Posh - review

Written by: Peeny (@AdamPeeny) 

Where's Peen been? 
Duke of York's Theatre, London
Was Peen keen?
*****



A production that truly is a class apart. Whilst you’re breathless with laughter and amazed from start to finish, it’s impossible to feel anything but supreme congratulation for Posh. These are ten young actors that will be gracing our stages for years to come – and this is a play that is sure to go down in West End history.

The Doctor's Dilemma - review

Written by: Peeny (@AdamPeeny)

Where's Peen been?
National Theatre, London
Was Peen keen? 
****

A cure for tuberculosis has been found, right on time. Louis Dubedat (Tom Burke) is dying of the disease – unfortunately, though, not everybody deems him worthy of curing. Funny that, isn’t it?

Liliom - review

Written by: Jessica Johnston (@JessicaJohnsto1) 

Arts Educational School, London
***

With an established track record of successful past productions and a storyline that provided the basis for Roger and Hammerstein’s iconic musical Carousel, this well travelled play by Ferenc Molnár requires a company of self assured actors to live up to such hype. So who better for the task than a company of fresh faced, confident stage school MA graduates? Yet this seems to be where the problem lies, as the somewhat self-indulgent performances of these young actors doesn’t quite do justice to the demands of such richly evolved characters’ and text.

Tranquility, Serenity, Calm - review

Written by: Wendy (@Wendyfer1)

Waterloo East Theatre, London
****

Waterloo East Theatre both suffers and benefits from its location. It is mere seconds away from London’s main point of travel, but consequently must deal with the recurring rattles of trains over its head. The task of any show appearing there becomes to be engaging enough to make those interruptions insignificant, and the team behind Tranquility, Serenity, Calm can proudly say this has been achieved.

Mack and Mabel - review

Written by: Anna "Spanner" Jones (@Now4567Anna)

Southwark Playhouse, London
*****

With collectively brilliant performances, a sharp newly revised script (Francine Pascal) and score, Mack and Mabel at the Southwark Playhouse proves that this production is one of Jerry Herman’s best works and deserves a higher place in the Musical Theatre hall of fame. Directed with superb intelligence by Thom Sutherland who in his directors note confesses to “falling in love” with the piece long ago, Mack and Mabel proves to be a tragic, passionate, funny, poignant musical with lots of heart and an involving, extremely moving plot.

Vera, Vera, Vera - review

Written by: The Insider

Theatre Local, Peckham
****

Vera, Vera, Vera is the debut play from young actress Hayley Squires, and is one of only two plays to be specially selected by the Royal Court to be part of the third season of its Theatre Local project, a scheme which aims to bring new and challenging theatre to outlying parts of London that are not normally known for their cultural excellence.  Vera is being staged in the Bussey Building, a former munitions and cricket bat factory opposite Peckham train station.

Yes, Prime Minister - review

Written by: Peeny (@AdamPeeny)


Where's Peen been? 
Trafalgar Studios, London
Was Peen keen? 
****

Everything works out for Jim Hacker (Robert Daws), the Prime Minister at Chequers, because three call girls from Soho can save the world. This refreshed political satire, brought up to speed by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, should not be one that passes you by.

Detroit - review

Written by: Wendy (@Wendyfer1)

National Theatre, London
****

The title of this play immediately flags up expectations for the content. The city of Detroit in the state of Michigan, U.S., was the home of the revolutionary Ford vehicle production line. It has always been the hub of the American car industry which in recent years, unexpectedly collapsed. Financial events such as these are never simple, but some attribute the industry’s failure to their refusal to invest in newer, greener technology. The consequences have been drastic: Detroit is now mostly an industrial wasteland, abandoned by its inhabitants and left stewing in the remnants of its regional pride.