Centre Stage on What's Peen Seen?: Ed Harris

We're excited to bring you the next feature on What's Peen Seen?, as playwright and poet, Ed Harris, has kindly taken the time to answer some questions about himself, his past, his experiences and of course, his writing. 

Barbarians - review

Written by: The Insider


Tooting Arts Club, London
****

The dark and stormy Wednesday I went to see Barrie Keeffe’s Barbarians staged in a now defunct Youth Enterprise Centre in Tooting was also the day that the ONS released the latest UK unemployment figures .  The number of unemployed people in the UK currently stands at 2.65 million, with youth unemployment at a record high for ten years. 

Fancy being a Theatre Local 2012 Host this Summer?

If so, check out the following information about The Royal Court and it's Theatre Local programme. 

The Royal Court is a leading force in world theatre, finding and producing new plays that are original, contemporary and challenging. It is an artistically led theatre that creates the conditions for writers, nationally and internationally, to flourish.

Olivier Awards Winners

If you haven't seen already, the winners of the 2012 Olivier Awards for West End theatre were announced a few days back after the event was held at London's Royal Opera House. The winners were as follows...

The King's Speech - review

Written by: Seona (@SeonaMcclintock)


Wyndham's Theatre, London
***

Although David Seidler’s stage play came first, this production of The King’s Speech will be under the eternal curse of the multi Oscar-winning film directed by Tom Hooper in 2010. It was perhaps intended to cash in on the mania that ensued and the current cultural obsession with the Royal Family – following Will and Kate’s big day and the upcoming Jubilee – but it just feels too soon. Charles Edwards in the central role of stuttering George VI, however impressive, can’t quite match Colin Firth. But I can’t help feeling that his performance, along with those of Jonathan Hyde as the King’s speech therapist, Lionel Logue, and Emma Fielding as Queen Elizabeth, would have been more appreciated – by me and others – if they hadn’t been put up against the unbridled success of the film.

Oedipussy - review

Written by: Pot (@DontForgetJames)

Where's Pot shot off to? 

Lyric Hammersmith

Was Pot hot? 

****

The old stories are the best stories, and Oedipussy at the Lyric shows us again why Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus (the original 'your mum' joke) has lasted for over 2000 years. Spinning off from the Mother-Son love affair of the classic tale, Spymonkey pump a motherlode of slapstick energy into the story, focusing on the point where comedy and tragedy meet. It's hard not to laugh at Jocastas’ (Petra Massey) realisation moment, or her brutal, twitching suicide, as her son/lover (Stephan Kreiss) pierces his own eyes. Massey shines and snares her audience with an understated humour. And for a woman that spends most of the show complaining about how she has hit middle age, is perhaps the best looking space vixen that I've ever seen.

Blue Heart Afternoon - review

Written by: Dombo (@DomOJFryer)

Where's Dom gone? 

Hampstead Theatre, London

Was Dom fond? 

***

“Do you believe that beauty is more than skin deep?”, asks Hollywood star Diva (Sian Thomas) of an aspiring actress (Ruby Bentall). This question seemed strangely appropriate as I gazed out over the fantastically conceived and constructed set in the Downstairs of the Hampstead theatre; for if beauty was only skin deep, then this would be a five star review. Designer Lucy Osbourne transforms the small space into a lavish studio apartment overlooking sunny California in magnificent fashion. It was an apartment fit for a king, or at least some kind of Mayor.

Made Up - review

Written by: Lils (@LilyKG)

Soho Theatre

*****

Upstairs at the Soho Theatre, the neutral studio space is a perfect canvas for the excitement and vibrancy of Made Up. Cartoon de Salvo and The Adventurists collaborate to improvise a different show every night by working flawlessly together using suggestions from the audience as their stimulus. Their ability to create entertaining and relevant material on the spot is quite astounding – one of the best displays of long form improvisation I’ve seen in a very long time.

The Devil In Love - review

Written by: Pot (@DontForgetJames)

Where's Pot shot off to? 

The Courtyard theatre.

Was Pot hot?

** 

The Devil is in love. I, however, am bored. After sitting through what can only be described as a disorganised, broken, convoluted piece of theatre, it would genuinely be difficult for me to tell you whether the Devil was in love, who she was, or even if I cared, because ultimately, I didn't.

Join the team!

Do you have a hand for writing? Do you have a big appetite for theatre? Would you like the chance to see vast amounts of different types of theatre and have your critique of the show published on this blog? 

What's Peen Seen? is looking for more theatre critics to join the friendly team to provide reviews, news updates and information for theatre students in and around the London area, and beyond. 

If this grabs your attention and you think you could be interested, e-mail adampenny1991@googlemail.com to ask for more information or to find out how to apply - we can't wait to hear from you! 

A Clockwork Orange - review

Written by: Lawson (@NaomiMLawson)

Arcola Theatre, London

****

“What’s it going to be, then, eh?” - The show’s tagline poses a rather apt question for any adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange. The modern classic is best known in the following forms: book, film and a play with music. So, upon entering the Arcola, you can’t help but wonder what it is you are about to see.