Not for the faint hearted but what a fabulously frightening, gloriously grotesque and strangely sexy evening. A thank you letter to Jack – our host. Dear Jack, Despite not knowing what has happened to you since I left your house, when one is invited to a party, it is only polite and correct to sendContinue reading “Review: 5* Screamworks Bloodbath – The Immersive Experience. Secret Location near Bethnal Green”
Category Archives: Off West End
Review: 4**** Billy Bishop Goes To War. Southwark Playhouse @SwkPlay #BillyBishopGoesToWar
An engaging story of a young Canadian called into WWI by the British Empire. One of the most decorated pilots of the war, Billy was an Ace Pilot. Great acting and lively singing make this sad-sounding story a pleasure to watch. Based on the true story of a Canadian First World War Ace, the playContinue reading “Review: 4**** Billy Bishop Goes To War. Southwark Playhouse @SwkPlay #BillyBishopGoesToWar”
Review 3*** Romance Romance @abovethestag
Tweeting it: Bawdy Victorian Music Hall entertainment in the 21st century. Not for those who seek subtlety in their innuendo 3*** I didn’t expect to feel like I was at the panto when I went along to Above The Stag Theatre to see their musical Romance Romance in March, but that’s exactly where my brainContinue reading “Review 3*** Romance Romance @abovethestag”
Review: 4**** All in a Row – Southwark Playhouse @allinarowplay @swkplay @FunkSmuggler @CharlieBrooks0 @dominicmshaw @Otodyn
Tweetingit: The story of a couple trying to cope with an autistic child is not easy viewing. Amid the negative publicity and controversy of this show you will discover a bravely written, brilliantly acted piece of modern theatre which needs to be seen. Playwright Alex Oates seemingly doesn’t believe in doing things the easy way.Continue reading “Review: 4**** All in a Row – Southwark Playhouse @allinarowplay @swkplay @FunkSmuggler @CharlieBrooks0 @dominicmshaw @Otodyn”
Review: 4**** The Bowie Experience: The Golden Years Tour Hackney Empire @HackneyEmpire @bowieexperience
Tweetingit: 4* A true icon and his live show re-imagined; A hugely entertaining take on a greatest hits package. I defy anyone not to enjoy this show! June 1983: post-punk, pre Band Aid and belted safari jackets were inexplicably in fashion. But more importantly, it marked the only occasion I saw David Bowie play live.Continue reading “Review: 4**** The Bowie Experience: The Golden Years Tour Hackney Empire @HackneyEmpire @bowieexperience”
Review: 4**** Romea & Julian The Bread & Roses @RomeaAndJulian @BreadandRosesTC
I arrived at the Bread & Roses a little dubious as I’m not exactly a Shakespeare buff, despite a deep appreciation for his language I do sometimes struggle if the story telling is not clear and confident. I was, however, reassured by the gender swapping title, that this interpretation would bring a fresh perspective onContinue reading “Review: 4**** Romea & Julian The Bread & Roses @RomeaAndJulian @BreadandRosesTC”
Review: 3*** Riot Act, King’s Head Theatre @KingsHeadThtr@RikkiBB #riotact #queerseason
Tweetingit: 3* A one act monologue charting the life experience of three gay men from the 1960s to 1980s. A tad predictable but nicely performed using first-hand accounts. Presented as part of Queer Season at the King’s Head Theatre, Riot Act is a verbatim play based on interviews with three gay men. Alexis Gregory hasContinue reading “Review: 3*** Riot Act, King’s Head Theatre @KingsHeadThtr@RikkiBB #riotact #queerseason”
Review: 3*** Le Misanthrope – Camden People’s Theatre @ExchangeTheatre @CamdenPT
Exchange Theatre has a laudable mission: to bring foreign plays to an English-speaking audience. For this alone they deserve huge credit. And their attention to classics is equally important: there is so much more to enjoy than endless outings of Shakespeare (for all his merits) and British audiences need more opportunities to explore it. InContinue reading “Review: 3*** Le Misanthrope – Camden People’s Theatre @ExchangeTheatre @CamdenPT”
Review: 4**** Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate – @LondonColiseum @Opera_North @kissmekatetour
Arrogant theatre director, Fred Graham, is starring in a musical production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, opposite his irritable film star ex-wife Lilli Vanessi. The show is already in danger of coming apart at the seams thanks to the bickering couple, but when young actress Lois Lane discovers that her boyfriend Bill CalhounContinue reading “Review: 4**** Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate – @LondonColiseum @Opera_North @kissmekatetour”
Review: 4**** 84 Charing Cross Road – @RichmondTheatre @Stefanie_Powers @84CXROnTour
Mountains of venerable leather-bound books greet the audience: neat, catalogued shelves on the right of the stage; disorderly piles on the left. And so the stage is set for a play of juxtapositions: man and woman; togetherness and solitude; Britain and America. It is only really this last cultural contrast which feels largely anachronisticContinue reading “Review: 4**** 84 Charing Cross Road – @RichmondTheatre @Stefanie_Powers @84CXROnTour”
Playhouse Pickings 