NEW VERSION OF

SHAKESPEARE’S OTHELLO

TO FEATURE THREE IAGOS

Trish Wadley Productions today announces initial casting for a new version of one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, Othello. Martins Imhangbe will play the title role in this new production conceived by director Sinéad Rushe, which will feature Iago played collectively by three actors – Michael Fox, Orlando James and Jeremy Neumark Jones – and a cast of actor-musicians. Rose Riley plays Desdemona with further casting to be announced.

The production opens at Riverside Studios, London on 6 October, with previews from 4 October, and runs until 28 October 2023.

Producer Trish Wadley said: “I am thrilled to be bringing this show to Riverside Studios, working with such an inspirational and talented group of creatives. This imaginative and fresh take on Othello conceived by director Sinéad Rushe will allow audiences to be fully immersed in the story, and to understand how Iago is able to penetrate Othello’s mind so deeply. Michael Fox’s original music which will be played live during the performance adds another dimension and I can’t wait to see this production to come to life.”

Trish Wadley Productions presents

OTHELLO
By William Shakespeare

Cast includes: Michael Fox, Martins Imhangbe, Orlando James, Jeremy Neumark Jones and Rose Riley

Director: Sinéad Rushe; Composer: Michael Fox; Set and Costume Designer: Natalie Pryce;

Sound Design: Ali Taie; Lighting Design: Alex Lewer

Riverside Studios

4 – 28 October 2023

From the producer of the recent acclaimed and sell-out production of The Shape of Things at Park Theatre, this fast-paced new production of Othello sees Iago performed by an ensemble of three actors and features live music composed by Michael Fox.

‘Tis in ourselves that we are thus, or thus. Our bodies are gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners. We have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, our unbitted lusts.’

Othello is at the peak of his success: in life, in war, and in love. Until he finds himself utterly betrayed by the person he has trusted most: ‘honest’ Iago.

In this re-imagining of Othello, Iago’s shape-shifting, corrosive force is portrayed as a contagion that infects Othello’s imagination and surrounds him from all sides. The squad of Iagos revels in different manoeuvres: switching between a public and private ‘face’, replacing each other as reinforcements, and swarming together as a collective, strategic think-tank.

Michael Fox plays Iago. Fox is perhaps best known as Andy the footman in Downton Abbey, both television and film. He also composes music and formed the folk duo Michael and Michelle with his Downton Abbey co-star Michelle Dockery, releasing their first EP with Decca Records last year. His theatre credits include Clybourne Park (Park Theatre), Kerry Jackson (National Theatre), All in a Row, A Lie of the Mind (Southwark Playhouse), and An Enemy of the People (Chichester Theatre). Other television work includes Endeavour, The Ark, Bombing Auschwitz, New Worlds, Littlebigmouth, and Mrs Bradley Mysteries; and forfilm, Dunkirk, The World Will Tremble, Good People, and Bonver. 

Martins Imhangbe plays Othello. He has become well known for his portrayal of the boxer Will Mondrich in the Netflix hit series Bridgerton and was commended in the Ian Charleson Award 2019 for his role in The Tragedy of King Richard II. His other theatre credits include Othello (ETT), Death of a Salesman (Young Vic), The Tragedy of King Richard II (Almeida Theatre), Absolute Hell (National Theatre), The Royale (Bush Theatre), Luce (Southwark Playhouse), The Skriker (Royal Exchange Theatre), Lionboy (Complicité), and Romeo and Juliet (Orange Tree Theatre).His film work includes The Last British Execution and Digging. 

Orlando James plays Iago. His theatre work includes Even Stillness Breathes Softly Against A Brick Wall (Orange Three Theatre), The Winter’s Tale, ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, Macbeth (Cheek by Jowl), Shakespeare in Love (West End), Another Country (Theatre Royal Bath and Chichester Theatre), The Madness of George III (Theatre Royal Bath and UK tour), Curious (Riverside Studios) and Country Feedback (The Old Vic). His television work includes Six Wives and Doctor Who; and for film, Wonder Woman II and The Laureate.

Jeremy Neumark Jones plays Iago. His theatre work includes Macbeth, Private Peaceful and The Real Inspector Hound (National Youth Theatre), and Much Ado About Nothing (Thelma Holt). His television work includes The Feed, The Last Post, Siblings, One of Us, Grantchester, and Jekyll and Hyde; and for film Forgiveness, Tiebreaker, Denial, and Leavey. 

Rose Riley plays Desdemona. Her theatre work includes Hamnet (RSC), Grafting (Rose Theatre Kingston), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (National Theatre), Loaded (Birmingham Old Rep), South of Home (Theatre 503), RE:HOME (The Yard Theatre), One Minute (Delirium/The Vaults), and Tiger Country (Hampstead Theatre). Her television work includes Call The Midwife, Doctors and Life After Life; and for film 90 Minutes, Big Brother and Home.

Sinéad Rushe is an Olivier Award nominated theatre director and acting coach.Her theatre work include AntigoneNOW (UC Davis, USA), Loaded (Old Rep Birmingham), Concert (Barbican Theatre, New York and international tour), Night Just Before the Forests (Macau Arts Festival China), Diary of a Madman (Sherman Cymru and international tour), and Out of Time (Barbican Theatre, New York and international tour – Olivier Award nomination). She is the Artistic Director of Creative Actor Training and Lead Acting Tutor at RADA. She is the author of Michael Chekhov’s Acting Technique: A Practitioner’s Guide, and co-translator into French of four plays by Howard Barker. www.sineadrushe.co.uk

“The first thing I do when I compose is turn off my brain and write from my heart. Music – like love – knows no borders”

Broadway legend Frank Wildhorn talks to Nathan Matthews on his brilliant Theatrecast podcast about his career and composing ‘Death Note’ 

if you love musicals you really deserve to take 26 minutes to listen to this fantastic interview

You can find Theatrecast on all major podcast platforms (Acast: https://shows.acast.com/theatrecast / Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/…/theatrecast/id1634009366 / Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3mNJIXVO4UEIOBYkiLIirO / Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.comhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3mNJIXVO4UEIOBYkiLIirOdzL3RoZWF0cmVjYXN0)

Theatrecast is also on all social media platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theatrecast

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theatrecast

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theatrecast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theatrecastUK

IRVINE WELSH’S PORNO TOURS TO THREE NORTHWEST VENUES

New play visits Liverpool Olympia on 5^th October, Crewe Lyceum on 6^th October and Sale Waterside in Manchester on 7th October

Tour follows a sell-out run at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe and prior to a run in London’s West End

Fifteen years after TRAINSPOTTING, what has become of Renton, Sickboy, Begbie & Spud? Disturbing, shocking & extremely funny. Contains swearing, sexual language, debauchery, drug use and even more swearing. As if you’d expect anything else…

Irvine Welsh’s PORNO is a full-length stage adaptation of the novel by the same name, which sold out one of the largest Pleasance venues for a month long run at Edinburgh Fringe in 2022, earning rave reviews from audiences and critics alike.

After a three-show run at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow, the production visits three Northwest venues this autumn, Liverpool Olympia on 5th October, Crewe Lyceum on 6th October and Sale Waterside (Manchester) on 7th October, forming part of a UK tour. The producer has also just announced a transfer to London’s West End, playing for a season at the Arts Theatre from 29th October 2023.

Mark Renton hasn’t been back to Leith since… well, since he robbed his pals and f*cked off to Amsterdam. Life has been… good? But there’s always been something missing. How will SICKBOY, BEGBIE & SPUD react to the return of RENTON? Have they all settled down and become respectable members of society? Did they CHOOSE LIFE? Of course, they f*cking didn’t!

With an acclaimed cast of Scott Kyle (Outlander, Kilo Two Bravo, The Angel’s Share) as Renton, James McAnerney (Outlander, NEDs, Taggart, Rebus, Nightsleeper)as Sickboy, Jasmine Main (The Nest, Scot Squad, BAFTA Scotland Award Nominee)as Lizzie, Chris Gavin (Days That Shook The World, Starcaster) as Begbie, Kevin Murphy as Spud and Jim Brown as Knox.

PORNO is written and produced by the award-winning Davie Carswell and directed by Jonty Cameron.

Davie Carswell explained: “After a fantastic run at Edinburgh Fringe last year, it’s time to take the show on the road, stopping off in three venues across the Northwest to bring the show to Irvine Welsh fans. The adaptation follows the novel as closely as possible. We’ve used plenty of Irvine’s writing verbatim to give it a really authentic script. I loved T2, but it wasn’t Porno.

“The show deals with reaching a certain age and reflecting on what you’ve achieved, or not as the case may be. As you can expect from characters created by Irvine Welsh, the play will include sexual themes, drugs, and a lot of swearing. As if you’d expect anything else.

“I am really excited to see the reaction of the northwest audiences prior to our West End run and hope audiences will enjoy the ride.”

What the critics said…

“It’s difficult to imagine anyone but Robert Carlyle taking on the role of psychopath Begbie but Chris Gavin is a worthy successor.”

Natalie O’Donoghue – Broadway World

“Coarse, gutsy and funny. The pathos as real as the comedy.”

Mark Fisher – The Guradian

**** “Completely blown away by how great it was!”

Edinburgh Live

**** “This play is excellent. The characters fill the stage and own it.”

One4Review

**** “Everything that Trainspotting lovers wanted and more.”

Theatre Scotland

**** “A fantastic stage adaptation”

Theatre Weekly

**** “Forget Trainspotting 2, this is the real story”.

Sinners Review

Website:         www.daviecarswell.com/porno

Twitter:           @daviecar @FringePORNO

Facebook:       Irvine Welsh’s p0rn0

LISTING INFORMATION

IRVINE WELSH’S

PORNO

LIVERPOOL – THE OLYMPIA

Thursday 5 October 2023

www.liverpoololympia.co.uk

CREWE – LYCEUM

Friday 6 October 2023

www.crewelyceum.co.uk

SALE – WATERSIDE

Saturday 7 October 2023

www.watersidearts.org

Theatre Royal Brighton

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CREATIVE LEARNING OUT AND ABOUT:
JOIN THE THEATRE ROYAL BRIGHTON TEAM FOR
FREE PUPPET MAKING WORKSHOPS IN THE CITY THIS SUMMER

Theatre in a Suitcase Puppet Making Workshops:
Thu 24 Aug | 11.30am – 2.30pm at Churchill Square Shopping Centre
Thu 31 Aug | 11.30am – 2.30pm at Pavilion Gardens

Whilst restoration of the iconic façade of Theatre Royal Brighton continues on New Road, the theatre’s Creative Learning team are out and about in the city running free workshops for children and families!

Theatre in a Suitcase puppet making workshops are free drop-in sessions running for the next two Thursdays. At Churchill Square Shopping Centre on Thursday 24 August and Pavilion Gardens on Thursday 31 August, both from 11.30am – 2.30pm. 

These workshops invite participants to drop in and join the fun. With no prior registration required, families can simply arrive at any point during the 3-hour session and immerse themselves in a world of artistic expression and imagination. The team will be on hand to guide participants through the process, ensuring that everyone, from little ones to adults, can craft their own unique puppet creations. The best part? Admission is completely free for all, making it a fantastic way for families to spend quality time together while discovering their inner artists. An added bonus: TRB’s ticketing team will also be on hand for anyone wanting to pop along and book any tickets in person whilst their box office is closed!

Theatre Royal Brighton, who have recently released their new season brochure (digital copy here), reopens on Saturday 9 September with a free open day on stage. Saturdays at the Royal programme for children and families returns from Saturday 16 September – with workshops including Saturday Club for 10 – 12 year olds, Skip’s Family Workshops for 5 – 10 years olds and Stories with Skip for 2 – 4 year olds and their grown-ups. These sessions are themed and include a look around the Theatre, arts and crafts, playing, stories and drama; and if you’re wondering who Skip is – he’s a mischievous theatre mouse and the mascot for Skip’s Club events, look out for him when you visit the Theatre! Age is a Stage fun filled weekly sessions for anyone aged 50+ return from Friday 15 Sep. All of these events can be booked online via ATGTickets.com/Brighton.

  

Nottingham Concert Hall – until Saturday 26th August 2023

Reviewed by Amy V Gathercole

5*****

“Rocky Horror is the most fun, feisty and downright sexy show you’re going to experience in a theatre. Don’t dream it, Be it…”

Fun, frolics and frocks, ‘It’s just a step to the left’ … on a very memorable night at the best show in town. It’s not often that shows run for 50 years and with the iconic cult favourite Rocky Horror Show it’s easy to see why.

Rocky Horror is the most fun, feisty and downright sexy show you’re going to experience in a theatre. Don’t dream it, Be it. Combining elements of; musical theatre, sci-fi, drag, rock’n’roll and horror in its explosion of delight, deviancy and debauchery.

For anyone who doesn’t know what to expect, in its essence, Rocky Horror is a very twisted fairytale. Our conservative couple Brad (Richard Meek) and Janet (Hayley Flaherty) (who both have great comedic timing and powerful vocals) happen upon a house of horrors on a very wet night.

They’ve broken down and are looking for the use of a phone, as chaos and sexuality are (literally) thrust upon them upon their arrival and they quickly learn that a night spent here will change their lives, minds and hearts forever.

It’s the most fun you can have as an audience member, as you’re encouraged to participate in numbers like ‘Time Warp‘ and of course, it’s a show where you will find many of the audience embracing the theme with costumes including sequins and stilettos. You won’t be asked to ‘shh’ by an usher or asked to leave for heckling the narrator – who was expertly played by Joe McFadden (as part of a 4-week stint). He even added some tongue-in-cheek improv to certain lines shouted from the audience and giving it a Nottingham and topical spin in parts – a nice touch that was greeted with a lot of chuckles.

At its heart, it is a show about acceptance, and it’s been uniting LGBTQIA+ people and communities globally for decades. Helping to provide answers for people questioning their identity and providing a safe space for the alternative ego in us all.

Some roles are an actor’s dream come true and the energetic, charismatic and devious role of unforgettable Dr Frank’n’Furter is one of them. Here it’s expertly handled by Stephen Webb, who is having the time of his life cavorting and frolicking around that stage in his pants. Webb is equal parts terrifying, alluring, commanding and sexy all at once but he makes the role his own with every strut he makes on the stage, whilst also echoing the unforgettable Tim Curry.

Another notable performance is that of Riff Raff from Kristian Lavercombe, who has now performed this role in over 2000 shows around the world. Taking on the mannerisms of the creator of RHPS, Richard O’Brien but adding their own creepy and at times sinister aesthetics.

A favourite of mine has always been Columbia (I even dressed as her for the occasion) and here Darcy Finden played her vulnerable and chaotic nature, the unhinged and spurned lover to perfection.

Some of the iconic costumes of Sue Blane have had a modern update, but thankfully the memorable ones can still be found on the stage (and in the audience). The set is brilliant, combining old-school staging techniques to convey humour (particularly in the seduction
scenes in the stand-up right bed on the stage) and using more modern lighting effects to create the mesmerising and mysterious elements of the show.

In short, it’s THE party to be at. It’s raucous and racy and it will have you joyously dancing in the aisles as your jaw drops a bit more.

INITIAL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR IMPOSTER 22 AT THE 

ROYAL COURT THEATRE

The Royal Court Theatre, in collaboration with Access All Areas, today announces the initial casting for Imposter 22 by Molly Davies (God Bless the Child, A Miracle). The production has been created from an original idea by neurodivergent Royal Court Associate Director Hamish Pirie, and is a co-creation with seven learning disabled and autistic artists who also perform in the piece. Directed by Pirie, these artists and performers are Kirsty Adams, Cian Binchy, Housni Hassan (DJ), Dayo Koleosho, Stephanie Newman, Lee Phillips and Charlene Salter. Anna Constable will also perform as an alternate to Stephanie Newman, with further casting to be announced. The production runs from Saturday 23 September – Saturday 14 October 2023, with a press night on Friday 29 September 2023. 

Introducing the co-creators and cast:

Kirsty Adams said: “I’m really excited and happy about making this show. It’s important that learning disabled and autistic people have a voice and express how they feel on stage. We all collaborated and improvised together to create characters, and my character Blossom is cheeky and a little bit bossy.”

Cian Binchy said: “This show is a very original idea, and I’m feeling great about it. Autistic and learning disabled people have got so much to offer so it’s important that we continue to be on every stage. My character Jake doesn’t want to put up with the stuff other disabled people put up with, I’ve helped create the character and improvised with the cast since 2019.”

Housni Hassan (DJ) said: “I feel incredible about making this show – I can’t wait! We are as fantastic as non-disabled people, talented in our own unique way and all of us were born for the stage. My character Kev is a funny, quirky, deep thinker who is generous and kind.”

Dayo Koleosho said: “I feel amazing and I’m looking forward to being in the show. I want to show that we can own and perform on the biggest stages in theatre with confidence, and that’s why it’s important that learning disabled and autistic people are on stage at the Royal Court.” 

Stephanie Newman said: “I’m most excited about attracting other learning disabled and autistic people to feel welcomed on stage, and I want us to be an example. I created my character, Rose is friendly and rule breaking.”

Lee Phillips said: “It feels great, a brilliant opportunity to be more creative and become a better performer. I hope the audience takes away the fact that we are amazing, that this is a good story and that they understand the characters. Geoff, the character I play, is clever, likes to have fun and the joke is always on him!”

Charlene Salter said: “It’s really important for learning disabled and autistic people to be represented and shown as role models on stage. We are here to be seen and not pushed aside. For the audience to wake up and realise that we have got talent and we can perform as good as non-disabled actors. We need more roles to represent us on TV and film.”

The whodunnit caper has been collectively created, inspired by the lived experiences and imaginations of the group, over a five-year workshop process. The production marks a new partnership between Access All Areas and the Royal Court and is a playful account of barrier navigation, the politics of neurodiversity and the power of sharing a platform. 

“We need to start at the start.

Yes, yes, we do or the Neurotypicals will be confused”

There was something off about the new guy. But now he’s dead, and the sirens are fast approaching.

Who to trust – what was it he told you that time on the pedalo? 

You need to get your story straight; because CCTV and number plates. 

Because everyone’s perspective is different, and only certain perspectives count. 

You need an empty stage, a mic, a London bus.

You need a captive audience, roller skates, and a man 25 to 45 who will do as he’s told.

Pressure’s on. Engine’s running. 

The new production will be created with the sensory needs of neurodivergent audience members in mind and all performances will be relaxed.

The Bread & Roses Theatre Announces the Clapham Fringe Festival 2023
Now in its 8th critically acclaimed Year, welcoming theatre companies and artists
from around the world!

The Bread and Roses Theatre is gearing up for this year’s Clapham Fringe Festival, which is set to be our biggest and most international, with companies from across the globe bringing us their work, and an expansion from one to three venues.

Alongside some of the best and most crowd-pleasing theatre, stand-up, works in progress, experimental performance and emerging artists at our founder venue, the much loved Bread & Roses Theatre, we are hugely excited to welcome the previously announced Two Brewers into the Clapham Fringe fold.

Keen to expand our programming to include drag, burlesque and cabaret, we can’t wait to welcome new artists to this year’s festival. We are beyond thrilled to be working with the Two Brewers and are so excited to showcase the best artists that South London and beyond has to offer.

We are also pleased to welcome Clapham’s Railway Tavern to the Festival, as their in-house stand-up comedy team ‘Comedy Bandits’ becomes part of the Clapham Fringe for the first time.

Highlights include: Theatre Group GUMBO bring their surreal satire ‘Are You Lovin’ It?’ to from Japan to Clapham, as part of an international tour – Winner of “Media Pick” at Edmonton Fringe, “Best of Fest” at San Diego Fringe, “Best Ensemble” in New York City and more. A huge hit at fringe fests across the world, GUMBO invites you to a surreal romp.

International work is also on display with ‘A Scar Is Born’ by Lorelei Zarifian, which originated in the US – a cycle of songs recounting life in Marseille, Paris, New York and Florida, intertwined with sketches about the absurdity of modern existence.

Other highlights include: ‘this is not a play about ophelia (a play about ophelia)’, a one woman show that explores the experience of teenage grief. It is multi-disciplinary piece and uses technology to ask the question; ‘What if Ophelia didn’t have to die?’. Anthroplay Theatre brings us ‘Four Short Plays’ – 15 minute plays, showcasing amazing new writing and brilliant up and coming performers, curated & directed by Anthroplay. This is their second event series, born out of their flagship scratch night Anthrotalks – which has been held monthly for the last two years, and will be held at Two Brewers as part of this year’s Fringe.

The Clapham Fringe Festival is proud to be a launchpad for artists, with box office split deals with no hidden fees. We can’t wait to share this huge array of artists and companies with our audiences.

International theatre, world premiere pieces, award winning work, stand up and cabaret across three venues, and all in Clapham, this year’s festival promises to have something for everyone.

The Festival is curated and produced by the The Bread & Roses Theatre, led by Managing Director Rebecca Pryle, Artistic Director Velenzia Spearpoint and Associate Producer Alexander Knott.

“A new wave of venues has opened in recent years … all on the sweetheart deals of old.” – The Guardian on The Bread & Roses Theatre

21 September – 15 October 2023 | The Bread & Roses Theatre, 68 Clapham Manor
Street, SW4 6DZ London

Full festival line-up: https://www.claphamfringe.com/whats-on.html
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ClaphamFringe Twitter @ClaphamFringe Instagram:
@ClaphamFringe

PAUL TAYLOR MILLS PRESENTS

A QUEER SEASON IN THE WEST END

BLOODY ELLE
AND
BOY OUT THE CITY

RUNNING AT THE LYRIC THEATRE
FROM 27 – 30 SEPTEMBER 2023

For a limited season, this September, the Lyric Theatre will host two new pieces of work, which have received rave reviews from this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

First seen in 2021 at The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, Bloody Elle, is a critically acclaimed show which is loud, proud and unapologetically queer. It’s a story from then, for now which was since played at Soho Theatre and was nominated for ‘Best Regional Production’ at the WhatsOnStage Awards 2022.

Boy Out The City premiered in 2021 at Westival Music and Arts Festival followed by a London premiere at the Turbine Theatre. For the past 2 years, audiences up and down the UK have been praising this hilarious, revealing and deeply tender play. 

BLOODY ELLE

Bloody Elle is a one-woman, semi-autobiographical gig musical, from Lauryn Redding. Featuring original music created live on stage, it’s a funny, poetic, and epic exploration of love, class, shame, and beauty in all its complexities. It’s the coming of age and coming out story of Elle; a young, working-class girl from the north of England.

Elle meets Eve. Her eyes are green like guacamole, she has posh-hair and a freckle on her chin and when she touches Elle’s arm…the world spins off its axis. This loud, proud love story is heart-warmingly honest and belly-achingly funny. 

Stuffed full of those stomach-flipping-time-stopping moments that everyone will recognise. Bloody Elle is a gig musical full of searing original music performed live on stage. 

It’s brutal. It’s beautiful. It’s a “moment moment.”

Bloody Elle is produced with Traverse Theatre, Cloudrise Productions and Royal Exchange Theatre. 

BOY OUT THE CITY

Created out of writing from his own private journals, Declan Bennett (recently returned from Broadway in Moulin Rouge), reflects onsurviving the streets of Coventry in a NAF NAF jacket, discovering the Gay scene in 90’s Soho, and confronting his Catholic school days.

After moving out of London to wait out the final months of the pandemic initially with his boyfriend, Declan unexpectedly finds himself alone in the Oxfordshire countryside. In his isolation, he is forced to face the demons of his past on a messy journey through the turbulent world of toxic masculinity, homophobia, and men’s mental health. From the lonely aisles of Hobbycraft to the bright lights of New York City, this is the story of a man in desperate search of identity when confronted with sudden unexpected solitude.

A raw and humorous autobiographical play exploring
toxic masculinity, homophobia, and mental health

Boy Out The City is produced by Lauren Reed Productions.

The Mill at Sonning – until 23rd September 2023

Reviewed by Marcia Spiers

4****

This play was first performed in 1970 and focuses on three couples whose lives are entwined as the men all work for the same company. An opening song by David Cassidy really took me back to that time – pure nostalgia!

The clever set saw two of the couples in what looked like the same house but amazingly they seem to avoid each other. At the end of the first act there were two dinner parties going on at the same time and both descended into chaos. The physical comedy was very well staged and kept me laughing.

Stuart Fox gave a standout performance in his portrayal of the somewhat forgetful Frank Foster who suspected his wife was up to no good. Julia Hills played the elegant but flighty Fiona Foster in wonderful outfits of the time. Ruth Gibson proved to be no pushover as the feisty Teresa Phillips whose husband Bob (Damien Matthews) was quite the typical chauvinist male of the 1970s era. Ben Porter played the dull but quite controlling William Featherstone whose mousey wife Mary (Emily Pithon) ended up getting accused of having an affair despite being the least likely candidate.

A great evening’s entertainment with lots of laughs and as a woman you can truly reflect on how things have moved on since the 1970s or not!

The Mill at Sonning is a lovely setting for an evening at the theatre as there is the opportunity for dinner before the performance in the lovely oak beamed restaurant.

Southwark Playhouse – until 23 September 2023

Reviewed by Claire Roderick

4****

Third time’s a charm for Robert Holtom’s delightful coming of age comedy. After runs at VAULT Festival and The Pleasance, Southwark Playhouse’s The Little is the latest stage for this magical play.

Life for Harry Potter fan Jack (Alex Britt) is becoming complicated. The fact that he has been sorted into Hufflepuff is not the only thing he is hiding – his growing attraction to best friend Ollie (Martin Sarreal) must be kept secret in school where the worst insult flung around is “Gay”. As Jack navigates his way tentatively through school, keeping safely in the closet, his relationships with best friends Gemma (Charlotte Dowding) and Ollie change, with tragic results. Unable to accept that this is how life should be, Jack uses his own time turner to relive his teen years and change his and his friends’ life for the better, determined that he and Ollie must be together.

Steeped in nineties and noughties nostalgia (remember when JK was unproblematic?), a basic knowledge of Potterlore helps, but Ollie’s sardonic criticisms and questions clear up any vital facts. Jack gets to relive these years with more positive results, but life is still not perfect, so another do-over is tried. Jack’s kind and romantic heart could lead to this becoming the world’s longest play as he wants to do more to give everyone the life he thinks they deserve, but his friends step in to remind him that life isn’t perfect, and they will face the struggles and joys to come together. Holtom doesn’t shy away from the truth that life is not rosy now, with a joke highlighting the change in JK as well as characters acknowledging that the views and actions of some within the LGBTQ+ community are as just as damaging and dangerous. But this doesn’t dampen the effervescent and overwhelming joy the show creates – a truly glorious production.

Holtom’s writing is sparky and emotive, with the pain of hiding your true self from parents who won’t even watch Graham Norton on TV laid bare. The cruelty and ignorance at school is also shown brilliantly in a jokey, but nevertheless hard-hitting way. As each version of Jack’s life plays out and he becomes bolder about revealing his sexuality, he finds surprising allies, and the journey to understanding and acceptance we see his parents take is simply gorgeous. Roast potatoes have never meant so much. The running joke of mum investing so much in plot holes in EastEnders is played beautifully.

Tom Wright’s direction is crisp and feels intuitive, with movement director Rachael Nanyonjo’s skills creating multiple layers and magical moments. Natalie Johnson’s astrological/horological set design is evocative and enchanting, especially in conjunction with Rory Beaton’s lighting and Peter Wilson’s sound design. Alex Britt is brilliant as Jack – naive and full of wonder at the new world he finds in London, portraying his conflicted emotions as he finds his way, and creating a wonderfully frustrating but lovable character. Charlotte Dowding is hilarious in her many roles – especially as food-pushing mum and the fierce French teacher, while Martin Sarreal impresses as Ollie – quietly capturing the fear beneath the bravado – and is a hoot as Jack’s Heavenly hookups.

Joyful, hopeful and full of heart, Dumbledore Is So Gay is a real charmer. Get yourself a ticket before they disappear.