Jason Showdie

Jason Showdie

I've adored theatre since I was a young (and, let's face it, precocious) child. Challenges growing up meant that theatre became a safe haven of escape and connection in equal measure. I grew up in the South West of Devon, a stone’s throw away from the beautiful coast, in a village not far removed from the world of This Country, so it was certainly never dull. I took the leap to move to the big smoke in 2017 and spent three years (or most of it, thanks Covid) training on the BA Acting Course at Italia Conti. I've always enjoyed writing and have done as much of it on the side as time has allowed; poetry, screenplays, musical theatre - you name it, I've got a dustbin somewhere full of it. Most of my time now is split between teaching and working in marketing (and watching as much theatre as possible, of course!). For me, it's all about communication and the story is the point. I'm very excited to be contributing to a company focused on fresh, young perspectives and improving accessibility to the world's leading theatre scene.

REVIEW: Your Lie In April – The Musical

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe recent Death Note concert left manga fans hoping for a repeat of its success with this version of “one of the most popular romantic stories and greatest tearjerkers in manga history”–the tale of Kōsei Arima, a young piano prodigy, and his inability to play following his mother’s death. Unfortunately, the show falls flat

REVIEW: through the noise: Attacca Quartet

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Attacca Quartet is a Grammy award-winning American string quartet, especially known for their collaborations with Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Caroline Shaw. noisenights are through the noise’s vision for the future of classical music: crowdfunded gigs taking world-leading musicians to iconic independent venues. Together, they make for an electric evening.

REVIEW: The Comedy of Errors

Reading Time: 3 minutesTwo sets of twins are separated by a shipwreck and end up in rival cities. Obviously. It’s Shakespeare. It doesn’t take long before identities are mistaken and chaos ensues–there’s a reason, after all, that the play’s title is still common parlance today–or before everything is happily wrapped up again. However, this production doesn’t so much hurtle towards its finale, as promised, but rather reaches the finish line in fits and starts.

REVIEW: Taming Who?

Reading Time: 3 minutesOne of the best modern adaptations of Shakespeare I’ve seen. It’s dynamite. Petruchio is very happy here in London. One thing’s for sure: he doesn’t want to head back home to Nigeria, which is exactly where his…

REVIEW: Phantasmagoria

Reading Time: 2 minutesA psychological horror more clever than impactful Deepika Arwind’s latest play comes to the Southwark Playhouse and promises a psychological horror pitting the terror of speaking out against the fear of staying quiet—an exploration of populism, power…

REVIEW: King Lear

Reading Time: 2 minutesPowerful moments in Branagh’s performance but there’s some unmet potential King Lear is a mammoth role and a mammoth play. There’s a reason countless renowned actors have taken up the mantle to varied acclaim and this time…

REVIEW: Via Injabulo

Reading Time: 2 minutesVia Katlehong are an award-winning dance company which began as a community troupe back in 1992.

REVIEW: The Legends of Them

Reading Time: 2 minutesA monolithic sound system towers over the room. A circular rug creates the playing space. A table, two chairs and two screens are all else that’s needed for Brixton legend Sutara Gayle (aka Lorna Gee) to take us through a journey of heritage and trauma to the other side. And a microphone, of course. The show’s present is set in a spiritual retreat in India where Gayle is undergoing some meditation guided by her brother, Mooji. It is the place in which Gayle is encouraged to allow her past to flood out of her, to realise that the past and future are simply thoughts, and that everything truly exists in the right here and now.