Posts with the label bush theatre
Showing posts with label bush theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bush theatre. Show all posts
Thursday, 4 April 2019
Going Through, Bush Theatre | Review
Going Through
Bush Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 3rd April 2019 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
The UK premiere of Estelle Savasta's play (translated by Kirsten Hazel Smith), Going Through is a story about the journey's child migrants take, and the people they leave and meet along the way. The play combines English, British Sign Language and Creative Captioning to create a visceral production for both deaf and hearing audiences.
Going Through is not only a fantastic theatrical piece because of the realities it is bringing to the forefront of our minds; but because the story-telling itself is so superbly done. You almost forget these are not in the moment, real life actions being carried out in front of you. Simplistic and well defined, this two person show is enough to warm and break your heart at once.
Nadia Nadarajah and Charmaine Wombwell give utterly enchanting performances that are engaging and rarely give up. The use of sign language cleverly highlights how language can both involve and isolate. It's also extremely moving to see how Nour (Wombwell) must dress up as a boy to make the journey from her troubled homeland to the UK. This act of masculinity where she comes face to face with the male traffickers on her tough journey, is in fact, what characterises her journey into womanhood.
Whilst it certainly glosses over the real hardships of both Nour and Youmna's journeys, this play is a delicate study of human emotion and relationships. Both performers do particularly well at showing their internal emotions through slight movements. As Youmna, Nadarajah is expressive and magical. Providing warmth and puppetry, she is a heart-warming character who celebrates love. Wombwell creates a wonderful emotional arc as Nour as she envelops us in her story. The pair perfectly interact with one another in this story which thrives on communication.
A touching and compelling 75 minute piece of theatre, there's not much you can fault with Going Through. The journey and thoughtfulness of this production is truly something special and it deserves to be appreciated and acclaimed.
Going Through runs at the Bush Theatre until 27th April 2019
photo credit: Ali Wright
Friday, 9 November 2018
Lands, Bush Theatre | Review
Lands
Bush Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 8th November 2018 by Shaun Dicks
★★★★
Absurd. Absurd is a multifaceted word. It’s volatile, malleable and powerful. Absurd is the word to describe Lands. Produced by the incredible company Antler, Lands is a story of two women, puzzles and a trampoline. We follow their story as one tries to finish their puzzle, while the other tries to give up their addiction. This show is very metaphorical, conceptual and symbolic. You’re in for a ride.
The shows main strength is its humour. The scripted humour throughout this entire piece is brilliant, the use of situational, physical and verbal humour is so perfectly pitched that it’ll make you snort. But not just snort, but loud and ugly snort. You’ll cry because you’re laughing so much. You’ll laugh so much it’ll hurt.
Mainly, this is because of the wonderful leads: Leah Brotherhead as Leah and Sophie Steer as Sophie. They are a wonderful duo, who are great together. They know how to play and bounce off each other and both look like they are having fun together on stage. They interact well with the audience and their stage manager Rachel Darwood throughout. My favourite thing about them was when they were silent. They use silence perfectly. They aren’t afraid to use it.
The direction of this piece by Jaz Woodcock-Stewart is very well done and evident throughout the piece. The set design by Charlotte Espiner is interesting, extremely industrial and cold. The lighting design by Rajiv Pattani is simple and subtle but well presented and constructed. And the use of sound is another highlight, specifically the song choices dotted throughout. My favourite moment in the entire show is a certain dance break. Try and make the connection.
Lands by Antler is a show where you need an open mind. It’s barmy, bonkers and brilliant. It’s just absurd on so many levels. So, you have to go watch it! Do yourself a favour and go laugh for 80 minutes, because you will at Lands.
Lands runs at the Bush Theatre until December 8th 2018
photo credit: Helen Murray
Thursday, 22 March 2018
Misty, Bush Theatre | Review
Misty
Bush Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 21st March 2018 by Shaun Dicks
★★★★★
Arinzé Kene is a star on the rise. Playwright and Actor, he has endless noteworthy credits. Tonight’s viewing is Misty, written by and starring Kene. Misty is a show of two stories; the first being a story of a young man, travelling on the night bus in London, who makes a bad decision before unravelling. We follow him as events unfold. The second story is led not by a character but Kene the person. It follows his process of creating this show and all the negativity and hardship that he faced while doing it.
Firstly, Kene as a writer is outstanding. The script is fantastically interwoven with its dual narrative; the structuring and execution is positively breath-taking. This script is a masterpiece and a masterclass in how to create an effective, powerful and colourful script. Kene has found the right balance of intense, thought provoking and politically/racially charged material and mixing it with great wit and humour. There is an elegance in the script that is rare, the imagery is so vivid and clear- it is beautiful.
Kene as a performer is enthralling and captivating. He is a scintillating storyteller, with a presence second to none. Underscored by brilliant music, everything he delivered was real, honest and intense. The performance was outstanding, creating a very stirring and thought-provoking show. Everything is so well rounded, so complete, and incorporates multiple storytelling devices so effectively, that it becomes a show that needs to be seen, heard and enjoyed by everyone and anyone.
It is a show that needs recognition from the higher ups in awards. It needs thrusting in front of decision makers in Parliament. It is a show that legitimises itself and gives visibility to unrepresented issues.
Kene as a performer is enthralling and captivating. He is a scintillating storyteller, with a presence second to none. Underscored by brilliant music, everything he delivered was real, honest and intense. The performance was outstanding, creating a very stirring and thought-provoking show. Everything is so well rounded, so complete, and incorporates multiple storytelling devices so effectively, that it becomes a show that needs to be seen, heard and enjoyed by everyone and anyone.
It is a show that needs recognition from the higher ups in awards. It needs thrusting in front of decision makers in Parliament. It is a show that legitimises itself and gives visibility to unrepresented issues.
I have been watching theatre for eleven years, appreciating for the last five. This show is in my top three, of greatest shows I have ever seen. It is excellence and I cannot be happier or feel more privileged to have experienced it.
It is theatrical perfection. Go see it, tell everyone about it. Tweet it, Facebook it, Instagram it, Tumblr it, Snapchat it. Make sure that this masterpiece is seen and heard. Give it the visibility that it deserves. Kene is a genius, plain and simple.
Misty runs at the Bush Theatre until April 21st.
Read Shaun's other reviews here.
photo credit: Helen Murray
Misty runs at the Bush Theatre until April 21st.
Read Shaun's other reviews here.
photo credit: Helen Murray
Tuesday, 5 December 2017
Parliament Square, Bush Theatre | Review
Parliament Square
Bush Theatre
Reviewed on Monday 4th December 2017 by Shaun Dicks
★★★★★
“We get a little happiness and then we die."
The Bush Theatre, a highly respected and popular Off-West End theatre in buzzing Shephard’s Bush, is currently home to a show that’s origins take it back North to the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. The Bush Theatre itself as a building looks very new and stylish; when you walk into the main performance space that theme continues. The stage is set in the round, dressed very simply but elegantly with household items. As you walk in there is serious, almost ominous music playing, setting the tone for the rest of the show.
It’s a common theme for shows from the Royal Exchange to be outstanding and Parliament Square is no different. From beginning to end this show is strong, slick and packs a powerful punch. The show sizzles as it moves from scene to scene. Cleverly using lighting, staging and sound for the piece to reach all nooks of the space and keeping every audience member gripped as the show builds towards it’s climax. The use of micro or flash scenes aides the narrative as it means that we're not bogged down with any filler scenes, this script is a triumph for James Fritz, a true masterclass on how to write an impactful script in an age where not all new work is as tight as this.
However, it is not just the script that is outstanding here, the cast are a group of individuals brimming with talent and confidence. The supporting cast was a highlight- so fluid in their use of the staging and the way they bring James Fritz’s piece to life. They are unapologetic in what they're presenting, and they make this show tragically beautiful. It's a frank and realistic representation of the world today, a true protest piece.
Joanne Howarth (Mum) and Kelly Hotten (Physio/Colleague/Ticket Woman/Friend) are particularly outstanding as the comic relief aspect of a show that is covered and littered in seriousness and real-life truths. What is interesting is Damola Adelaja (Tommy) and his pitching of the character. In a world riddled with hyper masculine characters, Tommy is presented as this sensitive and caring man- a refreshing take on the modern-day male.
As we fall into Panto Land season I find some people forget that London is still brimming with brilliant theatre. Parliament Square is part of that. This protest drama is a pivotal piece of theatre that needs to be seen by all, and needs to be taken to the West End. The show is powerful, influential and relevant. It is a show not to be missed and you have until the 6th January to catch it before its gone. In this day and age, we all need something to believe in. This show emphasises this more than ever. A masterpiece.
photo credit: Richard Davenport
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