London Reviews

Writer: C.J. Wilmann Director: Gus Miller Designer: Rosanna Vize Reviewer: Maryam Philpott   Is an author’s interest in you a blessing or a curse? Do those who are immortalised in fiction find it more difficult to live a normal and discreet life than their counterpart on the page, or will they always wish to throw-off the comparison with their literary ...

Writer: John Webster Director: Natalie York Set Designer: Jenny Gamble Reviewer: Maryam Philpott   The Duchess of Malfi, Webster’s great tragedy, is a grand tale of corruption, betrayal and violent death. Brothers Ferdinand and The Cardinal do not wish their sister, the titular and widowed Duchess to remarry so they can retain control over her estate and her person. Although ...

Writer: Oscar Wilde Director: Linnie Reedman Reviewer: Karl O'Doherty   Conveniently for all concerned, this feels like a terribly modern play. Clearly this Oscar Wilde fellow had some talent, creating a piece of work that provides as incisive a look at contemporary society today as it did over 120 years ago when it was first performed. Adultery and jealousy are ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Benjamin Blyth Reviewer: Karl O'Doherty   As references go, a 1909 silent film of A Midsummer Night's Dream performed in a forest is pretty cool, pretty Shoreditch. As a link to the past, a connection to a wider cultural, historical and social context it is also pretty cool. It's the bridge between this contemporary version, in ...

Writer: Suhayla El-Bushra Director: Emily Lim Reviewer: Christopher Hong   A thumping choreographed routine by the ensemble opens this high energy and youthful play by the Tricycle Young Company. It tells the stories of a group of London youngsters including an eclectic mix of a budding Mexican street food entrepreneur, shopkeeper, bus driver and even those concerned with parenting, all ...

Music, Book and Lyrics: Tim Anfilogoff and Alan Whittaker Director: Matthew Gould Musical Director: James Cleeve Reviewer: George Attwell Gerhard   ‘Grimeborn’ – the Arcola’s very own Opera festival to rival the more well-known Glyndebourne, is launched this year with the premiere of San Domino; a musical that focuses on the plight of homosexual men under Mussolini’s rule in war-time ...

Writer: Kevin Elyot Director: Robert Hastie Reviewer: Scott Matthewman First produced at the Royal Court Theatre 20 years ago, My Night With Reg has become known as one of British mainstream theatre's first works to address the impact HIV/Aids was having on the gay community. As this falteringly successful revival demonstrates, it's a reputation that's not completely undeserved, but it ...

Writer: Daniel Winder Director: Jamie Jackson Reviewer: Cavelle Leigh   Alice Through The Looking Glass, is here presented by Iris Theatre at the delightful and fitting St Paul’s Actors Church in Theatreland itself, Covent Garden. It begins inside the church, eerily watching Alice as an oldwoman, haunted by theJabberwo…Onemeans the ‘Whatsitsname?’ Slightly frightening for a family audience, it transports us ...