Tag Archives: London

Writer: Zia Ahmed Director: Anna Himali Howard Reviewer: Stephen Bates At first glance, I Wanna Be Yours is a tender romantic comedy, charting the uneven path of true love for a fairly typical modern couple. However, Zia Ahmed’s 80-minute one-act play is much more than that. It incorporates remarkable insights into multicultural Britain, showing how racism, often non-malicious and unintended, ...

Writer: Carl Grose Directors: Carl Grose and Mike Shepherd Reviewer: Richard Maguire Ubu! A Singalong Satire from theatre company Kneehigh is easily the show of the year. Updating Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi of 1896, a play about an evil dictator, into a karaoke setting may seem like a bonkers idea, but Kneehigh bring the house down. And the audience sings ...

Adaptors: Russell Labey and Richard Taylor Music and lyrics: Richard Taylor Director: Sasha Regan Reviewer: Stephen Bates Written in 1989. the Russell Labey/Richard Taylor musical adaptation of Whistle Down the Wind preceded the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Jim Steinman version by some seven years. Neither has proved to be a huge success, but this revival of the earlier, coming at the time ...

Writers and Performers: Rebecca Biscuit and Louise Mothersole Reviewer: Richard Maguire If you’re looking for some alternative Christmas cheer then Sh!t Theatre’s new play , an irreverent examination of the rather dodgy sexual politics in the film Love Actually, is the show for you. With trademark songs and silly outfits Sh!t Theatre are a double act at the top of ...

Adapted by: Alexander Wright Director: Tom Bellerby Reviewer: Richard Maguire This version of A Christmas Carol has been around since 2011, and unfortunately it feels a little out-of-date, like last year’s mince pies. For a show that is advertised as an immersive experience, this show is very static, and is only saved by the two-course meal that comes in the ...

Writer: Ian Kershaw Director: Raz Shaw Reviewer: Miriam Sallon It’s about that time of year when, in an attempt to distract us from the fast-dwindling daylight hours and loss of feeling in our fingers, we are assaulted with syrupy stories of unlikely romantic pairings and even less likely family reunions, all simultaneously sunny and snow-capped. The Greatest Play In The ...

Writer: Nicola Wren Director: Sadie Spencer Reviewer: Richard Maguire In short, Superstar is a show, written and performed by Chris Martin’s sister, about being Chris Martin’s sister. It was hit at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, but perhaps is too earnest and self-indulgent for a London audience. While at drama school Nicola Martin decided to change her name to Nicola Wren ...

Writer: George Bernard Shaw Director: Paul Miller Reviewer: Stephen Bates Paul Miller’s five-year tenure as Artistic Director of the Orange Tree Theatre has been marked by programming that contrasts challenging contemporary works and revivals of classics by writers such as George Bernard Shaw and Terence Rattigan to satisfy traditionalists. Candida is Miller’s fourth production of a play by Shaw, a ...