Reading Time: 2 minutesMost people’s cultural awareness of feminist philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft is through the lens of her famous daughter, Frankenstein writer Mary Shelley. This production seeks to remedy that and explore the life of the seminal political and cultural provocateur through Maureen Lennon’s script and Esther Richardson’s direction.
Reading Time: 3 minutesLayered with subtext, sharp satire, and thought-provoking questions about Macbeth’s relevance in today’s world. Richard Twyman’s production of Macbeth at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith is steeped in a world of subtext, yet this is paired with…
Reading Time: 2 minutesAn original World War Two story that is let down by its runtime
Reading Time: 2 minutes“Stewart Lee Vs the Man-Wulf is not stand-up for casual comedy-goers—it’s an exploration of the art form itself, filled with sharp wit, knowing absurdity, and a touch of existential despair” Oxford Playhouse patron Stewart Lee returns by…
Reading Time: 3 minutesAntigone (On Strike) is a play which loosely maps the narrative of Antigone onto a fictionalised version of the Shamima Begum case Antigone (On Strike) is not an adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone so much as a play…
Reading Time: 2 minutesIn 1962 Sydney Australia, 15 year old Calynn falls pregnant and is suddenly thrust into a cruel world of punishment and condemnation. Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, is a lovely hub with a diverse range of activities for why…
Reading Time: 2 minutesJack and the Beanstalk: What a Whopper is an adult pantomime that humorously blends traditional elements with outrageous comedy. While the show features entertaining performances, particularly by Matthew Baldwin as the pantomime dame, it struggles in its second half as the novelty of its shock humor fades. Ultimately, slight edits could enhance its impact.
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse is a sweet, slightly quirky children’s story about a mouse and a duck that live in a wolf’s stomach. The story by Mac Barnett and the wonderful illustrator Jon Klassen is brought to stage by the Aurora orchestra and composer Martin Suckling.
Reading Time: 2 minutesLet’s get the good stuff out of the way as the show has its fair share of it. Keala Settle shines as Jennifer, the mother whose illness rocks the overly-positive world of the show. Settle is an accomplished performer (you don’t need me to tell you that) with an astounding voice, who beautifully embodies her character–and often adds more depth than the show might otherwise provide. Robyn Rose-Li also puts in a fantastic turn as Malia, our wide-eyed protagonist, with a great voice and bubbling energy; these two are a lot of the reason the show stays in the air.
Reading Time: 3 minutes“A fever dream of innovative experimental theatre that suffers from its monotony” Signal to Noise is the latest show from Sheffield-based ensemble ‘Forced Entertainment’, a company with a long history of devising experimental theatre to provoke audiences…