Sunday, December 10, 2023

The week in theatre: Infinite Life; The Homecoming; Pacific Overtures – review by Susannah Clapp

Dorfman; Young Vic; Menier Chocolate Factory, LondonChronic illness is captured to extraordinary effect in Annie Baker’s slow yet absorbing new play. Elsewhere, snarling Pinter lacks bite,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:12AM

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan: Lunar Halo review – a new, darker aesthetic by Sarah Crompton

Sadler’s Wells, LondonThe mismatch between humanity and technology fuels Cheng Tsung-lung’s intriguing 2019 work, to a soundtrack by Sigur Rós It’s a hard thing to take over a company…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:12AM
Saturday, December 9, 2023

Dance Centre Kenya’s Nutcracker – a photo essay by Luis Tato For Agence France-Presse

Kenya’s pre-eminent and most diverse dance school is committed to teaching talented dancers, irrespective of their ability to pay for training. The photographer Luis Tato watched the compa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:06PM

Benjamin Zephaniah was a trailblazer. He broke every glass ceiling going | Lemn Sissay by Lemn Sissay

His dub poetry had a rhythm that attached you to its words. He was a rebel, a guiding light, and my hero Benjamin Zephaniah was a brilliant poet and an incredible human being. He had dyslexi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:02PM

Luke Evans: ‘The littlest of naps calm me down’ by Michael Segalov

The actor, 44, on being bullied at school, crying at dogs on Instagram, keeping his temper and getting a quick snooze in before going on stage Cats, caravanning and cakes… that sums up a l…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:02PM

‘It’s gone on too long. Push me over the edge’: Diana Rigg’s dying wishes in the grip of cancer by Rachael Stirling

Rachael Stirling reflects on her mother’s final months – and listens back to the recordings the actor made then, racked with pain, as a passionate advocate of assisted dying • Read mor…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:02PM

‘Nobody speaks about this’: Diana Rigg made impassioned plea for assisted dying law before death by Lucy Rock

In a recording in 2020, the actor made a case for giving ‘human beings true agency over their bodies at the end of life’ • Read more: ‘Push me over the edge’ – Diana Rigg’s dau…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:02PM
Friday, December 8, 2023

Three Acts of Love review – pain and pleasure in a trio straight from the heart by Mark Fisher

Live theatre, NewcastleThese one-act plays covering passion, acceptance and obsession are connected by a seasonally warming theme about community In their trilogy of one-act plays, Laura Lin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:12PM

Midnight Mole review – puppet’s cheery takeover of Chekhov’s garden by Chris Wiegand

The Egg theatre, BathSet in the cherry orchard that Madame Ranevsky is preparing to leave, this story leads its young audience on a tactile adventure underground Our host is making a list an…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06PM

Ballet star Alina Cojocaru: ‘When people tell me I’m a natural, I just want to scream’ by Lyndsey Winship

The Romanina ballerina’s rise has been the result of years of gruelling physical work, not just talent. A decade after leaving the Royal Ballet due to creative differences, she’s back wi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:48AM

Making It So by Patrick Stewart audiobook review – from Shakespeare to stardom by Fiona Sturges

The actor narrates his remarkable journey from a difficult childhood in West Yorkshire to finding fame in Hollywood In Making It So, the actor Patrick Stewart chronicles his working-class c…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:42AM

Talking About the Fire review – anti-nuclear lecture is a puzzling dud by Arifa Akbar

Royal Court theatre, LondonChris Thorpe’s one-man show is more of a scrappy routine than a meaningful call for disarmament There are nine nations in the world that possess nuclear weapons,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:42AM
Thursday, December 7, 2023

The life and rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah – video obituary

The British poet has died at the age of 65. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago, his Instagram page stated. The post read: ‘Through an amazing career including a huge body…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:02PM

‘A hero to millions’: Benjamin Zephaniah remembered by Michael Rosen, Kae Tempest and more by Michael Rosen, Kae Tempest, Carol Ann Duffy, Colin Grant and Joseph Coelho

The acclaimed writer and poet for children and adults has died aged 65. Here, leading contemporaries pay tribute • A sandy place, a recipe for a nation and a Christmas plea: three poems by…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:54AM

The Enormous Crocodile review – Roald Dahl’s dastardly reptile stalks the stage by Chris Wiegand

Leeds PlayhouseThis production for over-fours has clever touches, lively performances and splendid puppets but the songs and the story grow monotonous The ravenous, toothy croc in Roald Dahl…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:54AM

Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati to star in West End production of Waiting for Godot by Chris Wiegand

Actors to make ‘merry mischief’ in Samuel Beckett’s play at Theatre Royal Haymarket in September Ben Whishaw is to star in a new London production of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for God…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:36AM

British poet Benjamin Zephaniah dies aged 65 by Ella Creamer

The dub poet and author of collections including Talking Turkeys has died of a brain tumour Benjamin Zephaniah, British poet whose work often addressed political injustice, has died aged 65.…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:36AM

Heard the one about the 80 banana skins? The chaotic world of comedy props by Rachael Healy

From Bill O’Neill’s slippery skins to Grubby Little Mitts’ ping-pong eyeballs, performers explain why their comedy leans on more than a mic stand ‘I have this illusion that I’m in …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:13AM
Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Solstice review – a shimmering, heart-on-sleeve ode to nature for children by Miriam Gillinson

Battersea Arts Centre, LondonThe storytelling may be light but this cleverly assembled playgroup-cum-theatre show for over-three-year-olds is an engaging hymn to the natural world The spe…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:36PM

Turner prize winner Jesse Darling: ‘I’ve been a dancer, a decorator and a circus clown’ by Charlotte Higgins

Kicked out of art school, the former squatter, barista and sex industry worker tells us what his barriers-and-bunting work says about Britain today – and why he’s obsessed with ‘Bond-i…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:18PM

Northern Ballet’s plan to use recorded music. What next, robot dancers? | Letter by Guardian Staff

Tim Atkinson on the threat to the livelihoods of the Northern Ballet Sinfonia’s musicians Great that you featured Northern Ballet’s Nutcracker as a double-page photo spread in your print…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:54AM

The Homecoming review – Pinter’s timeless study of toxic masculinity by Arifa Akbar

Young Vic, LondonPlaying a man meeting his daughter-in-law for the first time, Jared Harris brings out the dark comedy in Pinter’s snapshot of misogyny Harold Pinter’s two-act family dra…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:54AM
Tuesday, December 5, 2023

‘We’re in the now’: how Brussels theatre KVS keeps up to the minute by Chris Wiegand

The Flemish theatre run by Michael De Cock has its own ‘city dramaturg’, functions like a town square and stages shows that reflect a vibrant capital, says the dynamic artistic director …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:06AM

‘Humour is our biggest cultural export’: behind the scenes at a groundbreaking Jewish panto by Deborah Linton

A new production in north London is bringing the rhythms of Jewish storytelling, humour and music to the seasonal theatrical staple What else would you call “Britain’s first professional…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:02AM

‘Look at the bloody tip!’: Jason Manford blasts messy theatre audiences by Chris Wiegand

The comedian posted a video of the ‘shocking’ amount of litter left behind after his performance in a panto, saying, ‘You wouldn’t treat your own home like that, would you?’ “It�…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:02AM

Pacific Overtures review – small Sondheim is beautifully done by Arifa Akbar

Menier Chocolate Factory, LondonCo-production with Osaka company brings 1976 study of American imperialism arriving in Japan to subtle, funny life When Stephen Sondheim’s 1976 musical prem…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:02AM

English National Opera announces Greater Manchester will be its new home by Mark Brown North Of England Correspondent

The company, which had a shortlist of five cities, had been told funding was dependent on leaving London English National Opera has chosen Greater Manchester as its future home, a year after…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:48AM
Monday, December 4, 2023

Frances Sternhagen obituary by Ryan Gilbey

Award-winning stage, film and TV actor who had memorable roles as meddling mothers in Cheers and Sex and the CityWith her shrewd blue eyes and twitching dormouse nose, the actor Frances Ster…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:24PM

Einstein on the Beach with goats? No, thanks | Letters by Guardian Staff

John Coldwell on his first ever walkout from a performance. Plus letters from Ian Garner, David Riley and Tim Edwards on leaving theatres at the interval or even earlier Two days before read…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:24AM

‘What do we clean the costumes with? Vodka!’ Inside Britain’s panto powerhouse by Kate Wyver

With 10 shows on and 1m tickets sold, Evolution are panto gods. But how do you work a giant? What will 50kg of glitter cover? And why did a bench almost cause a riot? The giant takes a lumb…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:24AM

Marion Cito, ingenious costume designer to Pina Bausch, dies aged 85 by Chris Wiegand Stage Editor

Cito, who had been a dancer herself, spent 40 years working for Tanztheater Wuppertal The costume designer Marion Cito, whose gowns, suits and occasional swimwear were integral to choreograp…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:24AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater