Coming up at The Pleasance Theatre this week courtesy of award-winning theatre company Wildcard is a new and fabulous sounding adaptation of a Shakespeare favourite 'The Tempest'.
Wildcard's take on the play is a gig-theatre version that tells the classic tale in such a way that it remains faithful to the Bard's story, but also adds a definite contemporary relevance.
To find out more about the show, and how it was put together, I spoke to composer Jasmine Morris.
CLICK HERE to read this Caro Meets interview.
'Tempest' is on at The Pleasance Theatre from 11 Mar-3 Apr. For more information and to book tickets head to the venue website here.
JULENE ROBINSON: THE NIGHT WOMAN
We've featured lots of plays that should have been on at the sadly cancelled Vault Festival this year, in both Q&As and our Three To See section... and they keep on coming. The latest to catch our eye - and it really is very eye-catching - is 'The Night Woman', on in The Other Palace's studio this week.
It's the work of Julene Robinson, who also performs the play, and is inspired by the writer's Caribbean grandmother.
I was really intrigued by this piece, and wanted to find out more about it and its creator. So I spoke to Julene ahead of the upcoming run.
CLICK HERE to read this Caro Meets interview.
'The Night Woman' is on at The Other Palace studio from 11-13 Mar. See this page here for more information and to book.
RUBY GLASKIN: SWISS SELECTION LIVE
It's been rather exciting to see Brixton House open its doors recently, especially as its line up looks so promising, and this week we can look forward to a showcase of work by Swiss artists - Swiss Selection Live - brought to you by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.
The short season consists of three events: installation 'Binaural Views Of Switzerland' (pictured), interactive performance 'Here & Now', and comedy/theatre piece 'Black Off'.
To find out more about the showcase, I spoke to producer Ruby Glaskin.
CLICK HERE to read this Caro Meets interview.
The Swiss Selection Live events take place at Brixton House from 8-12 Mar. See the venue listings here for more information and to book tickets.
THE SOUND + VISION COMEDY CONFERENCE WITH TW CULTURE
Don't forget, ThisWeek Culture is teaming up with the Sound + Vision festival and conference in Cambridge this April to curate and host a day of conversations and panels all about the business of comedy in 2022.
We'll be joined by brilliant people from across the comedy community to discuss how you go about pursuing a comedy career today - plus we'll put the spotlight on the key trends, developments and debates in the sector.
Topics set to be covered include:
- Pursuing A Career In Comedy In 2022
- Podcasts, Patreon, YouTube, TikTok And Beyond - Making Comedy Online
- Comedy And Livestreaming - What Next?
- The Future Of The Edinburgh Fringe
Sound & Vision is a multi-venue festival and conference taking place in various venues across Cambridge from Thursday 21 Apr to Saturday 23 Apr. The festival will feature over 70 acts - both new and established - from the worlds of music and comedy, while the conference programme will put the spotlight on the music, comedy and creative industries.
CLICK HERE to find out more about the TW curated comedy conference.
CLICK HERE to get tickets for Sound + Vision 2022.
THREE GREAT EVENTS>>
Luke Wright | King's Place | 10 Mar (pictured)
For one reason or another we normally put the 'mixed bag' miscellaneous section - when there is one - at the bottom of the tips, and this week I got to thinking that was a bit unfair, somehow, though hopefully you do all read all the way down to the bottom. Anyway, here they are this week at the top. And we start with a very much long term TW favourite, a veteran of the edfringe and a tireless tourer of the country. Yes, it's poet Luke Wright, who heads to King's Place this week with a new show, with poems "set against a backdrop of pandemic politics, ageing parents and the endless, droning culture war." Don't miss him, he's marvellous. Head to this page here.
Thinking On Sunday: How We Became Postmodern | Conway Hall | 13 Mar
And now let's move on to Conway Hall, where there's more spoken word of the interesting talk variety, which you can go to in person or access via Zoom. "Postmodernism stood for everything modernism rejected: fun, exuberance, irresponsibility. But beneath its glitzy surface, postmodernism had a dirty secret: it was the fig leaf for a rapacious new kind of capitalism. It was the forcing ground of 'post truth', by means of which western values were turned upside down. But where do these ideas come from and how have they impacted on the world?" Taking a look at all that is journo Stuart Jeffries, writer of 'Everything, All The Time, Everywhere: How We Became Postmodern'. Read more about it here.
Two Billion Beats - on demand | Orange Tree Theatre | 8-11 Mar
This one's theatre really, but it made it into the mixed bag on account of the fact that it's one of the two recommended events this week that can be accessed online, and the other one is in this section too. It's a show that's recently been playing to in-person audiences, of course, but now here's a chance for those not able to make it to the venue to see it. 'Two Million Beats' is Sonali Bhattacharyya's coming-of-age story that offers a "blazing account of inner city British-Asian teenage life", and sees sisters Asha and Bettina taking a look at the world around them and wondering how to make it better. For more information and to book your viewing, head to the Orange Tree Theatre website here.
THREE FESTIVALS>>
Sprint 2022 | Camden People's Theatre | 8-25 Mar
Yes, up next, we have three whole festival-type things for you, you lucky lot. Every year, we see great stuff coming out of Camden People's Theatre's Sprint, which, as you highly likely know perfectly well by now, is the venue's annual festival of new and unusual theatre. I think in previous years we have tended to tip individual events from it, but because I was struggling to decide what I wanted to see most, I thought I would give you all a heads up as to the fact that it begins this week and let you make your own choices. I mean, you always make your own choices, obv. But you know what I mean. Anyway, there are so many good and promising things that I want you to check out the listings. Take a look here.
Creo's Short Play Festival | Hen & Chickens Theatre | 11-13 Mar
This one (as you probably already know, because you probably read the header before proceeding to the prose beneath it) is the sort of thing we really love here at TW Towers: a collection - and celebration - of short plays. It's presented by Creo Theatre and there's a different line up each night. On 11 Mar there's 'Touch Wood' by Charlotte Sisson, 'Zero Point Three' by Tommy Murray, 'The United Federation Alliance Of Merry Men' by Ryan Armstrong, and 'Amissa' by Jamie Lakritz. On 12 Mar you'll see 'A Voice From The Prussian Sea' by Aly Kantor, 'Strip' by Oliver Back, and 'The Floor Is Lava' by Rosie Hague. Finally, the 13 Mar line-up consists of 'Believe Me?' by Rachel Feeny-Williams, 'Synced' by Danielle Reales, and 'The Ram In The Thicket' by David Couter. Head to the venue website here to book your tickets.
05Fest | The Albany | 10-19 Mar (pictured)
Not sure this is accurately described as a festival, to be honest, I think it's more of a season, or a series, but it's got 'fest' in the title, so I think it fits in this section whichever way we spin it. It's a set of five events from/featuring brill playwright and performer Inua Ellams alongside a host of other poets and creatives, and the events are quite diverse: there's a rehearsed reading of the writer's new play, followed by audience-led poetry show 'Search'; then there's 'Poetry Film Hack', which sees live poetry added to the screening of a film; next is mass participatory creative writing exercise 'Twitter Poetry Workshop'; and finally there's 'RAP Party', a night of hip-hop inspired poems and favourite hip-hop songs. Find out more here.
THREE CHILDREN'S SHOWS>>
Gulliver's Travels | Unicorn Theatre | 6 Mar-16 Apr (pictured)
Yay, kid's stuff. This one's already up and running too, but we ran out of space for everything last week, and it had to wait a bit. But it's on until the middle of April so you still have lots and lots of time to get along to see it. It's a fab-sounding adaption of the classic Jonathan Swift story, and I reckon adults will definitely enjoy this just as much as the young folk, making it an ideal family outing. As you'll no doubt be aware, Gulliver sails off to a world of "strange islands and even stranger creatures - from the tiny inhabitants of Lilliput, to the giants of Brobdingnag, and the mysterious Houyhnhnms", and it's quite the epic adventure. Read more and book tickets right about here.
How To Hide A Lion | Polka Theatre | 11 Mar-24 Apr
A critically acclaimed musical adaptation of best-selling and well loved picture book 'How To Hide A Lion', which many will be familiar with if they are in possession of a small child. "When a lion is chased out of town, a young girl helps him find somewhere to hide. It's not easy - lions are too big, too fluffy and too heavy! Join Iris on a mission to squeeze and squash her furry new friend into a variety of sneaky spots, as Helen Stephens' magical book comes to life with playful humour, dazzling puppetry and original songs". Head to the venue website here for more info and to book.
Wild | Unicorn Theatre | 11 Mar-17 Apr
"Wild's home is the forest. Bears teach her how to eat, birds help her to speak, and foxes show her how to play. She is irrepressibly wild. Then one day, some new animals arrive. They look oddly like her - and they want to take Wild away. But what if she was happy where she was?" Another children's show adapted from another children's book, and this one was supposed be on this time two years ago but got stymied because of the lockdown. So if you wanted to see it back then and couldn't, here's your chance. Or if you want to see it now regardless of whether you wanted to see it back then, either way here's where to find out more.
THREE LONGISH RUNS STARTING THIS WEEK>>
Ghosts Of The Titanic | Park Theatre | 9 Mar-2 Apr (pictured)
And now for some quality fare for the grown-ups, and ooooooooh are there some treats coming up, including this one, that I am intrigued by, and I think all right-thinking people should be with me on that. "On board, Emma Hinton's fiancé Henry has landed his dream job with the ship's orchestra. But by 14 Apr the 'unsinkable' Titanic is at the bottom of the ocean and 1500 are dead. Tormented by conflicting theories as to why the ship sank and who might have benefited as a result, Emma decides to find out what really happened. A decision which leads her to the edge of her sanity". Head this way to find out more and book tickets.
Tom Fool | Orange Tree Theatre | 12 Mar-16 Apr
"Every night Martha listens to the minute details of husband Otto's day at the factory. He's a man with big dreams, stuck in a job where he feels like a cog in the machine. Their teenage son Ludwig just wishes he had a job, or at least his own space, far far away from his parents. They are each frustrated with a life they can't seem to escape. When money goes missing, a family on the brink hurtles over the edge, and Martha has to decide whether she will stay to pick up the pieces". A staging of most-frequently-performed German playwright Franz Xaver Kroetz's 1978 play, which addressed the politics of capitalism through its impact on a family's life. Head this way to book tickets.
Mohand and Peter | Southwark Playhouse | 9 Mar-2 Apr
An intriguing show performed by Mohand Hasb Alrosol Abdalrahem and Peter Pearson, based around Mohand's own life as a Sudanese man who had to flee his country to seek asylum within the UK, delivered via the medium of clowning and visual poetry. "No more borders. Mohand and Peter will travel everywhere and anywhere in the blink of an eye. A backflip in time, a quick hop back home, with humour and visual poetry they'll take you on a road trip through Sudan jumping from one character to another. Mohand and Peter bounce on one of the toughest international news stories of the decade and as two brave clowns, they fight horror with laughter to build a magnificent pedestal for Mohand's country". Click here.
THREE SHORT RUNS>>
Figs In Wigs - Little Wimmin | Southbank Centre | 13 Mar (pictured)
This is actually one that might have fitted into the festivals section, actually, because it's part of WOW - Women Of The World - taking place at London's Southbank centre from 11-13 Mar. There's plenty going on - speakers on many topics, music, stuff for younger girls, comedy, literary events, and of course this theatrical experience from TW favourite Figs In Wigs. It's a live art, feminist adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel 'Little Women', transforming the novel into "a darkly funny, thought-provoking and surreal show", which the troupe endow "with their distinctive punky and clunky perspective". They are really good. Head to this page here to find out more about the show, and to this page here for WOW listings.
Volcano | Lion & Unicorn Theatre | 8-12 Mar
"One Man. One City. One Night To Remember. On a day which starts just like any other Max receives a piece of news that will force him to confront everything he knows about himself and embarks on a twelve hour odyssey across London that will change his life forever". A show from the rather good Proforca Theatre, managing company in residence at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre, which offers a "an explosive roller coaster ride through a night in one man's life as everything falls apart". I feel pretty sure this will be excellent, not least because this company has had loads of critical acclaim and we've interviewed them twice. Head this way to book your tickets.
Yours Sincerely | Soho Theatre | 14-19 Mar
One for philatelists, maybe? Or perhaps just anyone, for this show from writer and performer Will Jackson sounds like it has plenty of appeal for those who don't, in fact, collect stamps. "Will Jackson has accidentally stolen 300-second-class stamps from the post office. But he's making them count. He's going to write letters. From reconnecting with old friends and ex-boyfriends to run-ins with the marketing department at John Lewis, stamp collecting has never looked so sexy... Based on real-life correspondences, storytelling and lipsync cabaret collide in this queer coming-of-age comedy about the complications of 21st Century communication". Find more info and book here.
THREE MORE THEATRICAL TREATS>>
Fiji | Omnibus Theatre | 8-25 Mar
One last section of theatre - for there is so much good stuff I would like to see this week - and we are heading over to the lovely Omnibus Theatre for critically acclaimed true crime rom-com 'Fiji', which returns to the venue promising to be tastier than ever. "Modern dating can be a strange world at the best of times, but for these two 'late-20 somethings' things are about to get remarkable. Nick is cooking for Sam at his place and, if all goes to plan, this will definitely be their first and last meeting... so what exactly is on the menu? Well, they do say the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach". Head to this page here to find out more.
Passion Fruit | New Diorama | 8-19 Mar (pictured)
This interest-piquing show is the story of Romeo, a black, gay British Jamaican boy growing up on a housing estate in north London, a coming of age comedy drama written by and starring Dior Clarke. "'Passion Fruit' is about family, culture and community - embracing them, surviving them, and coming out shimmering in gold dust. Through gang violence and doomed relationships, homophobia and hedonistic sex, Romeo's arrived at this moment: vibrant, bruised, fiercely ambitious - and ready to share a love story". For all the info and to get your tickets booked, head to the venue website here.
The Washing Line | Chickenshed | 10-26 Mar
"It looked like piles of washing hung out to dry. But they were bodies. We were looking for a better world. We found a nightmare". Chickenshed's latest show is about a really quite difficult subject, one which I spent quite a lot of time reading about back when I was a weird teenager. 'The Washing Line' takes a look at cults and how they work by exploring the story of Jim Jones and The People's Temple, which, as you may well know, all ended badly, culminating in a mass murder suicide at jungle commune Jonestown in Guyana in the late 1970s. This production explores - through movement, music, dance and multimedia - what drives people to join these sorts of communities. Read more here.
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At TW:CULTURE we champion the best in fringe theatre, comedy and culture. Year round, we pick the best shows happening in London and online each week, providing handy Three To See recommendations and interviewing the people behind those productions. Plus each summer we also cover the biggest cultural event in the world: The Edinburgh Festival. © UnLimited Media, a division of 3CM Enterprises Ltd UnLimited Media, Kemp House, 152 City Road, London EC1V 2NX t: 020 7099 9050 (editorial) 020 7099 9060 (sales) Send London press releases to TWlondon@unlimitedmedia.co.uk Send Edinburgh press releases to TWedinburgh@unlimitedmedia.co.uk You can read our Privacy & Data Policy here publishing@unlimitedmedia.co.uk | complaints@unlimitedmedia.co.uk |
