Here at TW HQ, we've loved Josie Long for a long long time; pretty much since our eyes very first met across a crowded Edinburgh Festival many moons ago. That high regard has never wavered as we've watched her go from strength to strength.
This week, she finishes her UK tour of latest show, 'Something Better', with a date at London's Duchess Theatre. I organised a quick chat, to find out more about the show, and to throw a few other questions her way. Read the interview here.
Josie performs 'Something Better' at The Duchess Theatre on 20 Mar. See this link here for info and to book.
KIERAN HURLEY: HEADS UP
At the Edinburgh Festival in 2016, one of the shows causing lots of buzz and garnering glowing reviews was the Fringe First winning 'Heads Up', a one man piece written and performed by the talented Kieran Hurley.
When I heard that the play was headed to Battersea Arts Centre as part of a UK tour, I was keen to find out more about the show and the creative force behind it, so I put some questions to Mr Hurley, ahead of the London run. Read the interview here.
'Heads Up' is on at Battersea Arts Centre from 20 Mar-1 April, see the venue website here for all the details.
FRIDAY 17 MARCH 2016 >>
The Fall | Bay 56 Theatre, Acklam Village Market | 17-19 Mar
Based on Tarsem Singh's film of the same name, this production promises to be a visually spectacular performance combining theatre, original live music and animation, projection and art, and deals in themes of the struggle with depression. It tells the story of Roy, who finds a path to hope following a suicide attempt. Sounds interesting, no? See this site here for info and tickets.
Cabinet Of Curiosities: Did you Get That From Your Mother? | Camden People's Theatre | 17 Mar (pictured)
Hurrah for Sprint, for yea verrily, that is whereunto we return, on this occasion for a part installation, part performance multimedia work showcasing popular objects or phenomena associated with femininity, beauty, domesticity and female sexuality throughout time. I think this may turn out to be utterly fascinating. Head this way for details.
She'Koyokh - 'First Dance on Second Avenue' Album Launch | King's Place | 17 Mar
If you are a big fan of klezmer, then this might already be on your list of things to do today, but if you are not, then maybe it's time to give this kind of music a chance? This international and acclaimed troupe launch a new album with this show, and you can be there to witness it. Click here for more.
SATURDAY 18 MARCH 2016 >>
Knock2Bag at Rich Mix | Rich Mix | 18 Mar
Another top Knock2Bag line up for your delectation - Abandoman, Mae Martin, Desiree Burch, Nigel Ng, Lou Sanders and Jayde Adams. Need I say more? Well, I suppose I'd better or this tip will look a bit short. They are all brilliant and we love them, especially the women. Only joking, we like the men too. See this page here for more.
The Bad Seed | Jack Studio | 14 Mar-1 Apr
It's a old play, now, this one, but I suspect this staging will be just as chilling as when it premiered in the US back in 1954. Maxwell Anderson's adaptation of William March's novel of the same name tells the story of a mother who becomes convinced that her perfect young daughter is in fact a cold blooded killer. See the venue website here for details.
Pull The Trigger | Camden People's Theatre | 18 Mar (pictured)
Vijay Patel presents this live art/cabaret display exploring "Indian corner shop culture". It's an autobiographical solo performance analysing the structures of work life that exist within the anarchy of capitalism, and it seems extremely promising to me. Part of our beloved Sprint Festival, see the CPT website here for info.
SUNDAY 19 MARCH 2016 >>
Love2Dance Showcase | The Albany | 19 Mar
A collection of dance pieces performed by young people in Lewisham borough taking part in the Love2Dance programme in Deptford and Sydenham. There will be both group and solo exhibitions, as well as appearances from a number of guest performers. See this page here for all the info.
You're Human Like The Rest Of Them | Finborough Theatre | until 21 Mar (pictured)
Almost, but not quite, your last opportunity to catch this show, which features a collection of three short plays by BS Johnson. 'You're Human Like the Rest of Them', a funny portrayal of a young man coming to terms with the human condition, 'Down Red Lane', a tale of "man versus belly", and 'Not Counting The Savages', about a traumatised wife losing faith in her marriage. See the venue website here for more.
The Frogs | Jermyn Street Theatre | 14 Mar-8 Apr
A chance to see lesser known Stephen Sondheim musical 'The Frogs', which is based on the Aristophanes comedy, of course, but "freely adapted for today by Burt Shevelove... and even more freely adapted by Nathan Lane": Dionysos, Greek god of wine and drama, and his slave Xanthias make a journey to Hades to collect critic and playwright George Bernard Shaw so that he may enlighten the "easily misled and coerced masses of Earth". Click here for details.
MONDAY 20 MARCH 2016 >>
Josie Long - Something Better | Duchess Theatre | 20 Mar
Utter, utter TW favourite, her royal brilliance Josie Long, ends her national tour of 'Something Better' with this performance at the Duchess Theatre. It's about optimism, hopefulness, looking for people and things to look up to, finding out who you are and what you can't change, and what it's like to feel like an outsider for the first time. Skip this way to book your tickets.
Heads Up | Battersea Arts Centre | 20 Mar-1 Apr (pictured)
This is a show that really quite smashed last year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, achieving a sell out run and a coveted Fringe First award, as well as many glowing reviews. Kieran Hurley's powerful piece tells the story of a city on the brink of extinction, asking the question of what we would do if we faced the end of our world as we know it. Click here for all the details.
Barred Freedom | The Cockpit | 20-25 Mar
This is interesting, because the play has two different casts, playing alternate nights, one entirely male and one entirely female. So I guess, ideally, you need to see both to feel the full impact of it. It's set in a prison in the 1970s - overcrowded, understaffed, with a riot going on in one wing and an escape attempt in another - and the show's approach aims to highlight "the differences, not just between, but more importantly within, the sexes". See this page here for info.
TUESDAY 21 MARCH 2016 >>
Undermined | Wilton's Music Hall | 21-25 Mar (pictured)
"One man, one chair and one pint, that is all that is required to tell this epic tale of the brave men and women who stood up and fought for what they believed in". A take on the miner's strike of 1984, bringing together the political and the personal, based on true stories and written and performed by Danny Mellor. See this page here for all the info.
Dark Vanilla Jungle | Theatre N16 | 21-31 March
Philip Ridley's 2013 monologue gets an airing, and why not, given the very contemporary and pertinent themes the play tackles. In the typically gritty and dark style of the playwright, it tackles a grim subject - the grooming of young girls by older men, and the resulting damage and abuse. For more details, click on this link here.
The Fatherhood Project | Camden People's Theatre | 21 Mar
Another show from CPT's excellent Sprint line up now, this one a work in progress. I'm really interested by the themes of this show, which asks questions about why men are in so many ways not viewed as the 'default parent' - why are they less likely to get custody of children? Can men be trusted as carers, or should we just leave things the way they've been for years and years? An examination of gender equality, and expectations. See the venue website here for more.
WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH 2016 >>
I'm Doing This For You | Canada Water Culture Space | 22 Mar (pictured)
We first heard of this show by Haley McGee when it was on at edfringe last summer, when our reviewer who saw it was very impressed, calling it "fiercely original" as well as "layered, intelligent and unique". It's not a conventional sort of performance, blending storytelling and live-art, part of an overarching conceit that your host has gone to great trouble to orchestrate your presence for the sake of the man she loves. See this page here for a clearer explanation, and to book tickets.
Escape The Scaffold | Theatre503 | 22 Mar-15 Apr
"A love triangle turns to betrayal as real life becomes a nightmare. The basement is slowly filling with water and there's a monster in the house". Three best friends hunker down together in their student house, and find themselves forced to make decisions that will mark them for the rest of their lives; in this dark, psychological thriller, love turns to betrayal and paranoia takes hold. Head this way for all the details.
Narvik | New Diorama | 21-25 Mar
The powerful story of a Liverpudlian man and a Norwegian woman pulled together and torn apart by war, brought to life by award winning playwright and song-writer Lizzie Nunnery, who was inspired by tales from naval veterans, and stories of her grandfather's time in the Navy. It's a physical and immersive piece, featuring original music by Vidar Norheim, Martin Heslop and Nunnery herself. Click here for more.
THURSDAY 23 MARCH 2016 >>
Black Lives, Black Words | Bush Theatre | 23-25 Mar
The Bush have commissioned four works by black British writers - Rachel De-Lahay, Winsome Pinnock, Somalia Seaton and Mojisola Adebayo - to contribute to the canon of 'Black Lives, Black Words', an international project exploring the black diaspora's experiences in a number of large cities. They're presented alongside previously performed pieces by American writers Idris Goodwin and Harrison David Rivers, see this page here for info.
Chinglish | Park Theatre | 22 Mar-22 Apr
"Daniel, an American, wants to open up China for his business. There are only three things standing in his way: he can't speak the language, he can't learn the customs, and he's falling in love with the one woman he can't have". This comedy by Pulitzer nominated writer David Henry Hwang has its UK premiere at Park Theatre, following the success of the 2013 production there of another of his plays, 'Yellow Face'. Click this link here for details.
Filthy Business | Hampstead Theatre | 10 Mar-22 Apr
This has been on for a while now, so it should be well into its stride. It's the story of Yetta Solomon, who builds a family business from nothing, and the play, set initially in 1968, documents her efforts spanning twenty years. Tackling the theme of entrepreneurial outsiders and their impact on modern Britain, the play is by Ryan Craig, of 'The Holy Rosenbergs' fame, and the cast is led by the very talented Sara Kestelman. Head this way for info.
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