spanglechick, saw AVFTB a couple of weeks ago. Completely agree with you. Mark Strong is absolutely great, as is the production in general -- I literally had goosebumps at one point. In terms of strike rate, the Almeida's also had/having some run.
This year at the theatre....
- Thread starter belboid
- Start date
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
Royal & Derngate are turning into Camelot for the big Merlin production. Might be a bit old to go on my own 
little_legs
Поехали!
I booked a ticket for Intimate Apparel at the Park Theatre. I have heard good things about Tanya Moodie before, so I can't wait to see her in this play.
spanglechick & Sue I was jealous for you after reading your posts.
belboid what did you end up seeing?
spanglechick & Sue I was jealous for you after reading your posts.
belboid what did you end up seeing?
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little_legs
Поехали!
They should transfer Beryl and Hamlet to London after their run in the north.
redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
Henry V - by the Bell Shakespeare Company, very solid, the acting and sets were all as good as you'd expect from Bell. This version was set up as a play within a play, the idea being that a bunch of school children were putting on Henry V during the blitz. To be honest I'm not sure that this framing device was totally successful, however, having seen a magnificent 'straight' version of Henry V by Propellor a couple of years ago, as well an abridged version in the Sydney Theatre Company's fantastic War of the Roses it was quite interesting to seeing this alternative.
christonabike
Elm Park Bencher
The Nether at Royal Court was excellent
We've seen a few too many double header misery doom scenarios this year and needed a decent night at the theatre to get back into it, and this was it
What would happen if there were no consequences to our actions? Would you fuck a kid and then axe 'em to death afterwards? I wouldn't (no, really) For a start I thought the axe scenario was a weird position but hey, it's a play and axes on stage are cool, as are sets made up of trees and mirrors; I love trees on the set
Fucking ace digital media is also used, it's sort of a police procedural whodunit with virtual reality kid sex (not shown) No spoilers on the outcome
Acting was ace
Best thing at Royal Court since Birdland
We've seen a few too many double header misery doom scenarios this year and needed a decent night at the theatre to get back into it, and this was it
What would happen if there were no consequences to our actions? Would you fuck a kid and then axe 'em to death afterwards? I wouldn't (no, really) For a start I thought the axe scenario was a weird position but hey, it's a play and axes on stage are cool, as are sets made up of trees and mirrors; I love trees on the set
Fucking ace digital media is also used, it's sort of a police procedural whodunit with virtual reality kid sex (not shown) No spoilers on the outcome
Acting was ace
Best thing at Royal Court since Birdland
redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
Tartuffe by Moliere performed by the Bell Shakespeare Company at the Sydney Opera House.
Absolutely excellent, very, very funny. I've no knowledge of the play in the original French so I can't say how accurate the translation was but for me it was a great job, like the BSC's previous adaptation of Moliere's School for Wives, the English translations was still in verse. All the cast was wonderful, but IMO Helen Dallimore as Elmire and Kate Mulvany (one of Australia's most underrated/unknown actors) as Dorine are particularly good. The set and customs were simple but effective. The only slight disappointment for me was the purposefully deus ex machina ending. Reading the criticism I can see what Moliere was attempting to do (and I think it's right that the company didn't change the ending) but I can't help but feeling that it just doesn't really work for a modern audience, or at least it didn't for me. But that's just a minor flaw in an really, really good performance of a play.
Absolutely excellent, very, very funny. I've no knowledge of the play in the original French so I can't say how accurate the translation was but for me it was a great job, like the BSC's previous adaptation of Moliere's School for Wives, the English translations was still in verse. All the cast was wonderful, but IMO Helen Dallimore as Elmire and Kate Mulvany (one of Australia's most underrated/unknown actors) as Dorine are particularly good. The set and customs were simple but effective. The only slight disappointment for me was the purposefully deus ex machina ending. Reading the criticism I can see what Moliere was attempting to do (and I think it's right that the company didn't change the ending) but I can't help but feeling that it just doesn't really work for a modern audience, or at least it didn't for me. But that's just a minor flaw in an really, really good performance of a play.
christonabike
Elm Park Bencher
The Wolf from the Door by Rory Mullarkey, at the Royal Court
I liked but didn't love this play; there was an idea, revolution, fronted by Anna Chancellor (Duckface apparently) as Lady Catherine and her young recruit Leo (Calvin Demba)
As I remember it, they wanted W.I. snipers on the roof, semtex action from the flower arrangers, and the morris dancers to attack (someone)
It was quite funny, some nekkidness, swearing and a shooting, (I think?)
I never read a synopsis beforehand, so it was full on from the get go, and once I'd cottoned on to the subject my glasses were slipping off my nose
Other stuff; it was hot in the theatre (Jerwood) I was four gins in, with one San Miguel, a joint and a pint of cider
Just to add - I fucking love the Royal Court
I liked but didn't love this play; there was an idea, revolution, fronted by Anna Chancellor (Duckface apparently) as Lady Catherine and her young recruit Leo (Calvin Demba)
As I remember it, they wanted W.I. snipers on the roof, semtex action from the flower arrangers, and the morris dancers to attack (someone)
It was quite funny, some nekkidness, swearing and a shooting, (I think?)
I never read a synopsis beforehand, so it was full on from the get go, and once I'd cottoned on to the subject my glasses were slipping off my nose
Other stuff; it was hot in the theatre (Jerwood) I was four gins in, with one San Miguel, a joint and a pint of cider
Just to add - I fucking love the Royal Court
christonabike
Elm Park Bencher
One more, if you get a chance to see Not I/Footfalls/Rockaby by Samual Beckett, then do it. I think it's transferred to the West End so it'll cost though
Here's how they did Not I
Not sure how Beckett did the words, must've been some kind of genius
Here's how they did Not I
Not sure how Beckett did the words, must've been some kind of genius
goldenecitrone
post tenebras lux
A friend saw this and said it was brilliant, an absolutely compelling piece of theatre. Saw Miller's The Crucible for the first time at the Old Vic several weeks back which was excellent. Tense, raw and frankly terrifying. Off to see The Cherry Orchard next month at the Young Vic.
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
went to this last night, and was very impressed indeed. I've never been to the Royal Exchange before, and what a top venue. Lovely looking outside, and a really good stage. As for the play....
There are a few gender swaps for the roles, none of which seem at all wrong. The gravedigger as a wise-cracking scouse lass is spot on, Rosenkrantz is great (okay, in no small part cos I found her to be rather pleasant on the eye. In fact it is the only questionable switch - its the only production I've ever seen where you can actually tell which is which, Rosie and Guilders). The highlight is Polonia, who is superb as Ophelia's mother, the over-protective, rather idiotic but also very sharp, protector - bit like Rebecca Front in The Thick Of It, except cleverer. It really works and should definitely be done again. Ophelia is still Ophelia, and, god, but it's an overwhelmingly crap role. The one exception being the mad scene which was one of the best I've ever seen (and made great use of Bowie's Lady Grinning Soul)
As for Maxine..well, the most interesting thing is perhaps that her gender just didn't matter. She was a female, but playing as a man, and other than a couple of amusing gender-bending lines, it just wasn't at all relevant. What we got was a great performance from a great actor. Hamlet is shown as incredibly bitter at and insightful into the corruption of the court, and all around him (even his friends), he plays them all off, running rings round them (or so it seems). And it finishes off with a cracking sword fight, at which Ms Peake performed admirably.
very very well worth seeing if you can. Even tho I've kinda spoiled all the interesting bits for you.
christonabike
Elm Park Bencher
Teh Internet is Serious Business at the Royal Court: I didn't like it very much, lots going on, and as ever, I liked it more afterwards as I read the the Anonymous story, which is incredible, and remembered pertinent points in the play
Sometimes I think a play can be aimed at students with a tick box of issues, most times I am wrong and it's a play I have paid to see and should shut the fuck up
There was a lot of singing and as it was the second night I think they may have sorted the levels for the audio out by now, if it's still on. There was peodo bear, actors dressed as avatars, and a ball pit at the front of the stage, which was used quite well
The Albion at the Bush Theatre. Should have fucking hated this but didn't. Everyone else wanted to leave at the interval and was surprised I was enjoying it
Issues covered was like a cut and paste (racism, white British discontent, black British discontent, set in a pub) all done with karaoke singing. Natalie Casey, her from Hollyoaks, singing deadpan, If I Could Turn Back Time was brilliant
If you like karaoke, you'll like this, although I didn't need to hear a full version of Laserlight (don't know who did this) at the end
Didn't learn fuck all but enjoyed it. Gin and weed consumed at both, ten more booked between now and May - the good shit books up fast
Sometimes I think a play can be aimed at students with a tick box of issues, most times I am wrong and it's a play I have paid to see and should shut the fuck up
There was a lot of singing and as it was the second night I think they may have sorted the levels for the audio out by now, if it's still on. There was peodo bear, actors dressed as avatars, and a ball pit at the front of the stage, which was used quite well
The Albion at the Bush Theatre. Should have fucking hated this but didn't. Everyone else wanted to leave at the interval and was surprised I was enjoying it
Issues covered was like a cut and paste (racism, white British discontent, black British discontent, set in a pub) all done with karaoke singing. Natalie Casey, her from Hollyoaks, singing deadpan, If I Could Turn Back Time was brilliant
If you like karaoke, you'll like this, although I didn't need to hear a full version of Laserlight (don't know who did this) at the end
Didn't learn fuck all but enjoyed it. Gin and weed consumed at both, ten more booked between now and May - the good shit books up fast
redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
Would have loved to see this.
Not the theatre strictly speaking but I went to see, for the first time, one of those live captured versions on theatre productions at the cinema of Skylight. The play is good and both Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan are good. It's obviously not the theatre, but it was done pretty well and I'd probably go to another one if the play is right.
Kaka Tim
Half Arsed and Slapdash till I Die
Go see Grounded if you get the chance. Saw it last night at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and its touring - manchesters next I think.
Its a one person show about a female pilot who's taken off flying F-16s and made to pilot drones - spending her days staring at a grey screen looking for targets - the gorgon eye in the sky looking to deliver 'justice' on the guilty. . Set, tech and - especially - the acting are mesmerising. A brilliant piece of theatre, superbly written and Lucy Ellinson's performance is virtuoso stuff - really astonishing.
Review here - http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/reviews/09-2013/grounded_31811.html
Its a one person show about a female pilot who's taken off flying F-16s and made to pilot drones - spending her days staring at a grey screen looking for targets - the gorgon eye in the sky looking to deliver 'justice' on the guilty. . Set, tech and - especially - the acting are mesmerising. A brilliant piece of theatre, superbly written and Lucy Ellinson's performance is virtuoso stuff - really astonishing.
Review here - http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/reviews/09-2013/grounded_31811.html
mango5
Endeavour era
Not being a theatre aficionado in any sense I now find myself with tickets to see Electra at the Old Vic in December, and Peter Pan at the Bloomsbury theatre, Here Lies Love at the National Theatre in January, as well as the Scottsboro Boys, Eugenie Onegin at the Barbican in Feburary, Man and Superman in May also at the National Theatre. 
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
Queen Coal
Set in Goldsthorpe (or somewhere similar, where they held a bonfire anyway) in the week after Thatcher died, its a tale of how the strike tore lives and communities apart, and how time isn't always the great healer. Brilliantly staged, it's powerful and riveting, even tho its not telling anyone anything new. Worth a look if it tours anywhere.
Set in Goldsthorpe (or somewhere similar, where they held a bonfire anyway) in the week after Thatcher died, its a tale of how the strike tore lives and communities apart, and how time isn't always the great healer. Brilliantly staged, it's powerful and riveting, even tho its not telling anyone anything new. Worth a look if it tours anywhere.
Lea
Well-Known Member
I've also booked to see Man and Superman at the National in March. Just bought the play to read so I can have a better understanding of it before going next year. They're also doing some talks including one by Ralph Fiennes who stars (me loves a bit of Ralph), one by the director and also one about Shaw's philosophy. Looking forward to it.Not being a theatre aficionado in any sense I now find myself with tickets to see Electra at the Old Vic in December, and Peter Pan at the Bloomsbury theatre, Here Lies Love at the National Theatre in January, as well as the Scottsboro Boys, Eugenie Onegin at the Barbican in Feburary, Man and Superman in May also at the National Theatre.
christonabike
Elm Park Bencher
John at the National Theatre was brilliant, DV8 physical theatre about a bloke abused and his journey. It also informs the audience about gay sauna's
This review is hilarious:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...ified-National-Theatre-s-latest-offering.html
There's not a lot more to add to that!
I love verbatim theatre, which John is. London Road was one of my plays of the year in 2012, another verbatim theatre production
Symphony at Soho Theatre tonight
This review is hilarious:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...ified-National-Theatre-s-latest-offering.html
There's not a lot more to add to that!
I love verbatim theatre, which John is. London Road was one of my plays of the year in 2012, another verbatim theatre production
Symphony at Soho Theatre tonight
not-bono-ever
meh
Went to see the curious incident of the dog....last night at the Guilgud - as a rare theatre goer, I was well impressed.
erm...
erm...
christonabike
Elm Park Bencher
Saw Last Christmas at the Soho Theatre last night and really liked it
It's an hour long monologue about a fella going home to Swansea for christmas
It involves his girlfriend, a work party, a train journey, meeting his mates in a pub (my mates dad also drinks in said boozer, The Singleton) and rounds off nicely
Recommended
It's an hour long monologue about a fella going home to Swansea for christmas
It involves his girlfriend, a work party, a train journey, meeting his mates in a pub (my mates dad also drinks in said boozer, The Singleton) and rounds off nicely
Recommended
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
Blasted, by Sarah Kane
A new production of the play that shocked the Daily Mail (ahem) directed by Richard Wilson. It's still a shocking and thought provoking piece, visceral and really quite horrible in many places (four walk outs, I think), and the staging is quite astonishing and brilliantly done. But I'm not sure that the play is actually that good. We went to an actors discussion thing about it after, and Wilson said at one point that he thought, on first reading, that it was just 'showing off' - and there is a lot of it that is. While it does have 'something to say' it does also seem like a piece far too concerned with referencing other plays (bits of Beckett, bits of Shakey) and just being damned clever and shocking. Even its legendary stage instruction 'The hotel is blasted by a mortar shell' - seems to be in as much for the challenge of staging it as for the importance of the event itself (iyswim). So, far from brilliant, but quite fascinating, and I think I will be getting a ticket for 4:48 Psychosis as well.
All a bit heavy theatrewise this weekend, I've got an am-dram version of Emma tonight (it'll be awful) and Absence of War tomorrow (very funny and prescient, supposedly)
A new production of the play that shocked the Daily Mail (ahem) directed by Richard Wilson. It's still a shocking and thought provoking piece, visceral and really quite horrible in many places (four walk outs, I think), and the staging is quite astonishing and brilliantly done. But I'm not sure that the play is actually that good. We went to an actors discussion thing about it after, and Wilson said at one point that he thought, on first reading, that it was just 'showing off' - and there is a lot of it that is. While it does have 'something to say' it does also seem like a piece far too concerned with referencing other plays (bits of Beckett, bits of Shakey) and just being damned clever and shocking. Even its legendary stage instruction 'The hotel is blasted by a mortar shell' - seems to be in as much for the challenge of staging it as for the importance of the event itself (iyswim). So, far from brilliant, but quite fascinating, and I think I will be getting a ticket for 4:48 Psychosis as well.
All a bit heavy theatrewise this weekend, I've got an am-dram version of Emma tonight (it'll be awful) and Absence of War tomorrow (very funny and prescient, supposedly)
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
United We Stand about Des Warren and Ricky Tomlinson and the building workers strike etc is on this monday and tuesday at the bierkeller in bristol. Tickets sales have been really bad so if anyone fancies treating themselves here's an opportunity - i think it's really important that stuff like this is supported or it just won't happen.
That looks good! It's at Hull Truck Theatre next month, so might well go along.
I'm taking my Dad to see The History Boys at New Theatre next weekend too. Not been to the theatre in way too long.
I'm looking to go. Was it good?
not-bono-ever
meh
fucking brilliant.
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
It was way beyond awful
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
'Twas on in Sheffield recently, I missed it but various people I know did, and said it is very very well worth it. Really well done.
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