Is this new piece from physical theatre company Gecko more than the sum of its parts? We are all part of a migration story. This universal truth, often hidden or unacknowledged, is the beating heart of Gecko’s new physical theatre production, Kin. Visually and technically accomplished, with a strong and urgent message, this has all […]
The Winter’s Tale at Shakespeare’s Globe
A Dramatic Shakespearian Feast! Shakespeare’s ‘problem plays’ are problems for a reason. In The Winter’s Tale, the problem is that Shakespeare has wrapped a sordid tale of false accusation around a witty love story, with just enough room for some singing and dancing just to top it off. Thankfully, director Sean Holmes embraces the play’s […]
Sylvia at The Old Vic Review
An invigorating take on the story of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst: Sometimes you don’t realise how much you needed to see something until you see it. A hip-hop musical about radical suffragette and socialist Sylvia Pankhurst wasn’t particularly high on my list until last night, but Sylvia turned out to be an invigorating watch. Directed and […]
Noises Off at the Phoenix Theatre – Review
Britain’s favourite farce strikes again! Should you ever go and see the same play twice? Given the regular productions of Michael Frayn’s Noises Off, London’s theatre-going crowd is probably being kept awake at night, to-ing and fro-ing over this exact question. Will it disappoint? Will it be as good as I remember it? The answer, […]
My Neighbour Totoro – RSC at The Barbican
Studio Ghibli classic makes for a dazzling theatre production! Without a single quiver of hesitation, I can announce myself a devoted Hayao Miyazaki fan. When your parents are bohemian enough to imbue your childhood with the artsier side of children’s television you are fed on a regular diet of Studio Ghibli masterpieces. Needless to say, […]
La Traviata at The Grand Opera House Belfast
Siobhan Stagg shines as Violetta in brand new Northern Ireland Opera production: Ah, La Traviata! The world’s single most performed opera has finally arrived for a short stay at The Grand Opera House in Belfast. This brand-new production, directed by Cameron Menzies, the Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Northern Ireland Opera, is a glam […]
OXBO at The Hilton, Bankside
A good stop for food on London’s Bankside: Having recently visited Penny Squares, The Canopy by London Hilton’s restaurant, I feared OXBO at The Hilton Bankside might merely be a carbon copy. Thankfully, both restaurants can keep their dignity (and uniqueness) intact, as OXBO is a cowboy to Penny Squares’s delicate damsel. Please forgive the […]
Carmen at the Arcola Theatre for Grimeborn – Review
Baseless Fabric breathes new life into opera classic: Love can be found in the most unexpected places – even in the fruit and veg isle of a supermarket. Don José and Carmen establish their passion among the penny button mushrooms and Gala apples, in director Joanna Turner’s adaptation of Bizet’s time-honoured opera for the Grimeborn […]
Poulenc Double Bill at Glyndebourne – Review
Director Laurent Pelly triumphs with La Voix Humaine and Les Mamelles de Tirésias: Francis Poulenc’s rather disheartening opera La Voix Humaine, based on Jean Cocteau’s play of the same name, felt more than a little out of place in the blistering East Sussex sun on Saturday. Still, an opera about a woman on the phone, […]
Penny Squares – Review
A Beautiful Homage to the East End: Sometimes good food is found in the most unlikely of places; even in hotel restaurants. Forgive the snobbery, but usually hotel restaurants don’t really manage to transcend ‘I’ll go if it’s there’. Thankfully, Penny Squares at Hilton’s Canopy, in Aldgate, does just that. With an enticing menu inspired […]