Tag review

REVIEW: NEST

JMA Photography

Reading Time: 3 minutesAn interesting display of talent, creativity, and commitment was showcased by the National Youth Theatre in a production of NEST, which occurred in a 355-hectare nature park. The story takes place in the year 2050, on the grounds of St Aidan's RSPB Nature Park in Leeds, where climate change has had disastrous consequences for the flora and fauna of our planet. As a result, bird watchers have no birds to watch, politicians are committed to the idea of net 0, and people are considering flying to Mars as a way to save themselves.

REVIEW: 42nd Street

Reading Time: 2 minutesIt feels fitting that as I approach my first year as a semi-regular, semi-amateur theatre reviewer I found myself at the Empire Theatre watching the West End revival of 42nd Street. The plot remains simple,  a country girl thrown into a theatre production last-minute; her talent pushing her to centre stage, complete with a triumphant redemption arc for all involved. Nicole-lily Baisden shines in this role, with a perfect nasal twang which teleported me to the roaring 20’s.

REVIEW: The W.I.G of Life: A Conference

Reading Time: 2 minutesBy offering the chance for us to cosplay as advanced Artificial Intelligence in a far-flung future, Psychonaut Theatre’s latest production: The W.I.G of Life allows us to examine humanity’s impact on the world around us by presenting us with the binary choice as to whether to preserve biological life or allow it to extinguish.

REVIEW: Kinder

Kinder Smoking Apples Promo Shoot ©The Other Richard

Reading Time: 4 minutesSmoking Apples’ show Kinder cleverly employs many different kinds of puppets (designed by Hattie Thomas and Matt Lloyd), simple but effective projections and shadow play (Hattie Thomas), and a clever sound design (by George Bellamy) as well as skillful performers/puppeteers (Hattie Thomas, David Burchhardt, and Tea Poldervaart) to tell us the story of “one small Czech-Jewish girl embarking on a mighty adventure” as she escapes German-occupied Czechoslovakia at the beginning of WWII.

REVIEW: I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical

Reading Time: 3 minutesFresh of a revival at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year, Alexander S. Bermange's I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical is back in London and it is FAB-U-LOUS. The concept is four cast members, plus Bermange on piano, performing a series of musical sketches that dive into everything related to musicals. They tell stories of up-and-coming young talent, poke fun at the know-it-all actor, mock the musicals themselves and, at one point, turn the spotlight on the audience to point out performers’ pet peeves about them. The lyrics are brilliantly witty with clever twists, capturing the hardships of the industry, but keeping things light and humorous. It is truly impressive the extent to which the musical language of the songs genuinely reflects Musical Theatre tunes.

REVIEW: Eve: All About Her

Reading Time: 2 minutesEve: All About Her, is a one-man show created by and starring Keith Ramsay. This show began life at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022, but has now transferred for a limited run at the Soho Theatre in London. The show was heavily acclaimed in Edinburgh and earned Ramsay “The Stage Edinburgh Award for Acting Excellence.” I would have to agree this was a brilliant performance, but the show itself I found incredibly confusing.

REVIEW: Merrily We Roll Along

Photo: Konrad Bartelski

Reading Time: 3 minutesMerrily We Roll Along is not an easy show to pull off. The story starts in 1980 and gradually works its way back to 1955, charting a journey from corrupted aspirations back to college optimism. It’s a story about dreams—their allure and their elusiveness, growing up, and how friendships survive. If they do. It’s an ambitious show for the National Youth Music Theatre to attempt; after all, these characters spend most of the time at an age far exceeding that of their actors. And, it’s a Sondheim. Fortunately for us, this production is a sure-fire success.

REVIEW: Candy

Reading Time: 3 minutesDo you believe in love at first sight? This question is the headliner of Candy (written by Tim Fraser), which began life as a fifteen minute short at Bunker Theatre in 2018, and over the last five years has been added to and adapted into the full sixty minute one-man show that it is now.