Category: Reviews

2015 theatre highlights

Published on by Liz8 Comments

Yes, I’m officially jumping on the top 10 bandwagon. It had to be done. Like everyone else, I’ve thought long and hard about my choices – and given that I lost count a long time ago of the number of shows I’ve seen this year, it hasn’t been easy.

And here they are – but first, a quick disclaimer. These are ten shows that have meant a lot to me personally, for whatever reason. They might not be the biggest, or the best from a critic’s perspective… but that’s probably because I’m not a critic. I’m just a theatre fan who enjoys writing about it afterwards.

Oh, and they’re in no particular order. Just choosing ten was hard enough – if I had to put them in order too, we’d be here till 2017.

So here goes:

Beans on Toast (Patch of Blue)

My introduction to Patch of Blue came at the Wimbledon Illuminate Festival; I was sold instantly on the promise of lamplight and folk music, and I wasn’t disappointed. The story of a couple like any other couple is so totally human and relatable that the characters begin to feel like your friends, and you feel every up and down in their relationship along with them.

Beans on Toast review for London Theatre 1

Kinky Boots

I haven’t seen the movie of Kinky Boots, and didn’t really know anything about it apart from it had drag queens in it – but I soon fell head over heels for this irresistible, feel-good musical with some catchy tunes from Cyndi Lauper. It might not be highbrow but it is ridiculously good fun, and sometimes that’s really all you need from a night at the theatre.

Kinky Boots review for London Theatre Direct

In The Heights

Lively, colourful and so full of energy it’s a wonder the roof stays on. In The Heights follows the hopes, fears, loves and losses of a close-knit Hispanic community in Washington Heights over three scorching summer days. With a great story, memorable characters and some spectacular dance numbers, In The Heights is an irresistible joy to watch.

In The Heights review for Carn’s Theatre Passion

Skin in Flames (stonecrabs theatre)

The best-known work by Spanish playwright Guillem Clua, this incredibly tense political thriller sees a photojournalist returning for the first time to the war-torn country where he took his most famous picture. It’s an ingeniously crafted piece and a gripping drama, but also leaves the audience with some serious questions about moral responsibility.

Also, Skin in Flames was the first time I saw a quote from my review on the wall, so it will always be special to me for that reason 🙂

Skin in Flames

Skin in Flames review for London Theatre 1

Consolation (Théâtre volière)

An unexpected delight, about two lost souls who find consolation in their mutual friendship. Nothing about this play is predictable; set in France, it tells the unlikely story of a woman convinced she was a Cathar heretic in a former life, and a young re-enactor at the local museum. As they both try to make sense of their lives, the results are at times funny, at others moving, but always fascinating to watch.

Consolation review for London Theatre 1

The Scottsboro Boys (Garrick Theatre)

The Scottsboro Boys, a musical by Kander and Ebb, is based on the true story of nine black teenagers convicted of rape in 1930s Alabama. The show starts out fun and light-hearted, but soon takes a more sinister turn as the boys’ situation worsens. This deeply moving and chilling tale of injustice is one that stays with you long after you’ve left the theatre.

The Scottsboro Boys review for London Theatre Direct

And Then Come The Nightjars (Theatre503)

Set during Britain’s foot and mouth crisis of 2001, Bea Roberts’ rural drama is a touching exploration of the friendship between a gruff Devon farmer and the local vet. It might not sound like a laugh a minute, but the chalk and cheese relationship between the two is unexpectedly funny and uplifting, with some truly moving performances.

And Then Come The Nightjars review

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 The Nether

Note to self: make sure you know what a play’s about before you go and see it… The Nether is a very disturbing story that messes with your head, set in a not-too-distant future, in which humans can live in a completely virtual world. The play poses some difficult questions – most notably, if you do something bad in the Nether but not in the real world, are you still guilty? Not one for the faint-hearted, but worth seeing for Es Devlin’s spectacular set alone.

The Nether review for London Theatre Direct

To Kill a Mockingbird

I missed this production at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, so when it transferred to the Barbican after a nationwide tour, I jumped at the chance to see it. Starring Robert Sean Leonard as Atticus Finch, and some of the best child actors I’ve ever seen, this play is a loving homage to the novel that inspired it; I’m so glad I got a second chance to see it.

To Kill a Mockingbird review

The Forbidden (Doll’s Eye Theatre)

This play still makes me shudder a little bit; it’s that unsettling. The Forbidden is a gripping story about four former school friends with a dark secret, which takes great delight in wrong-footing its audience with its twists and turns. But it’s also a startlingly accurate depiction of the way teenage girls interact… and it also ruined 5ive for me forever. But that’s okay.

The Forbidden review for London Theatre 1

A few honourable mentions, because I can’t help myself: Cyprus Sunsets, So It Goes, Blood Brothers, Rotterdam, The Railway Children, Proof and The State vs John Hayes. I’d better stop there or this bit could go on all day…

What were your theatre highlights this year?

Happy New  Year – here’s to more great theatre in 2016!

Review: Actor Awareness scratch night at Canal Cafe Theatre

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Until a few weeks ago, I didn’t know anything about Actor Awareness. Run by Tom Stocks, the campaign was set up two years ago to fight for equality and diversity in the arts, regardless of background. Last Monday, Actor Awareness presented their first scratch night, featuring six new short plays all based around the theme of working class. I bought my ticket because a friend had written one of the plays, and it was a really enjoyable evening, with a fascinating selection of plays and some brilliant performances.

The scratch night took place at the Canal Cafe Theatre, an intimate setting perfect for this kind of event. After each play, the audience were invited to give feedback – good or bad – to help the actors, writers and directors going forward. This had the potential to be a bit awkward, particularly if the feedback wasn’t all good, but it was all very constructive, and all the comments were taken in the spirit in which they were intended.

One of the most interesting aspects of the night was how varied the submissions were; if I hadn’t known in advance what the common theme was, I’d never have guessed. And they also covered the whole spectrum of emotions – from laugh out loud comedies like R(ex)ception and Netflix and Chill with Bae, to heartbreaking dramas C’est la Vie and 9 Cans and a Quarter Bottle.

We began with R(ex)ception, a short but very funny piece written by Francesca Mepham and directed by Adam Morley, about two co-workers, who also just happen to be exes. Naturally, hilarious awkwardness ensues as they try to work out their differences, in a very public forum. In addition, the play makes clever use of a third actor to separate the scenes and involve the audience in the story. My only complaint was that it was over too soon; the banter between the two exes was brilliant and I wanted to see more.

R(ex)ception by Fran Mepham
Photo credit: Alishia Love

Next was Garnet and Gordon, an intense and powerful play written by Francesca Wright and directed by Gaz Wilson. This is one I think we can all relate to; we’ve all had someone we’d rather avoid sit down next to us at the station or bus stop. But what’s interesting about this piece is how both the main characters clearly have more going on than initially meets the eye. I’d love to see the story developed further and get to the bottom of how both men found themselves sitting on that bench.

C’est la Vie, written and directed by Stephanie Perry, is an extract from a longer play about three couples (though we only saw two in this excerpt). The piece examines love through the eyes of each couple, and follows them through the ups and downs of their relationships, until a tragic set of circumstances brings them together. This play was really well acted, but just seeing an excerpt meant it was hard to properly get into it or know at what point of the story we’d come in. I’d love to see the full play, though, as it was clearly heading in an interesting direction.

C'est la Vie by Stephanie Perry
Photo credit: Alishia Love

Act 2 opened with 9 Cans and a Quarter Bottle, written and directed by Seamus Mcnamara. Along with a few other members of the audience, I didn’t completely follow what was going on with this one until the writer explained, at which point a lot of things suddenly made sense. Nonetheless, it’s still a very hard-hitting and moving piece, which was constructed from real accounts of living with drug addiction. The play’s an interesting mix of emotional, hilarious and just plain odd; I’d love to watch it again now, having had some insight into what it’s all about.

Family Estate, written and directed by Lawrence Crane, is a snapshot of life for a couple struggling to make ends meet – again, something many people can relate to. As he prepares to go out on a risky job (details of which remain unclear), she tries to talk him out of it. The back and forth argument is clearly one they’ve had many times before, and there’s a sense of things escalating. This play, too, feels like the beginning of a longer piece; it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving the audience eager to know what happens next.

And finally, Netflix and Chill with Bae, written and directed by the show’s organiser, Tom Stocks. After some pretty heavy material, it was great to end the evening on a lighter note; this play is very funny because it’s totally real. We’ve all been on bad dates, and we’ve all experienced that inner monologue analysing every detail of what’s going right or wrong. What’s great about this play is that its characters are instantly likeable, and by the end you’re really rooting for them to get together, even though on paper they seem totally mismatched.

Netflix and Chill with Bae by Tom Stocks
Photo credit: Alishia Love

The next Actor Awareness scratch night has already been announced for February, and the theme is ‘Women’s night‘. So if you’re a female writer or director and fancy sending in a play on that theme that’s under 15 minutes long, this is your chance… Visit the Actor Awareness website for more details.


Can’t see the map on iPhone? Try turning your phone to landscape and that should sort it. I don’t know why but I’m working on it… 😉

Review: Dick Whittington at the Orchard Theatre

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It’s Christmas time… and in the land of theatre, that means only one thing: panto season!

Dartford’s pantomime for this year is Dick Whittington, starring Eastenders favourite Shane Richie. On my way to The Orchard to watch the show, I realised I didn’t actually know this particular story… and I can’t honestly say I know it that well now either. But that’s not really the point of panto, as we all know. So here’s the gist – Dick Whittington and his cat save London from giant rats. Hurrah!

Now, let’s be honest. We all know what to expect from a pantomime. It’s a bizarre and extremely British tradition that’s pretty much impossible to explain to anyone who’s never experienced it (believe me, I have tried). But the good news is, once you’ve seen one panto, you’ve basically seen them all. You know there’ll be a TV star playing the hero; a man dressed in drag; a baddie who everyone boos at; lots of singing and dancing; a bit where all the main characters get scared off, one by one, by some kind of monster… It’s a time-honoured formula, and as long as we all keep laughing and shouting the right responses, why would anyone mess with it?

Malcolm Lord
Photo credit: Craig Sugden

Dick Whittington has all of the above in buckets (and yes, at one point there are actual buckets), but it also brings a few fresh ideas to the stage. The appearance of a giant kraken is impressive and unexpected – and it’s great fun to see how the children in the audience respond to it; two little boys in front of us clearly thought giving a huge sea monster the thumbs down was the right way to go. And I genuinely enjoyed the 3D section in the second half – which is saying something, because 3D doesn’t usually do it for me at all – even if it did mean the already astonishing noise levels went up yet another notch.

Whether you’re an Eastenders fan or not, Shane Richie’s a fantastic lead, who absolutely makes the show. He’s also a natural comedian; it’s often hard to tell which bits of the chaos are scripted and which are just him making it up on the spot. He’s joined by Pete Gallagher as the evil King Rat, and Malcolm Lord, who goes through countless outrageous costumes – sometimes several at the same time – as this year’s dame. (For those of us old enough to remember, Malcolm Lord played George the pink hippo in Rainbow. I used to love that show.) Illusionist Phil Hitchcock keeps the audience entertained with some jaw-dropping tricks, and Aaron Romano makes a late but very welcome appearance as a scantily clad Sultan Vinegar.

Shane Richie
Photo credit: Craig Sugden

The humour, as usual, is very much two-level; there’s plenty of slapstick and silliness for the kids, but also more than enough to keep the grownups entertained. The local gags are fun, but could be more varied; after the fourth joke about Temple Hill, it’s starting to get a bit old for anyone who doesn’t live there. And though the show often sails dangerously close to the wind – which, let’s face it, was inevitable in a story where the main character’s called Dick – it always manages to just about toe the line of what’s appropriate.

There are a couple of bits that could be slightly scary for younger audience members, although having said that, none of them seemed particularly phased, and the baby directly in front of us was totally chilled out throughout the show – so maybe I’m just being a wuss.

Pete Gallagher
Photo credit: Craig Sugden

I’ve been to my fair share of pantomimes over the years, and I have to say Dick Whittington is one of the best. The cast all look like they’re having a great time, and it’s a genuinely enjoyable show, with plenty of fun surprises. Of course it’s also totally predictable and a complete cheese-fest… but then that’s why we love panto. Right?

Dick Whittington is at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford, until Sunday 3rd January.

Theatre round-up: 22 Nov 2015

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Sometimes you just have to see a show more than once (or should that be four times). This week had a couple of repeats, but since both were brilliant, I’m not complaining… So here’s what I’ve been enjoying this week:

Harlequinade / All On Her Own

I was lucky enough to be at the first preview of Harlequinade, one of the plays in the Branagh season at the Garrick Theatre. And when I was invited to see it again this week, I jumped at the chance. The double bill by Terence Rattigan begins with Zoë Wanamaker in All On Her Own, a short but incredibly intense piece about a woman who finds herself talking to her dead husband late at night after one too many whiskies.

It’s followed, in a swift change of pace, by Harlequinade, a comedy about a theatre company rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and The Winter’s Tale. The brilliant cast is led by Kenneth Branagh and Miranda Raison as the company’s lead actors, the Gosports – but for me, the star of the show is undoubtedly Tom Bateman as their overworked manager, Jack Wakefield. It’s a very funny play, and I only wish it had been a bit longer; there are so many actors that some of them get very limited stage time. Overall, though, it’s a lot of fun and I’d recommend it, especially if you’re not sure about Shakespeare – this play might just change your mind.

Review for London Theatre Direct to follow.

This week's theatre

Miss Saigon

My fourth trip to see Miss Saigon and I love it a little bit more every time. This particular outing was booked in response to the announcement that the show will be closing in February (news that still outrages me). There’s not a lot to say that I haven’t said before – I love the tragic love story between Kim, a Vietnamese girl, and Chris, an American GI; I love the music by Boublil and Schönberg; I love the helicopter, which still gives me a little thrill every time; I love the brilliant cast, especially Jon Jon Briones as the Engineer and the incredible Eva Noblezada as Kim (and a quick shout out to Richard Carson, who was a fantastic Chris on Friday evening); and I love how it makes me cry like a baby every time.

Basically, I love it.

Review for London Theatre Direct (written in February – after visit no.3 – so some cast members have changed)

This week’s theatre

Bit of a quiet one – lots of other things going on – so just the one show coming up this week:

The Illusionists, Shaftesbury Theatre

Theatre round-up: 15 Nov 2015

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How was your week? Mine was a pretty quiet one for a change, but naturally still included a couple of nights at the theatre. One was local, one was London, and they were about as different as two shows can be…

This week's theatre

Puttin’ on the Ritz (Orchard theatre, Dartford)

A song and dance extravaganza featuring star guests Trent and Gordana from Strictly, celebrating the Hollywood glamour of the 1920s and 30s. A talented and energetic cast give a polished performance, and although it feels a little bit like two shows in one, overall it’s a fun, foot-tapping production, packed with classic tunes from the likes of Irving Berlin and George Gershwin.

Puttin’ on the Ritz review

Staying Alive (The Pleasance, London)

This play from Blackshaw Theatre Company isn’t particularly easy viewing; it’s about a single mother coping with the tragic death of her young son, and her friends, who have no idea how to support her or each other. It’s a sad story, with moments of gentle humour, and a couple of particularly intense scenes that creep up on you. There’s also a wonderful performance from Rachel Nott as the grieving Mary.

Staying Alive review for LondonTheatre1

What have you seen at the theatre this week?

Next week’s theatre

Harlequinade / All On Her Own (Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company), Garrick Theatre

Miss Saigon, Prince Edward Theatre