★★★☆☆ Playing Alan Bennett’s characters must be somewhat of a double-edged sword for an actor: the scripts are magnificent and full of material to engage with. Yet at the same time the words are so clearly those of Bennett himself . . . Originally made for television in 1988 and 1998, The 625 Company have taken three of the 12 monologues to present as a show.
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★★★★★ Frankie Vah is an honest longform poem, of love and youth and faith and loss, all woven up in the politics of 1980s Britain. The poem strides out of a staid country vicarage, sprawls across the beds of council houses, and spews onstage in grubby clubs and pubs . . . this is more of the same brilliant, bloody and biting political satire that we all need.
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★★★☆☆ Wicked describes itself as ‘one of the most celebrated and successful musicals of all time’. Apparently, since its debut on Broadway nearly 15 years ago, it’s been seen by over 53 million people and has won dozens of awards. So maybe you won’t need me to tell you what happens, but let’s recap anyway…
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★★★★☆ Imperialism and racism poisons those human capacities that can bring us together, but sadly they are not the only poisons that tear humanity apart. Whatever may have happened in the intervening century the themes of this play remain as relevant today as they were during the height of the age of empires.
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★★★☆☆ An undoubtedly popular show riding the wave of 80s nostalgia, Flashdance has arrived on stage. This touring production is the return of vaunted 2008 stage adaptation, now with award-winning dancer and Strictly Come Dancing staple Joanne Clifton in the lead role.
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★★★★☆ Throughout the three pieces performed tonight, Carnaval, Chacony and Gypsy Mixture, there was emphasis on the ensemble, with only fleeting moments devoted to solo performance. Staging was always stark, with an entirely empty space allowing for maximum movement.
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