Spa Wars: No Spa, All Soap
Typically I wouldn’t resort to plagiarism to write a review, but “in light of tHeSe UnCeRtAiN tImEs”… I’ve evolved. Watching musicals in theatres is so 2019. Zoomsicals – that is, a musical comedy on Zoom – are where the action’s at. No longer bound by the laws of “respectability” and “integrity”, this year it’s perfectly acceptable to watch live shows with no pants, in a bathtub, or just anywhere but a brick-and-mortar venue. Yes, I’m talking about Medleys 2020 – Spa Wars: A New Soap. Continue reading Spa Wars: No Spa, All Soap
Tales of Ghosts and Stardust in Dave Malloy’s Stunning Ghost Quartet
Watching Ghost Quartet is a bit like watching The Matrix or Black Mirror. For a while you’re not too sure what’s going on, but you’re certain it’s going to be great. As Ghost Quartet unfurls like a web of stories across four generations, the audience is given as many questions as they are answers. Essentially, it’s an exploration of the human preoccupation with ghosts. Are they real? Do we want ghosts to be real? Who haunts us? Continue reading Tales of Ghosts and Stardust in Dave Malloy’s Stunning Ghost Quartet
Interview with the Creators: between here and when i tell you
I sat down virtually with two creators of this event, Xanthe Beesley and Harriet Wallace-Mead to better understand their process and the ideas behind creating this event that so many of us need – though some might not know it yet. Both creators view the program of events as an “experiment”. They are physical theatre artists who have ventured into the digital world, a place with its own set of challenges, but I believe in the pay-off for all their creative efforts. Continue reading Interview with the Creators: between here and when i tell you
She Loves Me: Storybook Lovers in 1930s Hungary
The tried and true formula of a well-received musical goes like this: an accessible story, a grounding, genuine performance and impeccable production. But at the root of it, the best of them should be distilled down to two elements – musicality and a sound script. With these in play, any embellishment is hardly necessary. For decades She Loves Me has ticked all these boxes, so much so that it has been included in every possible ranking list of must-see musicals. Continue reading She Loves Me: Storybook Lovers in 1930s Hungary
Closet Works v. 4: Into the Digital Wild
This might sound overly sensational, but Joshua William Gelb’s Closet Works series proves that a new theatrical laboratory involving entirely new possibilities for the medium can be constructed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Gelb, an independent New York-based director and performer has converted his home closet (a white box with dimensions of 4x8x2 feet) into a space for live digital performance. Since March, Gelb has performed and livestreamed from this closet in his East Village apartment, working remotely with his supporters and collaborators. Continue reading Closet Works v. 4: Into the Digital Wild
Seeing Our Reflections in Yael Farber’s Take On The Crucible
Audience interaction. At its worst, it’s cringy and unnecessary, but when it’s done well it makes for a theatrical experience like none other. This was one of the main drawing points for Yael Farber’s 2014 production of The Crucible at London’s Old Vic – and oh, does it deliver. Through a unique, subtle take on audience involvement, an immersive soundscape and set, and a devoted cast, Arthur Miller’s 1953 script burns bright in this acclaimed production. Continue reading Seeing Our Reflections in Yael Farber’s Take On The Crucible
The Opera Machine: Step Behind the Curtain and Into Life Beyond the Stage
The best seats in the house are often in the stalls, front row and centre, but just imagine the wondrous views behind the curtain. In The Opera Machine, produced by the Royal Opera House UK, these exclusive views are opened up to the public, providing a rare insight to the behind-the-scenes makings of an operatic performance. Featuring the 2012 show of the last act of Wagner’s musical drama Die Walküre, The Opera Machine shines a well-deserved light on the work of the stage crew, technicians and management. It’s those backstage rather than onstage who are the stars in this series of footage captured by 17 cameras placed around the theatre. Continue reading The Opera Machine: Step Behind the Curtain and Into Life Beyond the Stage
Cirque du Soleil: Join the Circus, See the World
Ah, the circus: a place of mystery, fascination and wonder – where the limits of the human body are explored, broken and reimagined, right in front of your eyes. Live performances may not be possible right now, but I’d argue that Cirque du Soleil’s online 60-minute specials give an even better up close and personal view. Continue reading Cirque du Soleil: Join the Circus, See the World
Julius Caesar: A Well-Known Tale of Betrayal, Reinvented
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. The metaphorical curtain opens on a barren space with a spotlight focused centre stage. If you’re familiar with Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, you may be expecting a group of men to storm the stage, but director Phyllida Lloyd has something entirely different in store. This 2012 Donmar Warehouse production is the first in an all-female Shakespeare trilogy performed at Donmar King’s Cross in London. Continue reading Julius Caesar: A Well-Known Tale of Betrayal, Reinvented
Negative Space: Knock Down the Walls of Your Lockdown Blues
Negative Space, the work of UK-Belgian company Reckless Sleepers and director Mole Wetherell is a whirlwind of visual theatre, captured live at Adelphi Theatre, University of Salford in 2019. It takes the established worlds of physical and devised theatre and fits them out with an armoury of hammers, trapdoors, rose ceremonies of sorts, and broken walls. The performance presents a symphony of body language, inviting you into a place beyond words where movement and logic translates into a hypnotic composition of codes and riddles. There is no sense of a conventional narrative – instead, the doors are thrown wide open to the audience’s own imagination. Continue reading Negative Space: Knock Down the Walls of Your Lockdown Blues
The Dialog 