York Theatre Royal – until Saturday 26th March 2022

Reviewed by Michelle Richardson

3***

Northern Broadsides, with their 30th production, are once again gracing the stage at York Theatre Royal with their adaption, in conjunction with New Vic Theatre, of the Shakespearian comedy As You Like It.

As You Like It follows its heroine Rosalind (EM Williams) as she flees persecution in her uncle’s court. Accompanied by her cousin Celia (Jo Patmore) and disguising herself as a boy, they both eventually finding safety and love in the Forest of Arden. This is a show of drama, full of treachery, unrequited love, silliness, but ultimately it ends up being a love story, with everything falling into place and coming right in the world.

The set comprises of vintage clothes hanging mid-air, various hat stands around the stage, with a large one centre stage, which is used as a maypole in the show’s finale. The hat stands are well utilised to depicts the Forest of Arden and a sheep’s pen. Clothes rails are used for actors to change clothing on stage, with actors jumping through them to exit the stage. The costumes are very eclectic, bold and beautiful.

The ensemble cast, with Patmore taking on the role of Celia, as well as her other roles, and Robin Simpson stepping in to take on the role as Jacques, bring an energy to the piece. The comedy element of the play is most evident in the bizarre, hilarious sheep piece, where we see three of the actors on all fours, clip clopping around on the stage. Joe Morrow as Touchstone the Clown is a good fit with his improvised comedy. He has a great rapport with the audience, not surprising due to his background in compering and cabaret, very natural in his sparkly red shoes.

Patmore not only makes us laugh as William, fully of swagger in his exceedingly large puffer coat, but brings a warmth to proceedings with her Celia. She also has a beautiful voice, she is the whole package. The most notable performance though must surely go to Williams. They bring so much vitality and physicality to their character, Rosalind/Ganymede and show great dexterity with their, what I would describe as pole dancing, on the largest of the hat stands.

At times I did struggle to hear what was being said and found a few sections overly long, the play could have been shorter. To be fair I’m not the biggest fan of Shakespeare, yes, I’ve said it, but this is worth a watch for the performances alone.

This is not Shakespeare quite as you imagine it, it is Shakespeare with northern accents, reimagined for a modern audience. With the lead being played by non-binary actor EM Williams and other roles where gender, race or disability have no bearing, this is a truly inclusive cast, indicative of today’s world

WORLDWIDE SMASH HIT

THE CHOIR OF MAN

RETURNS TO THE ARTS THEATRE THIS AUTUMN

DUE TO PHENOMENAL DEMAND!

PERFORMANCES BEGIN 1 OCTOBER 2022

TICKETS ON SALE 10.00AM FRIDAY 25 MARCH

Due to phenomenal demand, the smash-hit, Olivier-nominated THE CHOIR OF MAN returns to The Arts Theatre in London’s West End this autumn, with performances beginning 1 October 2022.  Tickets will be on sale from 10.00am, Friday 25 March.

Casting is to be announced.

The initial limited season at The Arts Theatre will finish on Sunday 3 April 2022.  This month, it was announced that the show has received an Olivier nomination for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play.

THE CHOIR OF MAN has previously played three sell-out seasons at the Sydney Opera House and multiple sold-out US and European tours.

THE CHOIR OF MAN is the best lock-in at your local you’ll ever have, featuring amazing reinventions of folk, pop, Broadway and rock chart-toppers from artists including Guns ‘N’ Roses, Fun!, Adele, Avicii, Paul Simon, Sia and many more. It’s a party, it’s a concert and it’s a lock-in like no other.

The multi-talented cast combine beautiful harmonies and foot-stomping singalongs with world-class tap dance and poetic meditations on the power of community. This is a riotously feel-good homage to that gathering place we all love: the pub, complete with a real working bar on stage.

THE CHOIR OF MAN is created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay, directed by Nic Doodson, with musical supervision, vocal arrangements and orchestrations by Jack Blume, movement direction and choreography by Freddie Huddleston, monologues written by Ben Norris, scenic design by Oli Townsend, lighting design by Richard Dinnen, costume design and associate scenic design by Verity Sadler, sound design by Sten Severson, casting by Debbie O’Brien. Associate Choreographer is Rachel Chapman and Associate Musical Director is Hollie Cassar.

The show is produced by Immersive Everywhere, Nic Doodson, Andrew Kay, Wendy & Andy Barnes and AK Theatricals.

Website: choirofmanwestend.com

Facebook: @thechoirofman

Twitter & Instagram: @choirofman

LISTINGS INFORMATION

From 1 October 2022

THE CHOIR OF MAN

The Arts Theatre

Great Newport Street

London WC2H 7JB

Box Office:  020 7836 8463

Tickets: from £12.50

Performances: Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, Friday and Saturday matinees at 3.30pm, Sundays at 3.30pm*

*No matinee 1 October 2022; 5pm & 8.30pm performances on 5, 12, 19, 26 November & 3, 10, 17 December 2022

New Booking Period: 1 October 2022 to 12 February 2023

Approximate Running Time: 90 minutes (no interval)

Christmas 2022/23 Performance Schedule

Tuesday 20 December 7.30pm

Wednesday 21 December 7.30pm

Thursday 22 December 5pm & 8.30pm

Friday 23 December 5pm & 8.30pm

Saturday 24 December 3.30pm

Sunday 25 December OFF

Monday 26 December OFF

Tuesday 27 December 3.30pm & 7.30pm

Wednesday 28 December 3.30pm & 7.30pm

Thursday 29 December 7.30pm

Friday 30 December 5pm & 7.30pm

Saturday 31 December 3.30pm & 7.30pm

Sunday 1 January OFF

ARIA ENTERTAINMENT

PRESENT

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
A NEW PLAY BY JJ GREEN

A-TYPICAL RAINBOW

AT THE TURBINE THEATRE
FROM 30 JUNE TO 7 AUGUST 2022

Based on real events from the perspective of the writer and the autistic community, A-Typical Rainbow, running at The Turbine Theatre for a limited run from 30 June until 07 August, is an uplifting play about the experience of growing up neurodivergent and queer in early 2000s Britain. Both comedic and poignant, it explores how, through repression and shame, autistic people are made to feel by both adults and peers alike, shaping the adult they become today.

The production will be directed by Bronagh Lagan, who recently directed Cruise, which has just been nominated for an Olivier for Best Play, and is currently directing Broken Wings and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

An overly imaginative autistic child’s vast and glorious fantasy worlds rule his life in beautiful and horrific ways from an early age. His mother decides to seek help for him in the early 2000’s to allow him to adapt to the ‘real world’ that we all must live in. This removes him from the fantasy realm and gives him a chance at normalcy, all be it at the significant cost of his own authenticity.

From the household kitchen to employment at a world-famous travelling circus, the young boy faces the trials of choosing between being honest in an unaccepting world, or attempting to fit in. It is through love, friendship, harsh lessons, bigotry, reality, and fantasy that he learns he ultimately must make a choice – be honest and risk stigma or continue to hide unhappily and unprogressively?

JJ Green, Writer, has said “this play was written by an autistic writer, has been read and approved by many autistic artists & marks the first time a piece of theatre has been written about us, by us, for you. It is commonplace for stories to be told about us – without us. This play aims to change that. It feels surreal & entirely golden to see what started off as words on a page finally come to life on stage. I feel incredibly lucky, excited and proud to be bringing Atypical Rainbow to the Turbine Theatre and can’t wait to share my world with others in such a unique way, properly, for the first time with a team of creatives and cast performing telling a story about autism through our own lens.”

JJ has amassed a supportive and engaged following on social media during the pandemic due to his insightful and passionate advocacy for autistic artists like himself in theatre spaces. He has been an integral part of shaping Actor’s Equity’s most recent guide for working with autistic artists.

Atypical Rainbow has composition and sound design by Max Alexander-Taylor (soon to star in The Lion at Southwark Playhouse), who is autistic, and choreography by William Spencer, who is neurodivergent.

Theatre Royal Windsor – until 26 March 2022

Reviewed by Joanna Huggett

4****

Known as a radio play it is read in an authentic studio setting, brought to life with live sound effects in the style of a vintage radio drama live on stage. It depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to tell its story. Theatre Royal Windsor proved to be an ideal venue for The Unexpected Guest.

The play opens with sounds of a crash and thunder and the appearance of Michael Starkwedder, played by Khris Marshall, arriving at a country house late at night. He finds Laura Warwick, played by Sally Bretton, holding a gun, with her husband lying dead. Both leading actors gave strong convincing performances whilst they tried to assess and make sense of what had just happened. They set the scene of what was to follow.

Other outstanding performances were from Inspector Thomas, played by Robert Duncan and Mrs Warwick, played by Marti Webb. The other members of the cast, actors Jeffrey Harmer, Martin Carroll, Rosie Thomson and Joe Trancini, all gave strong supporting performances.

The dialogue and clear diction from all the cast made the play a pleasure to watch. The final twist at the end of the play, although predictable to some, achieved a gasp from the audience. The performance was very well received and is to be thoroughly recommended.

Special Recognition Olivier Award winners announced for 2022

officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards

Watch a video of interviews with the Special Recognition winners here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zjBTpmc1-0 

Five individuals have been honoured with Special Recognition Awards ahead of the Olivier Awards 2022 with Mastercard, recognising their outstanding contributions to the theatre industry.

Lisa Burger, Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive of the National Theatre for the past 20 years, has been awarded for her role in expanding the theatre’s reach, forging partnerships UK-wide and playing a key part in the industry’s pandemic recovery through initiatives like NT At Home.

Designer Bob King receives an award for creating some of theatre’s most iconic and instantly recognisable visuals for hit shows in the West End over a 40-year career – including the artwork for Oliver!, Back To The Future, Frozen, Mary Poppins, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and many more.

Gloria Louis is awarded for her trailblazing career, which began front of house at the Strand Theatre (now the Novello), progressed into theatre management and now to a role as the inclusion and diversity lead for Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, using her knowledge, passion and dedication to inspire young people from all backgrounds about theatre careers.

Also recognised is Susie Sainsbury, whose long-time philanthropy and support of the arts has made a significant difference to theatre in London and beyond. She founded The Backstage Trust to fund live arts projects and was also instrumental in the creation of the Theatre Artists Fund during the pandemic.

Influential theatre school founder Sylvia Young has been recognised for giving countless students opportunities to study performing arts and go on to prolific careers in theatre, film and TV, since she first started teaching in 1972.

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of Society of London Theatre and Executive Producer of the Olivier Awards, said:

‘The Special Recognition Olivier Awards shine a spotlight on inspirational individuals doing vital work, often behind the scenes, who have been a force for good and helped shape our industry in a wide range of ways. The five people we are honouring this year have all inspired generations of colleagues and theatre audiences, been pioneers in their fields and are hugely deserving of this long-due recognition. It is a privilege to celebrate their achievements as part of this year’s Olivier Awards.’

The Olivier Awards will take place on Sunday 10 April at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Jason Manford. This year will see sustainability take centre stage, with guests walking a ‘Green Carpet’ of real, reusable grass, and headline sponsor Mastercard pledging to plant a tree for every public ticket sold via Priceless.com.

The full list of nominations for the Olivier Awards 2022 with Mastercard is available here: https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2022/

#OlivierAwards

Sunderland Empire – until 2 April 2022

4****

“Oh What a NIght!” – It’s easy to see why Jersey Boys is such an award winning and popular musical. It’s a feel good night out and jam packed with more than 30 hits and as you sit back and listen it’s easy to forget just how many top songs this quartet produced over the years. Seeing this musical for the first time you may be fooled into thinking you’re unfamiliar with the songs, but once you hear them, they are all recognisable.

Telling the story of the Four Seasons, each band member gets a season to tell his tale.  But as they say in the show “take four different men and you’ll get four different versions”.  It turns out there was a lot more to the group than close vocal harmonies and hit records, their colourful story – of ducking and diving, wise guys and hustles, failed relationships, rows, retribution and eventual redemption – makes this a jukebox musical with a real story to tell.

Cleverly the show is split into the four seasons – Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter, giving each band member a chance to tell the audience their side of the story; all of them working their way into the audience’s affections. Regardless of their various differences, we know and care about Bob Gaudio, Tony DeVito, Nick Massi and Frankie Valli, and it’s that which gives their song lyrics extra resonance.

We start with Tommy DeVito (Dalton Wood) and Spring.  DeVito, a petty criminal, with a criminal record a mile long, but with a musical talent and a dream to escape.  He put together a band with his brother Nick and Nick Massi (Lewis Griffiths) and gave Francis Castelluccio the big break that turned him into Frankie Valli (Michael Pickering and Luke Suri on alternate dates).  With a few stints in prison,  and brother Nick not coming out of jail for a long time, the band begins.

With the joining of Bob Gaudio (Blair Gibson) and the name The Four Seasons taken from the local bowling alley, the band hits big and Bob gives us his Summer.

A chance meeting with Bob Crew (Michael Levi) gives them the recording contract they desire and with Gaudio’s writing talent a slew of hits appear from Sherrie, to our first ovation of the night Walk Like A Man.  But as the hits keep coming DeVito’s spending gets worse and by the end of the first half the boys are in a million dollars worth of debt to the tax and the Mob.

Nick Massi’s Fall comes next.  Lewis Griffiths must be able to act the role in his sleep, having done it so many times before.  But long may it reign, Massi is the quiet member of the band, big on harmonies and Griffiths has a lovely deep vibrancy in his vocals. We are then followed by Valli’s winter including the tragic death of his daughter.

But the hits continue and the second ovation is for Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, the song none of the record producers wanted to touch but was a huge commercial success.

It’s a bittersweet story.  Valli’s immediately recognisable distinctive voice gives rise to some amazing vocals during the show.

It would be all too easy to put this show on the road as another jukebox musical, a limp through the history of a household name, but the narrative is as strong as the score and really packs a punch in the emotional moments.  Klara Zieglerova’s restrained design, a framework of scaffolding encloses the action. At the back of the stage, huge Roy Lichtenstein-style cartoons show comic-strip girls with ponytails, huge tears and speech bubbles, while against the oranges and reds of what seems to be a perpetual sunset is an industrial silhouette of chimneys and pylons.

The band is led by Griff Johnson with Ed Hewlett, Tara Litvack,Craig Oxley, Marcus Pritchard and Stephen Fawbert on a motorised drum set that travels the stage.

In Sunderland until 2 April and then on tour.  This is a show not to be missed

PEAKY BLINDERS: THE RISE

THE IMMERSIVE THEATRE SHOW

LIVE IN LONDON

AT THE CAMDEN GARRISON, CAMDEN MARKET

ON SALE NOW

OPENING

THURSDAY 23 JUNE 2022

Producers Immersive Everywhere, in association with Caryn Mandabach Productions and Steven Knight announce that PEAKY BLINDERS: THE RISE, a brand-new immersive theatre show, live at The Camden Garrison at the Stables Market, Camden, London is now on sale, with performances from Thursday 23 June 2022. 

Tickets are available now from: www.immersivepeakyblinders.com

Tommy invites you to a family meeting in the heart of Camden Town, where the Shelby family have acquired new headquarters. From here, they will launch their ambitious campaign to take over London.

PEAKY BLINDERS: THE RISE is the first official fully immersive 360-degree theatre show set in the world of one of the most globally successful drama franchises, “Peaky Blinders”. Audiences will be welcomed to a specially adapted performance space, The Camden Garrison in Camden Market, just moments away from the setting for Solomons’ Yard from the TV series.

PEAKY BLINDERS THE RISE will follow the rise in the fortunes of Tommy and the Shelby family as the unfolding story and live actors place the audience right at the heart of the Peaky Blinders, their associates, and their enemies.

With multiple storylines and venues to explore from betting shops and The Garrison, all the way through to the infamous Eden Club, PEAKY BLINDERS THE RISE is the unmissable immersive show live in London from June 2022.

The Creative Director and Director of PEAKY BLINDERS: THE RISE is Tom Maller (Doctor Who: Time Fracture (Immersive Everywhere) and Arcane, Casino Royale, Romeo + Juliet and Blade Runner: Final Cut (Secret Cinema)) and Production Designer is Rebecca Brower (Doctor Who: Time Fracture (Immersive Everywhere), Arcane (Secret Cinema), Bat Out Of Hell).

Peaky Blinders, the TV series, was created and written by Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises and Locke) and recently returned for its final season, receiving five-star reviews and enjoying record viewing figures. The multi award-winning BBC One/iPlayer and Netflix series is owned and produced by Peaky Blinders’ official series and brand owner, Caryn Mandabach Productions and the television series is co-produced with Banijay Group’s Tiger Aspect Productions.

Peaky Blinders® © Caryn Mandabach Productions. All rights reserved. Licensed by Caryn Mandabach Productions.

NEW CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY

AT THE O2 LONDON

From Thursday 7 April 2022, Ellis Dackombe, Tamara Perks and Tasha Sheridan will join the cast of MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY at The O2 London.  They will join Fed Zanni who plays Nikos, Kimberley Powell who will take over as Kate, Linda John-Pierre who plays Debbie, Jonathon Bentley who will take over as Adam, Molly Cleere who will take over as Kostantina, Allie Ho Chee who plays Bella, Jessica Spallis who will take over as Nina, Dawn Spence who plays Grandma, Gregor Stewart who plays Fernando and Oscar Balmaseda, Claudia Bradley, and Garrett Tennant. The musicians are John Donovan, Luke Higgins, Kathryn Tindall, Steve Rushton and Mark Pusey.

MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY, London’s premier dining experience, is currently booking until Sunday 2 October 2022.

Created by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY is a unique and magical experience in a class of its own, bringing all ABBA’s hits to life more vividly than ever before: over the course of four glittering hours, guests can immerse themselves in a spectacular musical extravaganza, a four-course Greek feast and an ABBA disco, all in one unforgettable evening of dancing, dining and singing!

MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY is set in a taverna on the beautiful Greek island of Skopelos, where most exteriors of the first MAMMA MIA! film were shot. Nikos and his wife Kate run this exotic and wonderful restaurant together with their family and friends. Told through dialogue and timeless ABBA songs, a warm, romantic and funny story evolves and unfolds during the evening, taking place around the guests as they sit at their tables enjoying a gourmet Greek meal. The evening ends with a 1970s disco, where audience members are welcome to stay to sing and dance to ABBA recordings.

Food is at the heart of the experience and a menu has been created that collects the finest Greece has to offer, made from the best, freshest ingredients. Guests are served with a traditional mezze followed by the iconic Greek salad of fresh cherry tomatoes, cucumber and feta. For the main course, confit lamb shoulder and slow-cooked beef are served with roasted garlic potatoes, courgettes peperonata, romesco and aromatic jus. For vegetarian and vegan guests, there is roasted cauliflower with a lemon-herb dressing and stuffed tomato with lentil ragout. A sumptuous Greek lemon cake served with confit orange skin and citrus yoghurt is the perfect end to this delicious meal. Vegan guests are served traditional loukoumades, delicious dough balls accompanied by a sweet fig jam.

Guests can get the ultimate MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY experience with one of the available packages. The Platinum Package provides a Tier A ticket in a prime location, a meet & greet and photo opportunity with members of the cast right at your table, champagne on arrival, half a bottle of wine and a MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY merchandise party pack. Guests can also upgrade their existing booking by adding the VIP upgrade package, taking their experience to the next level with champagne on arrival, half a bottle of wine and a MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY merchandise party pack. 

MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY has music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (some songs with Stig Anderson), and a story by Calle Norlén, Roine Söderlundh and Björn Ulvaeus, with the English book by writer, comedian and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig.

The London version of MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY, which originally opened in Stockholm in January 2016, is co-directed and choreographed by Stacey Haynes and Roine Söderlundh, with set designed by Bengt Fröderberg, lighting designed by Patrick Woodroffe, sound designed by Gareth Owen, costumes designed by Annsofi Nyberg, music supervision by Robin Svensson and casting by David Grindrod CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting.MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY is executively produced by Björn Ulvaeus and produced by Sally Davies for U-Live.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY

The O2

Peninsula Square

London SE10 0DX

Box Office: www.mammamiatheparty.co.uk / 020 3995 6288

Website: www.mammamiatheparty.co.uk

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @mammamiapartyuk

#mammamiatheparty

Now Booking to Sunday 2 October 2022

Minimum age: 5

Tickets: From £99 to include admission, a four-course set meal and welcome drink (additional drinks extra)*

Platinum Package: From £195 to include a Tier A ticket, a four-course set meal, cast meet & greet, champagne on arrival, half a bottle of wine and Mamma Mia! The Party merchandise pack (limited Platinum Packages are available per party)*

VIP Upgrade Package: £25 in addition to the price of an existing booking to include; champagne on arrival, half a bottle of wine and a Mamma Mia! The Party merchandise party pack*

*All listed prices are per person plus booking fees.

Performances: Wednesday to Sunday doors open at 6:30pm, Saturday & Sunday at 12:00noon**

**Subject to schedule – please see website.

HAMPSTEAD THEATRE ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF ITS OLIVIER-NOMINATED HIT PRODUCTION FOLK, RUNNING FROM 24 JUNE UNTIL 30 JULY

Following its sold-out run earlier in the year, Hampstead Theatre is delighted to announce the return of Folk, Nell Leyshon’s beautiful new play with songs, directed by Hampstead’s Artistic Director, Roxana Silbert.  Currently nominated for a 2022 Olivier Award, Folk returns with the complete original cast, Ben Allen (Measure for Measure, Donmar), Sasha Frost (Persuasion, Rose Theatre Kingston), Mariam Haque (Behind the Beautiful Forevers, National Theatre) and Simon Robson (The Schumann Plan, Hampstead Theatre).

Silbert will be reunited with Designer Rose Revitt, Lighting Designer Matt Haskins, Director of Music Gary Yershon, Sound Designer Tingying Dong and Movement Director Ayse Tashkiran.  Associate Sound Designer Anna Short will also join the team.

Inspired by a true story and set in her home county of Somerset, Nell Leyshon’s beautiful new play features live folk song. 

Tickets go on sale from Thursday 24 March at 10.30am at hampsteadtheatre.com.

Nell Leyshon, playwright ofFolk, said: 

“The response to Folk was overwhelming and I’m thrilled this brilliant production by Roxana Silbert and Hampstead Theatre will be on again, and with all the original extraordinary cast.  From the moment I heard Louie Hooper’s story I wanted to tell it, and I am so pleased more people can hear what she has to say about folk music, nationalism and identity.”

Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre and director of Folk,said:

“It’ll be an enormous pleasure to revisit Louie Hooper and her relationship with Cecil Sharp, the first time this story has been told on stage, in Nell Leyshon’s beautiful play, and share it with audiences once more.  I am delighted that all of the original company will be reunited as this was a uniquely collaborative project, which warmed so many people’s hearts when we performed earlier this year.”

***

“I’ll tell you one more thing. I got more songs in my head than I ever told you.I got enough to sing for days…”

1903, Somerset.  Rooted in the land where she has lived her entire life, Louie Hooper’s mind overflows with its songs – more than 300 of them passed down from her mother.  Cecil Sharp, a composer visiting from London, fears England’s folk songs will be lost forever and sets out on a mission to transcribe each and every one.  He believes Louie’s music should speak not just for this place but for the whole of England.

Nell Leyshon’s theatre credits include Comfort Me With Apples (also previously nominated for an Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre’ and winner of the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright) and Glass Eels (both Hampstead Theatre), Don’t Look Now (Sheffield / Lyric Hammersmith) and Bedlam (Globe).  

Roxana Silbert’s production of Alexis Zegerman’s The Fever Syndrome begins previews on Hampstead Theatre’s Main Stage tonight, running until 30 April.  The Fever Syndrome will be Silbert’s third Main Stage production at Hampstead, following Al Blyth’s espionage thriller The Haystack (2020) and Marsha Norman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play ‘night, Mother (2021).  She also recently directed Deborah Bruce’s tender new play Raya (2021) at Hampstead Downstairs. 

Folk is a T. S. Eliot Foundation commission.  A production of Folk aired on Radio 3 in May 2021 as part of the BBC’s Lights Up series, which turned the spotlight on plays whose staging had been delayed by the pandemic.  Hampstead Theatre’s world premiere production of Folk ran from 18 December 2021 until 26 January 2022. Folk is currently nominated in the Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre category at the 2022 Olivier Awards.

EMPIRE THEATRE, LIVERPOOL – UNTIL SATURDAY 26TH MARCH 2022

REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN

5*****

Did you happen to notice how many yellow cars you passed on your way to work? What about the number of people on the number 1 bus? Those who are on the autistic spectrum will do. Based on the best selling novel by Mark Haddon and adapted for stage by Simon Stephens, this production lets the audience see how people with autism and neurodiversity, think and experience the world.

Christopher Boone (David Breeds) is presented as a mathematical genius who has trouble interpreting social situations and everyday life presents some barriers for him. He detests being touched and distrusts strangers, in his own words he has ‘some behaviour difficulties’. When his neighbour’s dog Wellington is killed, he sets out to solve the mystery. As he becomes more involved with the murder case, he ends up discovering the truth about his own life and family. His journey in looking for the dog’s murderer soon becomes a search for his mother Judy (Sophie Stone).

The wondrous strange workings of Christopher’s mind, is demonstrated through a mathematical grid set and versatile props by designer Bunny Christie. One particular beautiful moment, is when Christopher builds a toy train set which comes to life on stage. Paule Constable’s accent lighting and Adrian Sutton’s electronic score both contribute to providing the context and conditions of the action of the play.

The character with the most significance in the play is Siobhan (Rebecca Root), Christopher’s teacher. She brings a lovely soothing tone as the narrator to the production. Christopher seems really fond of her and their magical teacher-student relationship shines when Christopher celebrates his maths A level result which means the world to him. Although his father Ed (Tom Peters) understands him well, Siobhan is the only one who really speaks his language, she understands his needs and strengths.

This ingeniously staged production has been recognised for its beautiful portrayal of the unique perspective, children like Christopher have on the world. It is a play full of heart, warmth and emotion, tackling heavy themes including neurodiversity, family violence and mental health. It is a coming of age story about a boy who struggles to fit in but who pushes back at the world and believes he can do anything. You will think, laugh and most of all, look at the world around you in a different way. Be sure to stay right until the end!