Mar
24th
The Gods Weep
By Katherine Hayes
It's difficult to view Dennis Kelly's current RSC production at
the Hamsptead theatre without Shakespeare's King Lear crowding
the mind. More so since the Young Vic production with Pete
Postlethwaite used the 'modern' take and combat fatigues to
boot.
Kelly's version is more sweary, so much so even Kelly's characters remark to each other how much they cuss in the course of a conversation.
There are some standout performances; Jonathan Slinger as the
power crazed Richard, Nikki Amuka-Bird as insurance advisor Beth
who's life is destroyed by corporate machinations and
Jeremy Irons as Colm, the big boss who divides his
empire and suffers the consequences.
It's a dark and foreboding study of descent into
madness. Maria Aberg's competent direction combined with
Naomi Dawson's design creates this corporate world where
deceit is currency and deals are done in the
shadows.
Not a production for the fainthearted.
The Gods Weep
Till April 3
http://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/page/3031/The+Gods+Weep/79
Tube: Swiss Cottage
The Gods Weep
Till April 3
http://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/page/3031/The+Gods+Weep/79
Tube: Swiss Cottage
Dec
8th
Darker Shores by Michael Punter directed by Anthony Clark
By Katherine Hayes
Darker Shores a new play by Michael Punter is a festive treat for
theatergoers this December.
The modern stage at Hampstead has been transformed into a Victorian Gothic parlour. Here is where spirits abound. Man of science Professor Gabriel Stokes ( Tom Goodman-Hill) enlists American spiritualist Tom Beauregard ( Julian Rhind-Tutt) to investigate the strange phenomena he encountered in a seaside house in Sussex.
This is a thoroughly entertaining play that keeps up the suspense and momentum till the very end. The story begins with Beauregard and Stokes discussing the happenings in Sussex, echoes of the Woman in Black. However the similarities end there as a plot driven by the passions of one man and the determination of another take us on a journey into the unkown world of the other side.
At times darkly comic, at others sensitve, with wonderful effects by magicians and illusionists to boot, whats not to like about this production?
Standout performances from Vinette Robinson as Florence the housemaid and Pamela Miles as Mrs Hinchcliffe the housekeeper with a desperate secret. Though Rhind-Tutt's southern accent is at times uneven, both he and Goodman-Hill make a great pair to accompany on their mission to discover the supernatural.
Not to be missed!
Darker Shores
Hampstead theatre
3 December - 16 January
The modern stage at Hampstead has been transformed into a Victorian Gothic parlour. Here is where spirits abound. Man of science Professor Gabriel Stokes ( Tom Goodman-Hill) enlists American spiritualist Tom Beauregard ( Julian Rhind-Tutt) to investigate the strange phenomena he encountered in a seaside house in Sussex.
This is a thoroughly entertaining play that keeps up the suspense and momentum till the very end. The story begins with Beauregard and Stokes discussing the happenings in Sussex, echoes of the Woman in Black. However the similarities end there as a plot driven by the passions of one man and the determination of another take us on a journey into the unkown world of the other side.
At times darkly comic, at others sensitve, with wonderful effects by magicians and illusionists to boot, whats not to like about this production?
Standout performances from Vinette Robinson as Florence the housemaid and Pamela Miles as Mrs Hinchcliffe the housekeeper with a desperate secret. Though Rhind-Tutt's southern accent is at times uneven, both he and Goodman-Hill make a great pair to accompany on their mission to discover the supernatural.
Not to be missed!
Darker Shores
Hampstead theatre
3 December - 16 January
Nov
1st
50/50 Daring Pairings The Factory
By Katherine Hayes
50/50 Daring Pairings The Factory
The Factory together with Hampstead Theatre, for a select number of nights are presenting an interactive and slightly unorthodox theatre experience.
The company has collaborated with writers to develop short plays where dialogue can be played by any actor male or female. The actors need to know all the parts in the play and the audience can select what order they see them. Writers working on this project took their inspiration from any period in the last 50 years and were required to focus on character only, no special effects, props, costumes or stage directions allowed.
It was an exciting and daring prospect, and I felt myself hold my breath in the hope that no-one would forget any of the lines ( which nobody appeared to do).
Featured plays included Underwater Love by Paul Jenkins, Tomatoes by Peter Rumney,The Poll Tax Riots by John Donnelly, 1975 by Federay Homes and Assistance by Stephen Bloomer.
Themes varied from a clandestine meeting in a hotel room in Underwater Love to a charity workers determination to hear atrocities from the affected in Assistance.
Underwater Love by Paul Jenkins was the most entertaining of the five and the audience had the opportunity to see the play twice. Both Colin Hurley and Alan Morissey brought interesting revelations in each of their roles as the two hesitant lovers, and then again in the role reversal showed excellent comic timing in their performances.
The Factory has assembled themselves a talented troupe of actors and their residency at the Hampstead theatre is one not to be missed.
Friday 30 October 9.30pm, Friday 6 November at 2.30 and 9.30pm, Saturday 7 November at 9.30pm
Hampstead Theatre
The Factory together with Hampstead Theatre, for a select number of nights are presenting an interactive and slightly unorthodox theatre experience.
The company has collaborated with writers to develop short plays where dialogue can be played by any actor male or female. The actors need to know all the parts in the play and the audience can select what order they see them. Writers working on this project took their inspiration from any period in the last 50 years and were required to focus on character only, no special effects, props, costumes or stage directions allowed.
It was an exciting and daring prospect, and I felt myself hold my breath in the hope that no-one would forget any of the lines ( which nobody appeared to do).
Featured plays included Underwater Love by Paul Jenkins, Tomatoes by Peter Rumney,The Poll Tax Riots by John Donnelly, 1975 by Federay Homes and Assistance by Stephen Bloomer.
Themes varied from a clandestine meeting in a hotel room in Underwater Love to a charity workers determination to hear atrocities from the affected in Assistance.
Underwater Love by Paul Jenkins was the most entertaining of the five and the audience had the opportunity to see the play twice. Both Colin Hurley and Alan Morissey brought interesting revelations in each of their roles as the two hesitant lovers, and then again in the role reversal showed excellent comic timing in their performances.
The Factory has assembled themselves a talented troupe of actors and their residency at the Hampstead theatre is one not to be missed.
Friday 30 October 9.30pm, Friday 6 November at 2.30 and 9.30pm, Saturday 7 November at 9.30pm
Hampstead Theatre
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