Me, Kate Anthony Van Laast. This talk will take place following the 2:30pm performance on Tuesday 27 August. Entry is free to ticket holders for that performance.
This “showstopper of a musical” (City AM) continues to thrill audiences with its “exhilarating” (The Guardian) performances from multi-award-winning Adrian Dunbar, described by The i as “a revelation” in his musical theatre debut as Fred Graham / Petruchio and Broadway musical superstar and Tony Award winner Stephanie J. Block who “commands the stage and makes every note sing” (Time Out) in her West End debut as Lilli Vanessi / Katharine.
They star alongside Charlie Stemp (Crazy For You, Mary Poppins) as Bill Calhoun and rising star Georgina Onuorah (The Wizard of Oz / Oklahoma!) as Lois Lane / Bianca. Hammed Animashaun (A Midsummer Night’s Dream / Black Ops) and Nigel Lindsay (Victoria / Shrek The Musical) are the singing hilarious gangsters and acting legend Peter Davison (Dr Who / All Creatures Great and Small) plays the role of the General in this “sizzling summer hit” (Daily Telegraph).
Producer Howard Panter said: “I am thrilled with the universally positive response we have enjoyed from both audiences and critics alike. Our stellar cast really are delivering this summer’s biggest and best musical – and receiving standing ovations at every show. The demand for tickets is so high that we have now added an additional performance to our final week. This really is the hottest show in the West End right now.”
Director Bartlett Sher (The King and I, South Pacific and To Kill A Mockingbird) has brought together an all-star creative team who have collectively won a remarkable 20 Tony awards between them. The dynamic team includes renowned choreographer Anthony Van Laast, accomplished costume designer Catherine Zuber and leading set designer Michael Yeargan. With music and lyrics by Cole Porter and the original book by Bella & Samuel Spewack, this new production promises a symphony of wit, charm and musical brilliance. Featuring a company of over 50, including a full-scale orchestra, they perform Cole Porter classics such as ‘Another Op’nin’, Another Show’, ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’, ‘Tom, Dick or Harry’ and ‘It’s Too Darn Hot’ – KISS ME, KATE is the perfect musical spectacle.
The musical farce which brilliantly showcases Cole Porter’s razor-sharp wit, won Best Musical at the Tony Awards. It’s a sophisticated, ferociously funny, show within a show – which whisks you into a world of backstage chaos and romantic entanglements as a theatre company attempt to put on a production of Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. The battle of the sexes takes centre stage as former spouses feud, only to find the off- stage antics rival the drama on-stage. Throw in a number of cases of mistaken identity, confused love, gangsters and a spectacular tap routine and you get…KISS ME, KATE.
CREATIVE TEAM Bartlett Sher – Director Anthony Van Laast – Choreographer Michael Yeargan – Set Designer Catherine Zuber – Costume Designer Donald Holder – Lighting Designer Adam Fisher – Sound Designer Stephen Ridley – Music Supervisor
LISTINGS INFORMATION Barbican Theatre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS Final performance: 14th September 2024 Running time: Approx 2 hours 40 minutes (including interval) Age guidance: 10+ Tickets from £29.50 Barbican Box Office: Barbican.org.uk or 020 7870 2500 (Telephone lines open Monday to Friday, 12.00 – 5.30pm)
Exciting cast announced for Riki Lindhome’s Drop Dead Gorgeous Pleasance Dome, King Dome, 1 Bristo Square, EH8 9AL Friday 2nd August – Saturday 24th August 2024 (select dates), 23:00
A sneak peak of the new musical based on the 1999 cult-classic film written by Lona Williams Drop Dead Gorgeous will premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe. The ultimate life and death beauty pageant scandal will be brought to life on stage by iconic performers as an innocent competition takes a dark dive into a murder mystery to remember. Presented by special arrangement with Warner Brothers Theatricals and featuring an original score written by Riki Lindhome (Wednesday, Netflix; Knives Out; Garfunkel and Oates Comedy Duo), beauty standards have never been so high stakes.
Catch a sneak peak of the new musical Drop Dead Gorgeous, based on the 1999 cult classic film written by Lona Williams, set to premiere at Edinburgh Fringe on 2nd August. The ultimate life and death beauty pageant scandal will be brought to life on stage by iconic performers as an innocent competition takes a dark dive into a murder mystery to remember.
Taking part in this mystery will be actress and singer-songwriter and X Factor’s semi-finalist Diana Vickers (GIVE OUT GIRLS, Comedy Central). Vickers will be starring in this to-die-for beauty contest, as well as the new musical hitting Fringe this year I Wish You Well – The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical. Vickers is known for the West End revival of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice; BIG The Musical, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Gais Energy Dublin; and SON OF A PREACHER MAN directed by Craig Revel-Horwood.
Multi award-winning Australian actor, singer, comedian and screenwriter best known for her work with sketch group, Aunty Donna, Michelle Brasier (Aunty Donna, ABC, Netflix) joins the cast. Renowned for her sell-out one-woman comedy-as-philosophy shows across Melbourne, Sydney, London, New York, LA and Edinburgh, Brasier also debuted a solo show Average Bear to sell out audiences at London, LA, and Off-Broadway in March, and has her solo show Michelle Brasier: Legacy at this year’s Fringe.
Actor, writer and musician Tori Allen-Martin (Unforgotten, ITV; London Kills, BBC; Wild About You, West End) will also be leaving the ski slopes in I Wish You Well – The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical to join this cast of killer contestants. She has worked extensively for artists such as Eliza And The Bear, Lynda Carter, Fatboy Slim, and Idris Elba when she was commissioned to turn Elba’s Mandela album into a musical, leading to a workshop at The Dominion Theatre.
New York based musician, actor and comedian Charlene Kaye (KAYE) will be donning a sash and crown after her hit solo show TIGER DAUGHTER: OR, HOW I BROUGHT MY IMMIGRANT MOTHER ULTIMATE SHAME, also at Fringe this year! KAYE has toured internationally alongside acts such as Arctic Monkeys, alt-J and St. Vincent, and even played SNL with Coldplay.
Award-winning writer and actor Natalie Arle-Toyne (Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning; Eddie and the Slumber Sisters, National Theatre Scotland; CATS winning Rhinoceros, Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre). Arle-Toyne’s one-woman comedy shows have toured the world, and she is recognised for her roles in BBC’s Comedy Feeds and River City among others.
Drop Dead Gorgeous is debuting at Edinburgh Festival Fringe as a work in progress. Produced by Alchemation, an award-winning theatrical producing office founded by Kevin McCollum (The Notebook, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Devil Wears Prada, SIX (North America), Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights), be among the first audiences to hear the killer new songs.
Aimie Atkinson, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Rob Houchen, Emily-Mae, Nadim Naaman and Oliver Tompsett in
Musicals Live At Loseley this Saturday 3 August
CNC Live presents Live At Loseley a spectacular summer showcase of top family-friendly entertainment set amidst the breathtaking beauty of the estate and gardens at Loseley Park, Guildford, this weekend from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 August 2024.
Experience the enchantment of Musicals Live at Loseley, as West End Stars – including Aimie Atkinson, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Rob Houchen, Emily-Mae, Nadim Naaman and Oliver Tompsett – supported by the Guildford School of Acting Singers, grace the estate with their musical prowess, led by the 24-piece Bourne Musicals Orchestra conducted by Steve Moss. Prepare to be swept away by beloved hits from Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Wicked, Chicago, SIX and many more. The principal singers, fresh from starring roles in West End productions, promise an evening of unforgettable performances. The show will close with a spectacular firework display.
Meanwhile, kicking off the weekend in style on Friday 2 August, The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons – Live at Loseley, is the ultimate celebration of timeless music, paying homage to one of the most iconic groups of all time. From the streets of New Jersey to the glittering stages of the West End and Broadway, their unforgettable melodies have captivated audiences for over five decades.Featuring beloved hits such as Sherry, My Eyes Adored You, Big Girls Don’t Cry, and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, as well as the timeless refrain of Oh, What A Night!, this nostalgic journey showcases the very best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. With talented cast members from acclaimed productions such as Jersey Boys, accompanied by their live band, this show comes from the creators of The Barricade Boys.
Led by the 32-piece Bourne Movies Orchestra, conducted by Steve Moss, Movie Soundtracks Live at Loseley on Sunday 4 August will be a spectacular evening of much-loved movie themes for the whole family played by some of the best musicians the UK has to offer. Expect to hear classic themes from blockbuster hits, such as Indiana Jones, E.T, Star Wars and Harry Potter, accompanied by impressive laser light shows and a dazzling fireworks display to close the evening.
All three events are family-friendly and fully accessible. There will be buggies available to help those that need it get to their pitches. Please bring your own chair or blanket to sit on. No large umbrellas or parasols, gazebos or anything else that may impede the view of the people sitting behind you. No BBQs or naked flames. No dogs. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and bring warm clothes for later in the evening. There will be high quality catering and bars on site.
CNC Live’s goal is to bring exceptional quality shows to country homes and estates across the UK and believe there is no better place to start than Loseley Park in Guildford, Surrey. The company is comprised of Chris Elcocks and Nick and Charlotte Wyschna, who between them have over 30 years of experience in production and entertainment. CNC’s events will not only include orchestras and star acts but will also be wowing audiences with firework, laser and drone shows.
Writer and Director Tess Seddon Designer Rūta Irbīte
Lighting Designer Elliot Griggs
Composer and Sound Designer Lee Affen
Composer and Sound Designer Associate Sam Glossop
Musical Director Jonathan Mitra
Assistant Director and Choreographer Edgars Naglis
Production Manager Tom Robbins
Fight Director Neil Tattersall
Dramaturgical Support Simon Marshall
Playhouse Theatre, Sheffield Wednesday 14 – Saturday 17 August 2024
Sheffield Theatres present Something Old, Something New, a brand-new production by Sheffield People’s Theatrewhich runs in the Playhouse from Wednesday 14 – Saturday 17 August 2024.
The show follows the chaotic run-up to a Sheffield wedding, told by a company of 50 people from the city and the surrounding area – with the youngest being 12 and the oldest at 77. The play has been developed in collaboration with 200+ community members and groups across Sheffield through workshops, auditions and consultations.
Jenna Omeltschenko, Learning and Participation Director at Sheffield Theatres, said:
“It’s been an absolute gift that the communities of Sheffield have shared their hopes, dreams and experiences with us over the last 8 months. Now, with a group of all ages and backgrounds from across the city region, it’s so exciting to see this original production come to life. We can’t wait to welcome audiences this summer to the wedding spectacular, you bring your dancing shoes and we’ll bring the good times.”
‘If today has taught me anything, there are endless stories in this city.’
It’s meant to be Nat and Alex’s big day but everyone is behaving badly.
The father-in-law is nowhere to be found. The aunties are on the warpath. The guests from London keep attempting Yorkshire accents. The teenage band want to put their own spin on the first dance. And don’t even mention the catering.
When the party gets forced into a rundown community centre everyone has to face what it means to commit to someone and somewhere. Can they come together and save the wedding and their community?
Written and Directed by Tess Seddon (How a City Can Save the World), Something Old, Something New is a brand-new production. Inspired by workshops with over 200 people across Sheffield and presented by Sheffield People’s Theatre: Sheffield Theatres’ intergenerational theatre company for anyone aged 12+ with a shared passion for creating great theatre – both on-stage and behind the scenes.
Tickets for Something Old, Something New are on sale now. Tickets can be booked through the Box Office in person, over the phone on 0114 249 6000 or at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.
WILL BE STAGED AT THEATRE ROYAL BATH FROM SATURDAY 22 MARCH TO SATURDAY 12 APRIL 2025
THE MULTI AWARD WINNING CREATIVE TEAM INCLUDES:
JOHN DOYLE (DIRECTOR)
STEVEN LUTVAK (ORIGINAL SCORE)
JAY DYER (BOOK)
PRODUCED BY THEATRE ROYAL BATH PRODUCTIONS IN ASSOCIATION WITH UNIVERSAL THEATRICAL GROUP
Theatre Royal Bath Productions in association with Universal Theatrical Group are delighted to announce that brand new musical ALRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS will stage its World Premiere at Theatre Royal Bath next spring from 22 March to 12 April 2025 with press night on 27 March 2025.
A unique theatrical journey inside the mind of Alfred Hitchcock, one of cinema’s legendary characters, the creative genius behind iconic movies including Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Rear Window, The Birdsand many, many more, Alfred Hitchcock Presents is directed by Tony® Award winner John Doyle (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Company) with an original score by Steven Lutvak (Best Musical Tony® Award Winner for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) and an inventive book by Jay Dyer(Showtime’s Californication).
For over a decade, Alfred Hitchcock Presents was must-see television in America, as the whole country joined to watch some of Hollywood’s biggest stars in episodes of mystery, mayhem and classic Hitchcockian wit, presented by the man himself. This musical premiere weaves together spine-tingling episodes to take audiences on a whodunnit musical journey like no other.
Featuring a jazz-infused score and a cast of characters who simply can’t help themselves from getting into the kind of delicious trouble that only Mr. Hitchcock could concoct, all will be reminded that we think we know a lot but…we do not.
Casting, and further creative team are still to be announced.
Produced in association with Universal Theatrical Group.
CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR NEW RETELLING OF SHAKESPEARE’S ETERNAL LOVE STORY
EACH SHOW TO BE PERFORMED BY AN ENSEMBLE OF DEAF, DISABLED AND NEURODIVERGENT ACTORS.
DIRECTED BY GRAEAE’S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JENNY SEALEY
SHAKESPEARE NORTH PLAYHOUSE
FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2024 – SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER 2024
THEATRE BY THE LAKE
SATURDAY 12 – SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 2024
“Love is heavy and light, bright and dark, hot and cold, sick and healthy, asleep and awake – it is everything except what it is.”
Shakespeare North Playhouse and Graeae today announce casting for a new production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Julietthis autumn. Directed by Graeae’s artistic director Jenny Sealey and staged in association with Theatre by the Lake, the production will open at Shakespeare North Playhouse on 13 September, where it will run to 5 October, before moving to Theatre by the Lake from 12 to 26 October. This retelling of Shakespeare’s eternal love story will seamlessly weave BSL, captions and audio description into the storytelling. Each show will be performed in a relaxed environment by an ensemble of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent actors.
Against all odds, a young couple fall in love.
An intense, vibrant love that burns and ignites a powder keg within communities already smoldering with tension. Tragic misunderstandings follow, with deadly consequences.
You think you know how this story goes, and who this couple is?
Maybe you do… Maybe you don’t.
This new production of Shakespeare’s tragic story of star-crossed lovers, celebrates differences, challenges preconceptions and shines a light on what ultimately brings us together – love.
The cast for this production will include Petre Dobre(The Outrun, Song in Sign, “Time To Wake Up” ((Wake Up Triple Bill, Solard Bear)), Ciaran Forrest, Kellan Frankland(House of Bernarda Alba, And Others), Cherie Gordon(Precious Emily, Everyday, Summer’s Park Adventure), Shreya M Patel(Much Ado About Nothing, Night Shift),Reece Pantry(Of Mice and Men, Happiness, Comedy of Errors) and, making her professional stage debut, Rheanon Shaw. The BSL performance interpreters will be Irmina St Catherine and Craig Painting.
Jenny Sealey OBE, Artistic Director at Graeae said, “Someone on Twitter told me, ‘here’s a novel idea- do a Shakespeare with an all disabled cast and sell tickets to only disabled people. Good luck with that’. Well, I am indeed doing a Shakespeare- Romeo and Juliet with an all Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent cast but it is a play for the audiences of the North West whether they be Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent or non-disabled. Romeo and Juliet is a play that can touch us all. I am very excited to be working on this with my wonderful cast and creative team and to play at Shakespeare North Playhouse and Theatre by the Lake. “
Laura Collier,Creative Director at Shakespeare North Playhouse, ““We are thrilled to embark on this incredible collaboration with Graeae and Theatre by the Lake. Romeo and Juliet is perhaps the most famous of all stories to explore the conflict of youth. In this new production I want the audience to feel like all of us can be Romeo, and all of us can be Juliet. Together, we will celebrate humanity, challenge preconceptions, and shine a light on what ultimately brings us together—love.”
Romeo and Juliet will be directed by Jenny Sealey, with Anthony Gough as assistant director. The show will be designed by Tim Meacock, with lighting design by Simisola Majekodunmi, and sound design by Oliver Vibrans. Anthony Gough will be audio description consultant, with Christopher Harrison as AV designer (creative captions), and Daryl Jackson as BSL consultant. Vicky Berry will be access manager for Graeae, and Ben Spiller will be Shakespeare consultant. Casting by Liv Barr. The stage management team is Katie Bosomworth (CSM), Andrea Claire as DSM and Harry Fearnley-Brown (production manager). Mark Lockyer will be voice coach.
Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London– until Sunday 4th August 2024
Reviewed by Phil Brown
4 ****
This set of 6 playlets, running back to back for 90 minutes (no interval), is created from the writings of Charles Bukowski. More of a cult figure in the UK, German born Bukowski, grew up in Los Angeles and pursued a career as an author and poet leaving some impact on underground and mainstream American culture, particularly popular music. Time magazine named him “laureate of American lowlife” and one can’t help thinking that LA, a magnet for the full spectrum of personalities on a mission, would have played a major part in forming his ideas and generating oddball characters.
Life with a Little “L” is described as a dramatic composition in the genre of “dirty realism”, set in, and with music from, the 1950s to the 1970s. Whilst the title for this intriguing sequence of performances implies some grittiness from life at the margins, this is Bukowski, and we’ve learnt that apparently ordinary lives, lived by ordinary people, mostly behind closed doors, can turn up some very bizarre behaviours once exposed by circumstances beyond their control. This is a compelling and relate-able, but not always comfortable watch. It’s not all downbeat though, some of the more awkward scenes also have comic moments.
The ambitious adaptation to the stage (Art Theatre) shows flair and serious expertise. I doubt it could have been bettered (director – Anya Viller). Each story mixes explanatory narration and dialogue cleverly, whilst the sparse but imaginative staging (Alexandra Dashevskaya), well chosen costumery (Joseph Nigoghossian), and atmospheric lighting (Benjamin Vetluzhskikh) are well judged and support each of the performances brilliantly. The focus is always firmly on the two or three actors on stage.
The acting performances by 5 exceptionally versatile players are out of this world good. The cast of three women (Victoria Valcheva, Eileen Duffy, Francesca Waterworth) and two men (James Viller, Will Stevens) bring these stories to life with energy and nuance. Maybe it’s me, but I particularly enjoyed the convincing American accents – I can’t see this show working as well using any other diction. On occasion, the snatches of contemporary music deployed typically at the start and end of the stories, do frustratingly overwhelm some key spoken lines.
The six stories constituting Life with a Little “L” are:
‘Loneliness’ – a woman mulls over and then responds to a “Woman Wanted” ad she sees in a car window, leading to a spooky encounter
‘Hard without music’ – a man advertises his music collection and eventually sells it to two nuns for $35
‘A Man’ – a woman escapes an abusive husband and visits a down and out acquaintance in a trailer park and he gradually succumbs to his lust for her legs
‘Love for $17.50’ – a man becomes obsessed with a mannequin in a shop window and eventually buys her for company (and more?)
‘A .45 to pay the rent’ – a man and his daughter have a surreal relationship during the normal day. He then prepares to “work the night shift” of crime.
‘Post Office’ – Bukowski’s first, autobiographical novel covering work for the US Post. As Hank Chinaski, it focuses on his relationship with his first wife Joyce
These brief descriptions give a flavour of what to expect but hardly do justice to the richness of the material and the subtle qualities of the performances.
Life with a Little “L” could be seen by some as containing somewhat controversial elements in this day and age of heightened sensitivities to outdated attitudes. This material does come from a different time and reflects the cultural norms of 50 years ago. Nevertheless, it remains intriguing, and has much wider appeal than may be obvious at first glance. The performance was well attended in Riverside’s Studio 3, but the challenge both theatre and company have is to reach a much wider audience.
This series of outstanding performances make both the mundane and the borderline extreme, totally absorbing and irresistible. This deserves a decent marketing push and to go mainstream. Highly recommended.
Curve Theatre, Leicester – until Saturday 3rd August 2024
Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh
5*****
Scrap thoughts of any other of The 39 Steps you may have seen. Very loosely based on the classic 1935 Alfred Hitchcock adaption of Buchan’s novel, his production isn’t moody or somber, its hilariously clever and utterly brilliant! We follow reluctant but dashing hero, Richard Hannay, a truly British bachelor, mundanely meandering in London. But, after a fateful encounter with a mysterious lady at the theatre, he becomes embroiled in a deadly plot of espionage, and is plunged into a nightmarish escape for his life, and a fight to clear his name, as he is suspected of murder. He traverses his way through the Scottish Highlands, meets an array of quirky characters, and gets himself into some rather sticky situations in an attempt to find out the true meaning behind the 39 Steps, before it is too late.
Patrick Barlow’s production is a fantastically frenetic triumph which sees 4 actors playing multiple roles switching before your eyes. The energy, skill and effort are astounding, when combined with the entertainment factor you have a winner. It’s like pure magic. The script is superb, every joke lands because the comedy timing is impeccable. The physical comedy is phenomenal and doesn’t end once the character has finished their speaking part, every actor fully embraces every role, only finishing when they have left the stage, which is mind blowing when you think 4 actors play 150 characters, sometimes simultaneously.
Directors Maria Aitken, Nicola Samer and Toby Sedgwick do an amazing job to bring the performance alive and along with set and costume designer Peter McKintosh and Lighting Designer Ian Scott, they incorporate some truly innovative techniques with no repetition. Fast paced and fun, yet there was minimal set, much of it was brought on by the cast. There were train chases, car chases, costume changes, climbing in and out of windows, wandering in and out of doors, parties, windy moors, speedy costume and accent changes, shadow puppets, miniature trains, gunshots, flying bodies, homages to Hitchcock, this list is not exhaustive.
Maddie Rice and Eugene McCoy are incredible as the two ‘Clowns’. Playing the majority of the multiple roles, they seamlessly switch between vastly different characters within moments. They are laugh out loud funny and truly talented. They may switch into a character for only a few seconds, but they are fully that character, the accent, the mannerisms, the lot. It’s incredible and has to be seen to be understood. Tom Byrne as Richard Hannay is completely endearing as the reluctant, awkward, but completely loveable British gent. The perfect leading man, and lead he did, taking on the majority of the storytelling he commanded the stage and played the funny straight man wonderfully. Safeena Ladha as his independent leading lady shone. Handling deftly all three of the main female roles, Ladha gave each of them an individual roundedness, but it was the connection between Pamela and Hannay which perfectly captures that quintessential English repression and properness of the time, and we were left wondering, would these two tell each other how they feel? So many mysteries to solve in this play.
The 39 Steps is a rip-roaring romp of a rendition. There is so much to love about it. Its fun and funny, full of energy and laughter, innovative and chock full of imagination, a visual delight and utterly heartwarming. Everything a great night at theatre ought to be.
White Bear Theatre, Kennington – until 3 August 2024
Reviewed by Emily Smith
2**
The Box, written by Brian Coyle and presented by MIXED UP Theatre, is an exploration of the relationship between Tom (Martin Edwards) and Kate (Sarah Lawrie), somewhat centred around a mysterious box in the middle of the room. I say somewhat centred around ‘the box’ because despite being the name of the play, the box didn’t have a starring role. I had expected the mystery surrounding the contents of the box to be a core part of the plot, however it seemed to be more of a prop, used in some, but not all, scenes. Ultimately, the titular box could have been removed all together and the story would still have made sense.
Throughout the performance I found the dialogue hard to follow with the script seemingly flicking between points in time, with Tom or Kate often changing the subject and disrupting conversations, and their role-playing in parts didn’t help this! While this was likely intentional, it left me with more questions, which I then spent the rest of the performance trying to answer. What was clear though was that their relationship is complicated and something has happened to trigger this crisis point.
As the plot develops, details begin to emerge about this significant event that are intended to leave the audience questioning if Tom or Kate is lying, and if they are withholding any details from each other. I expect these revelations could have felt dramatic in the right circumstances, shocking even, but for me this fell flat. Considering the themes of the production (without giving away spoilers), I felt the performance lacked emotional depth. Between the direction by Jonathan Woolf and the script by Brian Coyle, there did not appear to be room for the audience to develop sincere connections with the characters, leaving the whole thing feeling quite cold. A few dramatic moments, such as a fight scene and destruction of the box, did little to remedy this.
Simon Beyer’s sound and lighting design was perhaps once of the main notable strengths of the performance. The use of lighting to change the mood of the scene, including strobe lighting as the box is dramatically destroyed, was well done. The music felt appropriate and added ambience at the relevant moments.
The performances of Martin Edwards and Sarah Lawrie as Tom and Kate respectively were admirable, though the exchanges between them did not always feel genuine given the gravity of the situation they were navigating.
The White Bear Theatre is a small venue in Kennington, which made the performance feel very intimate. The actors projected well with clear dialogue making the audience feel very close to the action, and this setup made the dramatic moments even more (purposefully) unsettling. That being said, the use of real (herbal) cigarettes for example was a little much for me, with the smell lingering in the small room, and made me wonder if the wine and gin were real too!
I left the theatre feeling somewhat confused and while this production had promise, for me it didn’t meet its potential.
