Comedy Festivals Music Spoken Word Theatre ThisWeek In London

Threes To See 9-15 Jul: Runs Starting This Week, Short Runs, Shows At Playmill

By TW Editorial | Published on Friday 5 July 2019

THREE RUNS STARTING THIS WEEK

Lunatic 19s | Finborough Theatre | 9 Jul-3 Aug
“Recovering from a serious car crash, Gracie, an undocumented Latina migrant worker from Kentucky, is tracked down to her hospital bed by immigration enforcement officer Alec. Dragged from hospital, she is chained and forced into a van to begin the long journey to deportation…” A world premiere of this play by Tegan McLeod that tackles an ever concerning issue. “Discover, detain, deport. It’s all legal. It’s…I put them in the van, bats in a cage, and I just drive.” See the venue website here for more.

One Giant Leap | Jack Studio | 2-27 Jul
You don’t need to be especially eagle-eyed to notice that this run isn’t actually starting this week, because actually it started last week. And my official line on this is that it’s because I am an idiot who accidentally put the details of the show in the wrong place on the spreadsheet. And I am not about to cast it out just because it doesn’t quite conform, you know. Difference is good. Anyway, this is a new comedy about the faking of moon landings. Details here.

Hive City Legacy | Roundhouse | 15-30 Jul (pictured)
Beginning on 15 Jul at Roundhouse is Fades, Braids & Identity, a season of theatre, photography, film and spoken word championing Black and Brown artists exploring race, gender and identity, and it looks like there is loads of good stuff to take in. And I am starting with this one, Hive City Legacy, a show we’ve shown some interest in before (see our interview with Krystal Dockery to find out more). I feel pretty sure we’ll be recommending more events from the strand next week, in the meantime, for this show, see this page here.

THREE SHORT RUNS

Summer Fest | The Bunker Theatre | 10-13 Jul
I was attracted to this one as it’s by previous interviewee and Three
To See-ee (ahem), ‘Quarter Life Crisis’ creative Yolanda Mercy, and, as you may deduce, we are quite keen. This play, the dramatic highs and lows of the highlight of the social calendar, is a commission performed by National Youth Theatre’s Playing Up Company. And Playing Up, as you may know, is a free, accredited nine-month drama training course for 19-24s, aimed at young people who have fallen out of education and need access to further training or employment. Excellent stuff, see this page here.

Hidden Voice | Jermyn Street Theatre | 10-12 Jul
This sounds rather interesting, and is described as an “emotional and uplifting experience that takes us into the hidden world behind dementia.” It’s a multi media piece, bringing together musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, a one-woman play by Trisha Duffy and a special new short film by Paul Whitehouse (yes, that Paul Whitehouse). “The lyrics and melodies of everyday life are transformed into a deeply moving performance that will change your perceptions of dementia forever.” Click here for info.

Don Juan | The Other Palace | 15-20 Jul
“Five flirtatious “French” performers meet you at the door. They bring you in, they show you to your seat, they flirt with you. Maybe they fall a little bit in love with you. Then they tell the story of Don Juan – with you.” This reworking of ‘Don Juan’ from New Zealand theatre company A Slightly Isolated Dog won critical acclaim at last year’s Fringe for good reason. Expect something highly energetic and rather funny. See this page here for details.

THREE SHOWS AT PLAYMILL

F.R.I.E.N.D | King’s Head Theatre | 11-12 Jul
So, almost two weeks worth of new work coming up over at King’s Head Theatre as part of their Playmill season, taking place from 8-20 Jul. There are loads and loads of shows I wanted to list here but because of the stupid format (admittedly one I was instrumental in creating) I was forced to pick only three. So I urge you to take a look at everything that’s in the line up here, but will start by suggesting that you might find this rather fun: excellent character comedian Brendan Murphy tells the whole of the ‘Friends’ saga through the eyes of Central Perk’s Gunther. Info here.

The Last Song Of Oliver Sipple | King’s Head Theatre | 13-14 Jul
Next up, this sad story from award nominated writer David Hendon: “He saved the life of the President… Then his country turned against him. This is the true story of Oliver Sipple, a US marine decorated for his service in Vietnam, who in 1975 intervened as a would-be assassin pulled a gun on President Gerald Ford. He was hailed as a hero and invited to the White House but, after he was outed as gay in the press, the invitation was revoked. Oliver had never come out to his family but was now a public figure, hounded by the media and his private life was no longer his own”. Details here.

Illusions Of Liberty | King’s Head Theatre | 15-16 Jul (pictured)
And our final selection for this week, a darkly comical one woman show: “Liberty Jones is a Principal Cellist, for five years she has been plagued with an increasing number of bewildering symptoms. Five days ago, Liberty received a diagnosis of an invisible illness. ‘Illusions of Liberty’ follows her in the four days following her diagnosis as she struggles to maintain her equilibrium in her new status and relationships. How does she feel when the dust settles? How does she deal with her new normal? And how many new ‘normals’ will she have to adjust to?” Head this way for more.