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Theatre Review- Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story

Title: Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story Writer: Stephen Dolginoff Director: Guy Retallack Performers: Ellis Dackombe, Harry Downes, and Kris Rawlinson Seen at: C Too Edinburgh Review: Nathan Leopold stands before a parole board for the fifth time, having been in prison for 33 years for murdering a fourteen year old boy. The parole board wants to know: why? Flashbacks detail the story of how Leopold and his lover Richard Loeb, progress from petty crime to murder, and where they went from there. The musical is based upon the true story, with some changes to details. It is very effectively the story of Leopold and Loeb; nobody else appears on stage, not even their victim, Bobby Franklin. The parole board are disembodied voices. The characterisation is more simple than what I have inferred from a little research after watching the play; rather than both men participating in the crime equally, this Loeb is the ringmaster, continually manipulating Leopold and suggesting...

Theatre review - I Know You by Sam Moore

Title: I Know You Writer: Sam Moore Directors: Rosie Richards, Georgia Reddington Performed by: Magpie Productions Seen at: the Burton Taylor Studio Cast: Sammy Breen, Benjamin Ashton, Joshua Cathcart Review: Two men stand on a street corner. One remarks that the other looks nice. The other replies that that’s not what he’s looking for. They return home and sleep together. Afterwards, they discuss other men and how similar they actually are and how well one knows the other. This new writing by Sam Moore is described by directors Rosie Richards and Georgia Reddington as Pinter-esque, postmodern, and about “stigma, repression, mental health, and intimacy.” We see characters who have sex with and share lives with each other, but in other ways are detached. As an audience, we may watch characters having sex and panic attacks and we listen to them tell some of the most private stories about their lives, but we don’t ever learn their real names. There were apprehension...

Theatre Review- Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, performed by Poltergeist Theatre

Title: Much Ado About Nothing Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Jack Bradfield Performed by: Poltergeist Theatre Seen at: The Michael Pilch Studio Review: Shakespeare’s tale of two schemes concerning lovers – one to get a couple together, one to tear another couple apart- could conceivably happen anywhere. Jack Bradfield sets the action in a house party at the turn of the millennium, when anything might happen. Poltergeist Theatre’s production introduces new perspectives to the characters. I liked how Hero and Claudio, who are traditionally the couple who conform to society’s gendered expectations, are the ones whose genders are played with, keeping the genders and pronouns they have in the text, whilst being played by actors and wearing clothes coded to another gender. The editing of the play blends this all together, as Claudio’s rant at the alter focuses more on the infidelity he believes Hero to be guilty of, and is less directly misogynistic, which mig...

Theatre Review- Macbeth, performed by Act Three Theatre

Title: Macbeth Writer: William Shakespeare Performed by: Act Three Theatre Major cast: Josh Beecham, Ned Walkely, Simon Morgan Seen at: Paradise in the Vault, Edinburgh Fringe Summary: An exciting new take on William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Using the original language but set in a young offenders’ prison, it is bold, fast-paced, and performed entirely with a cast of three. Review: The story of Macbeth is performed by three actors and set in a modern young offender's prison. I wanted to see this show because Macbeth, multiroling, and a vastly different setting to its original-what more could I ask for? We open with Macbeth holding a titlecard/ID card, presumably having a mugshot taken, then an opening physical sequence with some impressive stage fighting to set the scene. Then the play develops in its new setting, where guards are witches and kingship is represented by a dressing gown and a paper crown. The setting works well for the most part, prison hierarchies bein...

Theatre Review: This Much by John Fitzpatrick, performed by Moving Dust

I am aware that my timeliness is terrible. I saw this show eight months ago, I wrote this review eight months ago, I found it again tonight. I saw it at Edinburgh, and it's now playing at Soho Theatre as part of the Pride festival. Title: This Much (or A Act of Violence Towards The Institution of Marriage) Writer: John Fitzpatrick Director: Kate Sagovsky Performed by: Moving Dust Cast: Lewis Hart, Simon Carroll-Jones, and James Parris Seen at: Zoo City Review: Gar is in a long term relationship with Antony, and they're thinking about marriage , but meets Albert on an app. This leads to a romantic drama exploring the meaning and importance of marriage. I saw this in the programme. I loved the title and the picture and thought maybe if I have time. I then saw this being promoted on the Royal Mile- three men in wedding dresses standing on plinths- and thought, yes, I have to see this. I didn't really know about the play though. The drama progresses well. Something's...

Theatre Review- Richard III and Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, performed by The Handlebards

Review written with input from two of my friends who saw it with me, Lottie and Amy. Their opinion is reflected here too. Title: " Richard III" and "Much Ado About Nothing" Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Emma Sampson (Richard III), Nicola Samer (Much Ado) Performed by: The Handlebards Major cast: Liam Mansfield, Matt Maltby, Paul Hillar, and Stanton Plummer-Cambridge Seen at: The Museum of the Order of St. John Review: In Richard III, Richard, Duke of Gloucester murders his way to the throne and doesn't stop once he's there. In Much Ado About Nothing, plots to set up and break up pairs of lovers happen with varying degrees of success. The Handlebards, four actors who cycle with set, props and scenery to wherever they're going, are taking these shows on a tour. I was incredibly looking forwards to seeing these. The comedy of the Handlebards that I'd seen before, plus one of my favourite shows (Much Ado) plus one of the plays I knew had man...

Theatre Review-A Midsummer Night's Dream, performed by the Arcola Queer Collective

Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream Writer: William Shakespeare and Patrick Cash and company Director: Nick Connaughton Performed by: Arcola Queer Directive Cast: Sheena Anyanwu, Diego Benzoni, Miss Cairo, Daniel Correia, Anthony Cranfield, Vickie Dillon, Rudi Douglas, Camilla Harding, James Hartley, Stuart Honey, Damien Hughes, Krishna Istha, Rubyyy Jones, Damien Kileen, Bex Large, Phil Rhys Thomas. Seen at: Arcola Theatre Review: Hermia and Lysander are a happy couple, much to the protests of Hermia's homophobic mother Egeus. Helena is a young man in love with Demetrius, who pushes him away. The couples all get mixed up at a nightclub, La Forêt, when the owner Oberon uses Puck to matchmake. Meanwhile, Oberon's relationship to his wife Titania is breaking down over the care of an abducted Irish musician, while the backstage team of La Forêt prepare for their turn in the spotlight. Through Shakespearean verse and contemporary additions, A Midsummer Night's Dream is a t...

Theatre Review: Willy's Bitches

I'm sorry for taking so long to get this up! Title : Willy’s Bitches Written By: Shannon Thurstone Performed by: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Director: Philip Howard Music: Tamara Saringer Seen at: Assembly Checkpoint, Edinburgh Fringe Review : Willy’s Bitches is a cabaret show featuring various women of Shakespeare. A variety of characters are used, selected from tragedies, comedies, and histories, and they take you on a journey of classical dialogue and modern music. So, there’s a joke in my family that anything I read/watch is gay, feminist, murderous, or Shakespeare. I was looking through the giant list of shows at Edinburgh and I came across this, which promised to be three of these things...I had to go and see it! My favourites were Rachel Graham as a cold, distant, creepy Lady Macbeth, and Hannah Kerbes and Samantha Taylor Burnes as Beatrice and Kate, drinking and singing a bawdy song. Jenny Douglas was a really strong Julia, who is p...

Theatre Review: Secret Shakespeare by William Shakespeare and The Handlebards

So, my Edinburgh Fringe theatre reviews are ready to be posted! They’ll come as often as I can, but I have a lot of school work to do, plus I’m doing work exp erience at a law firm and ugh travelling is tiring. They’ll come though. And book reviews will resume shortly, and maybe some other things. Thanks for sticking around! Title: Secret Shakespeare (A Shakespeare play, but I can't say which one) Writer: William Shakespeare Director: James Farrell & Emma Sampson Performed by: The Handlebards Major cast: Calum Hughes Mcintosh, Callum Brodie, Tom Dixon, Paul Moss Seen at: ...somewhere pretty. Review: The Handlebards are four actors who have been cycling up from London to Edinburgh, carrying their costumes and props, and stopping every so often to perform a show. Secret Shakespeare is where the audience joins them to meet up in the city centre, get given bikes, ride out about 5 miles-ish, and then enjoy the show. I'm not allowed to tell you much a...

Theatre Review- Luck of the Draw

Title: Luck of the Draw Writer: Michael Smith Director: Matthew Dye Performed by: Renegade Theatre Company and VF Cast: Neil Brown, Claire Deards, Tom Hurst, Niven Willett, Grace J. Willis, Hayley White, and Zac Abbott Seen at: Duke Street Theatre Review: Six friends, getting ready for a night out, with Papa John's pizza, waiting for the lottery results, and plenty of alcohol. It's funny, it's dirty, it's crazy. But then there's an accident which throws suspicion into the group, and by the end, the night has gone horribly wrong. I wanted to see this because I love the Renegade Theatre crew, and this was being advertised as a black comedy, which is definitely my cup of tea. The humour was just as good as I'd hoped. Yes, you can think badly of me at laughing at various parts of it, because, as I said on the night, the majority of jokes are centered around things that cause people to go to hell (the effect of sexual favours for animals on a career in TV,...

Theatre Review- Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare, performed by Smooth Faced Gents

Title: Titus Andronicus Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Yaz Al-Shaater Performed by: Smooth Faced Gentlemen Cast: Ariane Barnes, Olivia Bromley, Anita-Joy Uwajeh, Ely Condron, Lia Burge, Ashlea Kaye, Helen Coles, Emma Nixon Seen at: Greenwich Theatre Review: Following a bloody war with the Goths, Romans return home with prisoners but without an emporer. Titus Andronicus is appointed, but he refuses. Saturninus is appointed emperor, and he says he wants to marry Titus’ daughter, Lavinia. Lavinia and her lover/Saturninus’ brother object, so Saturninus takes Tamora, the queen of the defeated Goths, as his empress. Throw in her two sons, her lover, and her desire for revenge (fair enough, considering within the first five minutes of the play, her eldest son is cut up, despite her pleadings), and you have Shakespeare’s bloodiest play... here performed with an all-female cast and a lot of red paint. I was very excited to see this. I read Titus a few year...

Theatre Review: Spring Awakening by Sater and Sheik, performed by Renegade

You know I said at the start of the year that I wanted to do more theatre, and I’d do it with Renegade.... well, I was going to, but then I got a job (which makes my compulsive book buying financially viable!!) but then it meant I couldn’t be in this. I’m glad I got to see it though! Title: Spring Awakening Writer: Stephen Sater and Duncan Sheik, based on work by Frank Wedekind Director: Alex Howarth Performed by: Renegade Theatre Company Major cast: Tom Noyes, Niven Willett, Alex Brain, Joe Oliver Eason, Mhairi Fairholm, Joe Carter, Hayley White Seen at: Duke Street Theatre Other info: I reviewed Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind , the play that this musical is based on, here. Review-contains mild spoilers for the twists Renegade put: Late 1800s Germany. Schoolboys and girls discover sexuality. It really does not go well. Among other things, Wedla Bergmann does not understand how babies are made, Moritz Stiefl is tormented by erotic dreams, and M...

Theatre Reviews: I Need a Doctor and Shakespeare's Avengers Assembleth

Title: I Need a Doctor: The Whosical Director : Benjamin Occhipinti Major cast: James Wilson-Taylor and Jessica Spray Seen at: Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe Review: Jamie and Jess are two Whovians who want to perform a Doctor Who themed musical. Who have recieved a Cease and Desist notice from Stephen Moffat. Oh well-changes can be made so copyright infringement can be avoided, right? With this in mind, Jamie and Jess take on the roles of a companion, A Doctor, and multiple villians, and journey through time and space in the TARD- Phone Box. I wasn't sure if I was going to see this, but then I got told they make fun of Moffat and I was sold. Its a very clever parody. Yes, they do make fun of Moffat, using fairy godmother Amy Wand, who continually advises Jess to obey the Doctor and stay where she is. Like companions of a better time, Jess ignores her and goes and has adventurers. Both performers, and the pianist, are very good at what they do. The multiroling that Jamie does is bril...

Theatre review- Travesti

Title: Travesti Director: Rebecca Hill Performed by: Unbound Productions Major cast: John Askew, Dominic Attenborough, Aled Bidder, Hugo Bolton, Stanley Elridge, James Lawrence Seen at: Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe Review: Six men tell women's stories about things such as makeup, pressure, sex, and assault. The set of six revolving mirrors is very effectively used throughout, as ironing boards, kitchens, display boards, and hanging spaces for the suits the actors wear at the start. For a cast that all works very well together, I found it a shame that they put some actors out of action at various points in, the play, and they don't return until the end. At times, they used songs to transition to the next topic. Props to Francesca Fenech, musical director, for putting in some really nice harmonies. Also, the actors have very good voices. In parts, there's two or more stories being told at once. I have mixed reactions to this; it works at times when two contrasting opinions on...

Theatre Review-Lysistrata by Christopher Adams and Aristophanes

So, I went to the Edinburgh Fringe festival. It was brilliant-most shows. I’m only going to review the shows I really enjoyed though-I don’t really see much point in spending time writing a 250 word review saying “this was okish.” So over the next week, here’s my pick of shows. Title: Lysistrata Writer: Christopher Adams and Aristophanes Director: Christopher Adams Performed by: DEM Productions Major cast: Lousia Holloway, Charlotte Mulliner, River Hawkins and Robert Willoughby Seen at: C Nova Review: It starts with Lysistrata's birthday party and her friends have bought her a stripper. But prices are rising, they can't pay and so he leaves. Lysistrata, angry with the austerity measures and work exploitation and the state of Greece in general, convinces her friends to withold sex until the men of Greece sort out the situation. I've read Lysistrata by Aristophanes and I thought this was a very clever adaptation. I love the relavence of the Greek financial crisis and the ...

Theatre Review- Avenue Q

Title: Avenue Q Writer: Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty Director: Cressida Carré Performed by: Sell A Door Major cast: Tom Steedon, Lucie-Mae Sumner, Stephen Arden, Richard Morse,Jacqueline Tate , Ellena Vincent, Jessica Parker, Seen at: Wycombe Swan Other Info: They're still touring! Try and catch them if you can. More info here . Review: Princeton has just completed a BA in English. He now doesn’t know what to do with his life. Moving into Avenue Q and meeting a range of colourful characters, puppets such as Kate, Rod, Nicky and Trekkie, and humans like Christmas Eve and Brian. Oh, and Gary Coleman. Avenue Q follow them all as they all wait for their dreams to come true. I wanted to see this because...hello, Avenue Q! It’s a brilliant coming of age show, with a few songs for which it's well known but some others that are also really good, and I was looking forwards to a night of comedy and music and adorableness. The show started with a cute little animation...

Theatre Review- The Collected by Dominic Bray

This will be on at the Oxford Firestation on Thursday 6 March . You should totally go and see it. Title: The Collected Writer: Dominic Bray Performed by: Timeless Theatre Productions Directed by: Hannah Phillips Major cast: Rebecca Bujeda, Alex Hudson, Declan Kitchener, David Cox Seen at: Bucks New Uni Warnings: abuse Review: Lily, after growing up with an abusive father, lives with neighbours Tom and his aunt Maggie. Tom and Lily's friendship grows, as does Tom's love for Lily. But then everything goes wrong. War breaks out and young men are called to the front line. There, Tom becomes best friends with Eddie. Meanwhile, Lily leaves for London and trains as a nurse. Later, Eddie is injured and is sent back to Lily’s hospital. Love and life tangle as death watches over them all. I went because one of my friends is a cast member (Eddie) and it was advertised as something inspired my Marcus Zusak (I loved The Book Thief with all my heart) so of course I had to go. The first act i...

Theatre Review-Coriolanus at the Donmar Warehouse

This was going to go up later in the week, but as it's Hiddleston's birthday, I thought it appropriate to do it today! Title: Coriolanus Writer: William Shakespeare Directed by: Josie Rourke Major cast: Tom Hiddleston, Hadley Fraser, Seen at: the cinema, NT Live screening. Performed at the Donmar Warehouse. Warnings: graphic gore Review: Caius Martius has been fighting with Coriolus. Returning to Rome, he is placed in as a senator and given the name Coriolanus. However, with his rude attitude, and the fact that he was made more for war and not politics, this doesn't go well and leads to his exil e and downfall. I didn't know much about the play. I hadn't heard of it before, and I'm glad it's being done (rarely done plays being done make me happy). I went to see it because a friend of mine really likes Tom Hidldeston and we went to go with her. We went to a livescreen version (National Theatre, I love you for doing these things) and had a short feature w...