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REVIEW: 40/40

Published on March 3, 2024March 4, 2024 by lwscottishoakLeave a comment

A powerful and passionate piece!

Katherina Radeva’s 40/40 is a thought-provoking and powerful piece that explores the importance of womanhood, belonging, and being an artist in this modern world.

From the moment you enter the theatre, you are instantly drawn into the set, as there are chairs placed on stage as part of the audience and the floor is covered in colourful tape and interesting images. When you’re sitting on the stage you can’t help but feel imbedded into the world that is created.

From the second Katherina Radeva stepped on stage, her presence immediately sets the tone for a fast-paced and intense performance which was incredible to watch. Through a series of voice recording and captivating music, not to mention amazing movement, we are taken on a journey through their memories and experiences, from childhood to present day, which moved the audience in many ways.

One of the most captivating aspects of the play is the use of multimedia. The lighting and sound effects add another layer to the storytelling, creating a further sense of immersion for the audience. The use of props also adds a sense of authenticity and vulnerability to the performance.

The performance continues with dance moves of pure joy and pure honesty, Kat’s energy never failed to keep the audience immersed in her story, by exploring the themes of identity and belonging even more it adds to the sadness of her story, but makes it a beautiful thing to watch. The piece also touches on universal experiences such as love, family and being who you are. These moments are particularly poignant, as they are relatable to audiences from all backgrounds. As she further bared her soul on stage, I only wish more of her story was presented to the audience and the play ran longer.

40/40 is a play that challenges the audience to reflect on their own lives and to not let others affect their lives and how they live them. It is a reminder that we are all shaped by our experiences, and that our past can be an integral part of who we are. The play then concludes with a powerful message, as she returns to the same part of the stage, she entered the piece from. She thanked the audience for being on this journey with her and concluded her piece. The performance was beautiful and something that should be experienced again.

Thursday 29 February – Dundee Rep Theatre
Saturday 2 March – Melrose Corn Exchange, Melrose
Tuesday 5 March – Deda, Derby
Wednesday 6 & Thursday 7 March – Cambridge Junction
Friday 8 & Saturday 9 March – Birmingham Hippodrome, Patrick Studio

REVIEWER: Lily Wells

REVIEW: Nouvelle Vague / Kill The Pain

Published on February 28, 2024March 4, 2024 by lwscottishoakLeave a comment

A combination of talent, which made for an electrifying and captivating evening

After a stressful week, I had the opportunity to attend the Kill The Pain and Nouvelle Vauge concert last weekend and it was an unforgettable experience.

The concert venue was pleasant, and the room had a great vibe even before the bands stepped on stage. The production of the concert was also impressive. The lighting and sound were on point, enhancing the overall performance. The stage was set up in a way that allowed everyone in the audience to have a clear view of the band, no matter where they were standing. This made the concert feel more intimate and personal.

But when the show started the energy only ever increased.

Kill The Pain’s performance was kooky but in the best way! From the second they walked (or rather danced their way onto stage) it was hard to look away. Their stage presence was such a delight and tied in with their music and serene vocals, it was so enjoyable to watch.

After a short break, Nouvelle Vague stepped on stage and in captivated the audience with beautiful French vocals. A real highlight for me was when one singer stopped and started to dance as if no one was watching and – with the help of the amazing tech staff – truly made it a one-of-a-kind experience. The band also took the time to interact with the audience, sharing the stories behind their songs and making the concert feel more personal and real.

Before the show ended, Nouvelle Vague invited Kill The Pain back on stage for a final few songs which just made the night complete. All the beautiful talent combined on stage was amazing to see and to hear and ended the show stunningly.

REVIEW: A Christmas Carol

Published on December 4, 2023March 4, 2024 by lwscottishoak1 Comment

A Classic Christmas Tale that should be experienced over and over again

After a day of being in the cold I could think of no better way to end it than an evening seeing the fabulous Christmas Carol at the Dundee Rep! The Dundee Rep are known for their creative ways of approaching stories and A Christmas Carol was no different. A Christmas Carol is a classic story that has been presented in theatres many many times, however this particular showing made me feel like I was experiencing it for the first time. The story was brilliantly told in a unique way with amazing musical numbers, a powerful cast, perfectly timed comedy and a gorgeous set and lighting. The performance had such an innocence to it. It made you feel like a kid at Christmas and gave you the feeling of excitement, ultimately making me remember why Christmas can be a magical time for a lot of people.

The Dundee Rep really created a sense of originality to the classic tale, they approached this show in such a modern way whilst still ensuring they paid respect to the original story. Their modern approach of being immersive and making jokes about current people and situations, such as calling out the director for not letting them do a musical. The upbeat music choices made the whole show feel very modern as well. It really sold itself as this stylish enjoyable Christmas experience for everyone and the work paid off.

When first entering the theatre and seeing the set I thought it was unique, as sometimes Christmas shows go a little overboard with their sets but it proved effective and really beautiful. It gave this feeling of a beautiful old classic Christmas and it was amazing to watch it unravel throughout. I loved the aspect of actors coming out of the wings and engaging with the audience before the show started as it all added to this feeling of Christmas cheer and once the show started that feeling was never lost. The actors were so bright and welcoming and you could see through each and everyone that they loved what they did and had real talent. Even when interacting with the audience off the cuff, they proved to be quick witted and funny and they remained in the moment, overall giving us as an audience a more welcoming atmosphere and made me want to watch it even more.

GUEST REVIEWER: Lily Wells