The Tremors by Nikki Mailer plays at 53two in Manchester July 18–22. Set in a bookshop, under threat of demolition, in occupied East Jerusalem it’s about an unequal relationship between two women and explores the magic of books, erasure of history and the Palestinian struggle against occupation.
Month: June 2023
Wasteman
The formula for autobiographical plays is well-established: well-meaning, soulful self-examinations leading to an uplifting ending. Joe Leather avoids the obvious with Wasteman, a show which is never less than hilarious, and, despite concerning a character who, it gradually dawns, is desperate to conceal certain facts, totally engaging and genuinely moving. Drag is the gateway by which… Continue reading Wasteman
Miss Havisham’s antecedents
Emul8 Theatre is performing Havisham at Edinburgh Fringe 2023. Written and Performed by Heather Alexander with direction and dramaturg by Dominique Gerrard, it offers a fresh perspective of Charles Dickens’s greatest work of Gothic characterisation. Miss Havisham is the embodiment of stuck trauma and malignant rage. But how did she arrive at this place and what are… Continue reading Miss Havisham’s antecedents
Beneatha’s Place
Kwame Kwei-Armah directs a compelling and frequently funny production of his own play about racism, politics and power. He wrote Beneatha’s Place in response to Bruce Norris’s Clybourne Park, with which it ran in repertoire when it premièred in 2013 at Baltimore Centre Stage when Kwei-Armah was Artistic Director there. Like that play, it has… Continue reading Beneatha’s Place
Comedian Lee rewrites Macbeth Porter scene for RSC
Comedian and screenwriter Stewart Lee is to rewrite a contemporary version of the Porter scene which will feature Alison Peebles in Wils Wilson’s Royal Shakespeare Company production of Macbeth. Lee said, “I’m delighted to have been asked by Wils Wilson to rewrite the rubbish Porter scene which is in dire need of a post-alternative comedy makeover.… Continue reading Comedian Lee rewrites Macbeth Porter scene for RSC
Titanic the Musical
Musicals are often regarded as easy-going entertainment intended to give audiences a flash of showbiz glamour. Occasional ‘feelbad’ musicals pop up but Titanic the Musical is at a disadvantage compared to, say, Les Misérables or Miss Saigon as everyone knows the end of the story before entering the theatre. Author Peter Stone takes a socio-political approach to the musical, setting out… Continue reading Titanic the Musical
Eleventh year of outdoor festival in Leicester
“The UK’s first Festival of Sanctuary” is to return to Leicester to celebrate its 11th year in the city with a programme of “exciting outdoor arts shows for audiences of all ages”. Artists from the UK and beyond will perform at Journeys Festival International. Deputy city mayor for culture Councillor Adam Clarke said, “it’s a… Continue reading Eleventh year of outdoor festival in Leicester
Crazy For You
Forget its illustrious history, just go and enjoy the excess of talent on display in an evening of nostalgia. The Gershwin melodies (“I Got Rhythm”, “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” to name but a tempting couple), the wit of their lyrics, Ken Ludwig’s improbable feel-good storyline in the best of Hollywood and Broadway… Continue reading Crazy For You
Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet
The lunatics might not have taken over the asylum in Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet, but it is a near thing. The purpose of The Verona Institute is unclear, but it seems to be less a place for treating mental health and more a location where the elite can dump children who have become an embarrassment.… Continue reading Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet
Classic Thriller Season returns to Nottingham
Audiences will try to solve four new mysteries when the “chilling but thrilling” Colin McIntyre Classic Thriller Season returns to the Theatre Royal, Nottingham. The season has run at the city-centre venue since 1988. A cast will perform as a repertory company as they present a four-week season of psychologic thrillers, detective mysteries and classic… Continue reading Classic Thriller Season returns to Nottingham