London Reviews

Adaptation and Original Direction: Lewis Ironside Directed by: Stacey Norris Reviewer: Christie-Luke Jones Sh!t-faced Shakespeare: Hamletis Magnificent Bastard Productions’ booze-fuelled and delightfully sweary take on Shakespeare’s tale of royal revenge in the Danish court. The concept is a simple one – a cast of professionally trained, Shakespearian actors rattle their way through a potted 70-minute adaptation of The Bard’s classic ...

Writer: Apphia Campbell Director: Arran Hawkins and Nate Jacobs Reviewer: David Guest Legendary singer, songwriter, musician, arranger, and civil rights activist Nina Simone may be the inspiration for Black is the Color of My Voice– but Apphia Campbell’s extraordinary writing and performance give the solo performer at the centre of the piece an identity all her own. The thesaurus doesn’t have ...

Writer: Michael Dennis Director: Andrew Keates Reviewer: Maryam Philpott Cult sci-fi classics have significant life beyond the rigid episodic structure of television, giving rise to conventions, online forums and fan fiction that allows devotees to live within the world of their favourite show for a few hours. Michael Dennis’ debut play Dark Sublime examines this phenomenon from the point of view ...

Writer: Kenny Emson Director: Eleanor Rhode Reviewer: Richard Maguire A play about a couple having an affair may not promise the most exciting evening at the theatre, and unfortunately Rust, a new two-hander at the Bush, only proves this. Despite some stellar acting, Rust has very little to report on the state of extramarital affairs. In what may be the ...

Writer and Director: Darren Raymond Reviewer: Richard Maguire Othello: Remixed is a clever update of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Instead of Cyprus the action takes place in a South London boxing club, where Othello is preparing for his bout with his next opponent, The Turk. Mixing Elizabethan lyricism and London street slang, this reimagining of Othello, with an all black cast, is ...

Music: Damon Intrabartolo Lyrics: Jon Hartmere Director: Julie Atherton Reviewer: Richard Maguire Bare: A Pop Opera certainly lives up to its name, and wears its emotions firmly on its sleeve for all to see. There’s fun and feeling to be found in this American high-school musical but ultimately Bare suffers from some awkward staging and a few weak voices. The ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Tatty Hennessy Reviewer: David Guest There’s mischief in the woods – well, in London squares at least – thanks to a magical al fresco production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream playing around some of London’s private garden squares over the summer. Shakespeare in the Squares is a company that stages outdoor productions of Shakespeare (As You Like ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Daniel Winder Reviewer: Maryam Philpott A promenade Hamlet is an interesting proposition for a tightly wound play that takes place almost entirely within the walls of a palace. Iris Theatre’s big summer production strives for contemporary relevance in Shakespeare’s most fascinating work, opening out the action into the beautiful floral garden of St Paul’s Churchyard in Covent ...