Theatre Royal Stratford East, Leeds Playhouse and HOME Manchester celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jonathan Harvey’s coming-out and coming-of-age story Beautiful Thing. Raphael Akuwudike (Ste) and Joshua Asaré (Jamie) will lead the cast and are joined by Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge (Tony), Shvorne Marks (Sandra) and Scarlett Rayner (Leah). Director Anthony Simpson-Pike says: “Beautiful Thing is an iconic queer… Continue reading 30th birthday for Beautiful Thing
Month: August 2023
Cruelty
In an unnamed coastal English city, young Oli heads out into the night looking for some form of viscerality. 18 years old and full of the exuberance and blithe focus of youth, he has meaning to find in life, alcohol to drink, lights to dance under and a story to tell. Cruelty is a darkly… Continue reading Cruelty
Friel’s Faith Healer tour to start in Staffordshire
London Classic Theatre is to tour Brian Friel’s Faith Healer beginning at the New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Consisting of four monologues delivered by three characters, Faith Healer follows the story of Frank, Grace and Teddy, each of whom takes the audience on a journey of shifting perspectives and conflicting memories as they individually reflect on lives which are inextricably intertwined.… Continue reading Friel’s Faith Healer tour to start in Staffordshire
The Maids
A language barrier in a performance is always a risk during the world’s largest international arts festival, and it’s welcome that there is such a breadth of options and variety that a Korean physical theatre company can be seen performing an adaptation of Jean Genet’s cult French play Les Bonnes in a style rarely seen… Continue reading The Maids
Birmingham to host new young people’s musical
British Youth Musical Theatre is returning to Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio to present a new musical, #50 Days. Performed by a company of 14- to 21-year-olds from across the UK with a number from Birmingham, #50 Days retells the story of the 50-day period that led to the outbreak of the British civil wars. With parallels to Brexit,… Continue reading Birmingham to host new young people’s musical
Layers
Depictions of dementia aren’t new to either theatre or The Fringe, with plays such as Florian Zeller’s The Father, or the late Trevor T Smith’s An Evening with Dementia having graced the Festival stage to much regard as well as many a tearful eye and heavy heart. Layers takes the tragically all-too-familiar concept and evokes… Continue reading Layers
Leicester festival explores climate crisis
Leicester is to host a free, two-day festival using creativity to explore the climate crisis. The first Re/action Festival will feature performances and pop-up shows including a huge puppet, Gnomus, caretaker of our planet, created by Brighton-based outdoor puppetry company Puppets with Guts, which will explore Leicester’s High Street. Another highlight will be Leicester’s Nupur Arts hosting… Continue reading Leicester festival explores climate crisis
End of the World
End of the World is not the doom-laden play its title might imply. Instead, it is a gentle exploration of a friendship between two women during a difficult time. Set in the kitchen of their shared flat, Em (Ella Lovelady) is trying to negotiate the calls she gets about her father’s mental health, about whether… Continue reading End of the World