Month: June 2022

Where and when: Etcetera Theatre, Camden 15th & 16th June

What it’s all about… It’s 1939 and Philomena McGuinness, a reluctant nurse, is on her way from Dublin to London. Newly recruited for the British war effort, she finds herself facing the challenge of a lifetime. But it is not the blood, the bombs, or even the wise-cracking soldiers that make her question her place here. It’s the fact that she is not just a nurse, but a poet too. Can one live a life true to the poetry inside them when they are constantly being defined by their role in the war?

You’ll like it if… you like character-driven one-person shows about heartbreak and self-belief, laced with comedy and action. As the impact of war on everyday life looms heavily once again in our lives, The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness is a funny and poignant exploration of our personal response to war, based on the true-stories of Irish nurses during World War Two.

You should see it because… Jasmin Gleeson, an amazing up-and-coming Irish comedian, brings life, emotion and humour to the role of Philomena. Though it is set during wartime, the response Philomena has to the turbulent changes to her selfhood and identity brought about by being thrust into a war, are timeless and relatable even now.

Anything else we should know…: These shows are London previews for our full run at Edinburgh, which you can also get tickets for here – https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/poetical-life-of-philomena-mcguinness In Edinburgh, The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness is running from August 5th – 20th (except 14th) at 16.05pm (1hr) at Greenside at Infirmary Street in Mint Studio. Previews run from August 5th – 7th. Media tickets are available for all dates.

Where to follow:
Twitter: @josh_j_king

Book here: https://www.citizenticket.co.uk/events/etcetera-theatre/the-poetical-life-of-philomena-mcguinness/

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Where and when: The White Bear Theatre, 138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4DJ; 7th-11th June at 7.30pm and 11th June at 2.30pm

What it’s all about… A trio of short plays taking a sideways look at life’s little quirks ….

Double Bubble: In some ways Gina and Lois couldn’t be more different. In other ways they’re very much alike. Gina is a career woman whose company provides ‘high-level digital solutions to meet low-level logistical challenges’, although she may not be entirely sure what this means. Lois, on the other hand, works in a department whose function is to answer the telephone and listen to customers’ complaints, although the main complaint is that no one answers the telephone. Gina and Lois have been friends for years and years, but it’s been months and months since they last had coffee together. The reason? The ‘misunderstanding’ over Bruno.

Gardening Leave: Bob is on ‘gardening leave’ but he’s anxious ‘to get back in the saddle’. Work is Bob’s life. What is life without a job? It has to be the right job, of course, which is why his meeting with Tom in a West End club is so desperately important. Can Tom point Bob in the right direction? Better still, does Tom have any openings in his operation? The problem is … Well, there are lots of problems. Mistaken identity, cross purposes, a surprising revelation and a terrible let-down, for which free theatre tickets – gold dust though they may be – isn’t a sufficient recompense.

Titus Returns: When, after 20 years of marriage, Rob leaves Jen for young Suzy, it’s all moderately civilised. There’s no quarrelling about rubber plants or ormolu candlesticks or suchlike. The problem is Titus, an indoor cat who seems to have gone walkabout. But then Rob and Jen’s old friend, Ian, brings Titus home, and all seems well. Or as well as it can be in the circumstances. They say that when one door closes, another door opens, but it isn’t always the case. When push comes to shove, the door may swing wide open or it may remain tightly shut. Finally everything depends on Titus.

You’ll like it if… you’d like to see three old TV favourites teaming up to tackle a trio of short plays at South London’s White Bear Theatre. Stephen Omer (Downton Abbey), Dee Sadler (Doctor Who, All Creatures Great and Small, No Place Like Home) and Fiona Tong (Silent Witness) are set to star in Misconnections – written by Nicolas Ridley – a witty look at the vagaries and vicissitudes of life, love and longing which will make you laugh out loud.

You should see it because… This is the inaugural production of Pack a Punch Players – a London-based Repertory Company – aiming to offer a witty diversion from price hikes and ‘partygate’. Set in modern day, Double Bubble, Gardening Leave and Titus Returns put the Downing Street shenanigans in the shade with their dark and thought-provoking themes. With love as the main motif – mistrust, cunning and counter-play are never far away – along with a beloved cat called Titus.

Anything else we should know…: Watch out for a cat called Titus and a lucky Buddah’s Head…

Where to follow:
Twitter: @Packapunchplay
Facebook: @Packapunchplayers
Instagram: @PackaPunchPlayers

Book here: https://www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk/whatson/Misconnections-‘A-Trio-of-Short-Plays’

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