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Issue 015 March A 2008 CT

Noel And Marlene In Hampstead The House Of Agnes At The House Of Oval Baby Blues In Islington

Ireland Rediscovered In Kennington 2

incredibly complex lyrics is quite a feat, and speaking as one who has done a number of Coward plays, I think it takes a particular kind of discipline to perform them. Unlocking “A lot of the scenes are made up of one-liners which go bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, and you’ve got to be so on the ball to play them, with one ear on whether the audience are laughing in the The Mystery right places and one ear on the other actors. There’s a particular type of discipline required to do that. “Marlene, being German, had her own particular type of discipline too, and strength of character, That Is because she had to put up with a hell of a lot of ghastliness when she was touring during the war with the American forces.” Among the lesser-known facts about Kate O’Mara is that she once had a number one hit. In Finland. It’s not a fact she seems particularly keen to dwell on, but how has she coped with the musical element of the role? “I consider myself an requiredactress who can sing when requires – when – rather than a singing actress,” she says, “and like a lot of actresses who can sing, I’ve got a soprano and a basso profundo and not much in between. Marlene “But singing is so traumatic, it really is. Which is fine in this case because Marlene wasn’t really a singer, but she could put a song across. The singing in some of her early movies is quite dubious, to be honest, but she could always deliver the song to the Kate O’Mara and audience.” “This is not the first time O’Mara has worked with her Frank Barrie are co-star Frank Barrie, and the relationship is one she obviously cherishes. taking on the roles “We’ve been together twice before’” she says, “once in, I think it was 1982, when we played Mirabell and of two of the most Millament in The Way Of The World at the Nottingham Playhouse and we got on like a house on recognisable figures fire. I think Frank is just bliss, quite frankly. We were also together in The Crucible Of Blood at the of the 20th Century, Haymarket where I don’t remember doing much really, just watching him from the wings and thinking how and two of the most brilliant he was. So we’re great chums, which makes distinctive voices of things very much easier. “He was always the person I thought would be ideal for all time, writes this part, so when I was first sent the script he was right at the top of the list, but of course he wasn’t available. Richard Hodkinson So I thought, you know, ‘oh bugger’, but then suddenly his dates changed, so it was meant to be, you see.” The premise behind the play is a tempting one, especially for those nostalgic for the golden age of theatre and cinema, so although the New End Theatre is ideal for cabaret type performances, the cast of Lunch With Marlene must have one eye on an eventual transfer to a larger venue or a tour. “Well, yes,” says O’Mara, “but I hope if we do take the show somewhere else it will still be somewhere that has such an intimate atmosphere. I did Sheridan Morley’s Noël and Gertie when we had to play some big venues and it’s quite difficult because, for one thing, you have to be miked which works against the intimacy of the piece. And this is a very intimate piece. Very touching and very intimate.” Lunch With Marlene opens at the New End Theatre on 26 March and runs until 27 April. See listings for details.

ate O’Mara has had no shortage of complex characters peak, as it were. “So you see an older, disillusioned Marlene in to get to grips with over the course of a colourful and the first half and a vibrant Marlene in the second, which is a varied career, but her current role would appear to be very interesting contrast between the artist and the private K more challenging than most. person.” She plays Marlene Dietrich, a woman who could be In addition to the obvious challenges faced by any actor playing justifiably described as a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside a psychologically challenging role, playing Coward and an enigma, and that phrase with its wartime associations Marlene must be doubly demanding given that the audience would be particularly relevant to O’Mara’s reading of the comes to the show with such a clear idea of how the characters character. In wrestling to get to grips with a complex should look, sound and move. character, actors often focus their attention on the damascene “It is a huge challenge, there’s no doubt about it,” says O’Mara, moment or epiphinal experience that moulded that “and I’ve got videos and DVDs of her work here to study. And character’s personality, and Marlene’s character-moulding fortunately I did actually see her on stage, at one of her concerts. experiences came during the Second World War. I think it was in 1974. I went up to Birmingham to see her and “She has a reputation for being, well, a martinet really, but was promised a meeting with her afterwards. But, quite she’d been through a lot in her life,” explains O’Mara. “One honestly, there were so many people in the dressing room I think of the things that interested me most aboutchose playing her was I just managed to shout ‘I think you’re wonderful’ and that was that during the war, being a German, she to fight on the about it. But she got a standing ovation of course, which I think opposite side. That, to me, poses a huge moral dilemma, and I started. it’s something that’s developed in the first half of the play. “But looking at her videos is quite frightening because, my God, “She knew Hitler and Hitler knew her – he was very keen on she was absolutely wonderful. Riveting, charismatic and with her in fact – so she was considered a huge traitor in Germany. such command – she had the audience in the palm of her hand. When Berlin was being bombed she famously said ‘Berlin And, of course, half of the new show is essentially her in deserves everything it gets’. This is her hometown. I think it cabaret, so one has to try to reproduce that extraordinary must have taken tremendous strength of character to do that, charisma. Very challenging, but I’m determined to rise to that but I think the trauma of the experience affected her deeply challenge. for the rest of her life, which is evident in this show.” The relationship between these two towering figures of stage Chris Burgess’s Lunch With Marlene is a two-hander of two and screen is not one that is universally known. Just how well halves, as Marlene is joined in her reminiscences by Noël did they know each other really? Coward, played by Frank Barrie. “Oh, it was a tremendously strong friendship,” she says. “He “The play section of the show is a duologue between Noel was her confidante and she adored him. From what I understand and Marlene when they’re both getting on a bit,” purrs she approached him to congratulate him on a performance and O’Mara, whose seductive feline qualities must have made the friendship started there. I think the friendship was based on her a shoe-in for the part. “They’re past their best and the fact that they both clearly respected the other’s genius. wondering what the hell life is all about. The second half is “In a way, they’re sort of similar because they were both very like a dream cabaret by the two of them, performing their strict disciplinarians, strict with themselves I mean – they would own famous numbers from when they were at their creative have to be. To do a Noel Coward number, to manage those 3 One young theatre company is The prospecting for gold in the bogs of Ireland. In a half-century- Company old play from J B Keane, they might have unearthed a With The real gem Pluck Of The Irish Tricycle for six weeks and got a very positive response – but I really don’t know the answer to that question. “I just wish producers would come and see what he can do, because the writing is brilliant and very, very funny. There have been any number of Irish playwrights produced in the West End, but not John Keane, and I don’t really understand why that should be.” Sive, a story of a young woman promised in marriage to an older man set in the wilds of rural Kerry, was written in late 1950s. Is it of its time? “It’s really interesting in that the play deals with that period of transition between the old Ireland and the new,” says Begley. “The old Ireland is very evident – they had matchmakers back then – and it’s amazing how in the country areas of Ireland some of these traditions almost made it into the 21st Century. But at the same time the play’s all about land and money and family, so you could probably relate it to any time or any place in the world, because the themes are pretty universal, y’know. Does he feel there are legitimate parallels to the currently hot issue of arranged marriages in Asian societies? “Oh absolutely, yes. I think it’s very easy to draw parallels with that, but the atmosphere is completely Irish, of course.” And Begley should know, of course, because Keane’s landscape is Begley’s also. “Y’know, I was brought up in a similar kind of environment,” he says. We had a farm and a shop and an undertakers. You get them on the way in, you sell them drink the whole of their lives and then you carry ‘em out in a wooden box at the end. Because I was brought up in a pub I saw all these characters as I was growing up - small town Ireland, pub, shop, church and graveyard across the road and that’s life, y’know. That’s what people’s lives revolve around, this small world where everybody knows everybody else’s business and nothing much changes. Except people probably have bigger mortgages now.” How did the grandly titled Irish Network of Dramatic Arts come about? “We founded it, really, Susan Cummins ut Tom Begley and he will bleed decade ago to great acclaim. Even so, as and myself, because we got fed up green. Co-founder of IRDA, the Begley admits, “but even though his waiting for Irish plays to be put on. So Irish Network of Dramatic Arts, he status in Ireland is very high, it’s for the last two or three years we’ve Cnot only spends every spare hour completely true that he’s not anything been touring every hall and venue in promoting neglected Irish plays, like as well-known over here.” London, it feels like. but he is the possessor of a lilting brogue “We’d like to do a lot more of his stuff,” “We’d like to be doing it full time, of that might be the model for the type. he says. “We’ve already done his play course, but over here you have to work IRDA’s latest project is to bring the Big Maggie a couple of years ago at the full time to be able to finance the theatre work of John B Keane to a wider Tabard and at the Pentameters in work, so we don’t spend as much time English audience. The company stages Hampstead and we also did it at a couple on INDA as we’d like because we have Sive, the author’s 1958 play at of Irish Centres where people came up to hold down jobs. Kennington’swrites WhiteRichard Bear Hodkinson. theatre this to us and suggested we play it in other “But we’ve been pretty lucky and things month, places. This meant we were able to get have gone well for us, I think because Don’t feel guilty about not being more the money together to do a tour of we do what we do best. We’re interested familiar with the work of Keane – he is Ireland with the play which ended in in new writers but while we’re still rarely performed in the UK, but what’s Keane’s hometown, Listowel, and some getting established we’re sticking to his status in Ireland? performances in front of his wife and tried and tested stuff.” “Well, he’s up there with the best of family. And there’s plenty of that in the locker them,” asserts Begley, “up there with “That was quite an emotional night for back in the old country. Expect Begley (Frank) McGuiness and (Martin) everyone – standing ovations, lumps in and his INDA colleagues to be digging McDonagh, although they’re still your throat, the whole thing.” up earthy little gems for some years to knocking around and John died a couple But that sounds a little like preaching to come. of years ago.” the converted. Why isn’t he more widely Sive opens at the White Bear Theatre Keane wasn’t just a playwright - he produced on this side of the Irish Sea? on 11 March and runs until 30 March. wrote novels and his play The Field was “Well, he has been done – we went to See listings for details. filmed with Richard Harris less than a see The Field which was on at The 4 New American voiced will be from the the US’s frontier heard for the first time at the period. Corpus Christi troversial gay Jesus play Greenwich Playhouse this Plays by Kevin Crowley, month when the Grey Light Matthew Freeman, Jeni and the 1998Spring revival Awakening of Frank Wedekind’s , which company brings a series of Mahoney and Trav S D (crazy sold out at Jermyn Street Theatre and readings and semi-staged name so, one assumes, crazy was transferred for a further successful premieres across the pond. guy) are an eclectic bunch, The five works by five featuring exploding seasonThe atBab Tristany Box Bates Theatre. In , the sets are minimal, different American writers are apartments, a wartime meal which Henry also likes. “There’s no the product of a year-long delivery service, ghostly escape. It’s down to the actors and their collaboration between Grey family relations and comedy performance,” says Leicester. “You can Light and New York’s divorce. The season kicks off Fourth Metropolitan Playhouse, an on 11 March and runs until 23 goWall backFourth and forth Wall in time, like in .” was Leicester’s last organisation that has worked March at a venue ideally Baby for the best part of the last two suited for such bold leaps into production which was also staged at Old Red Lion Theatre which then went on to decades to promote new the unknown. the Edinburgh Festival in 2005. The American writing while See listings for details play, about how real life can intrude into unearthing neglected plays performance, transform and ultimatelyThe Baby Boxruin it, drew critical acclaims. seems to possess the emotions and intensity of his last production, all quali- Boom ties that are quickly becoming hallmarks TheThe of Leicester’s writing. “The motive has to be very strong from the writer’s point of view. It has to be very plausible, oth- YanksYanks AreAre erwiseThe Baby you Box get Disney,” Leicester says. happy blonde-haired baby set Chris Leicester is the fifth production Aamongst wooden alphabet cubes from Too Write, a company that com- looks out from the poster advertising is not about to prises one man - Leicester himself. It all ComingComing Old RedThe Lion Baby Theatre’s Box latest produc- came about one fateful evening eight tion,Time . It paints an image years ago in a bar in Liverpool with deliver a fluffy of a production promising light enter- friends. Leicester, who was then running tainment and aThe few Baby laughs Box for the night. feel-good baby- writing workshops, complained to his But in reality, is an emo- friends about how difficult it was to get tionally charged play about two sisters based rom-com. his play produced. Then he decided to whose paths cross after 12 years. Their hell with it all and took charge of his pasts catch up with them, and uncom- Karen Leong own destiny. “Rather than sit and com- fortable and disturbing familial truths plain, I’ll do something about it,” he are revealed that same night. This is as hears that the explains about how Too Write started - much as we can reveal, as its writer, Too Write a word play on ‘too right’. In Chris Leicester, insists on not revealing Old Red Lion that same year, Leicester had his first too much about the story for fear of production with five other writers. ruining it for those of you who go to see should brace Formally trained in screenwriting, it. Leicester came to playwrighting acci- As for the title, it came about after some itself for a case dentally. “I wrote to improve my dia- research which revealed the origins of logues, to improve my style for novels. the term ‘baby box’. In some countries of the baby blues It was more of a training tool,” says like Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, Leicester,When who hasThe a Wolves novel out Come in a few mothers who cannot - or will not - look months. com- after their child can abandon their child prises of three stories, all about people safely in a baby box. “It’s like a safe who escape their troubles through their deposit box,” explains Leicester, who imagination. Perhaps Leicester is one of was shocked at this discovery, himself those people in his novel, where writing father to two children. “That’s where is his escape route. He is, after all, a the title came from.” civil servant by day. Hardly the job for Where Leicester got the inspiration for someone with creative impulses. His the story Theis also Baby unexpected. Box The begin- Leicester the impetus for his latest play: former professional lives also included nings of were conceived “the power and influence of the emo- turns at property development, credit in a general fertility clinic in Chester. tional force of children”. management and developing resorts in Leicester was sitting in a big waiting For this production, Leicester teamed Australia. Experience which, he says, room, waiting his turn to see the doctor, up with director Stephen Henry. has provided a great research ground for when what he saw struck him as a para- Although he normally works with a reg- writing material. “You need the bland- dox. On one side of the room were peo- ular crew based in Liverpool, he had ness,” Leicester says, joking about his ple who were desperate to have chil- heard about Henry through a friend and day-time professional life, “and it also dren. On the other were people who was keen to work with him. They met pays the bills.” have got children and did not want up a year ago, at a private event in the The Baby Box opens at the Old Red them. “It’s an interesting dilemma - why West End, discussed the play and the Lion Theatre on 26 February and runs you want to give [children] away,” rest, as they say, is history. Henry’s until 22 March. See listings for details. remarks Leicester. This experience gave directorial credentials include the con-

Vesturport Theatre’s Now David Farr and Gisli The stunning split set and the genuinely creepy. adaptation of Kafka’s Orn Gardarsson’s production, almost unnatural athleticism Metamorphosis was as with music by Nick Cave (as of Bjorn Thors as Gregor successfull as it was genuinely successful as he is genuinely return, as do a fantastic cast Metamorphosis opens at the creepy when it first ran at the creepy) returns to the same drawn largely from Iceland - Lyric Hammersmith on 25 Lyric Hammersmith back in theatre for a two-week run a country that is, need we March and runs until 5 April. 2006. prior to an international tour. mention, as successful as it is See listings for details Re-Metamorphosis 5 evi David Addai has been making life difficult. For himself mainly. L“I sort of set myself a challenge to write a play about a family that featured a living room and a sofa,” he says, “because when you’re a young writer you’re always told not to fall into the trap of writing about families sitting around their living rooms arguing. I enjoyed challenging that way of thinking.” His approach may have directors of creative writing courses tutting into their institutional teacups, but Addai’s approach is bearing fruit. His latest play and first full commission, House Of Agnes, is about to open at the Oval House Theatre and his first play, 92.3FM has played at the Royal Court, been revived at the Royal Court and has toured Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool and Brighton. House Of Agnes is a story of cultural conflict and ambition in and Anglo / Ghanaian household. Does it share any thematic DNA with his earlier play? “I suppose they’re both about a kind of family,” he says. “In 93.2 the characters worked together so closely that they sort of had this family dynamic, and House Of Agnes is about an actual family, so both plays share some themes, but I don’t think that was intentional.” So what was his starting point for this new piece? “The characters have been in my mind for about five years, and it’s just taken me that long to get myself together and write the piece,” he says. “I suppose I did set out to make things difficult for myself. For me it’s all about the characters and the drama they produce. But that’s just me – I jump out of bed and think ‘right, I’m gonna prove you wrong, you can write a piece set around a sofa’.” The Royal Court Theatre’s Young Writers programme is, of course, rightly praised as perhaps the most productive course of its type in the country. How did Addai get involved in the project? “I was at university doing drama,” he says, “and decided to write a play as my disser- tation, which became 92.3 FM. So I did some research on new writing theatres and places that were working with young writers and the Royal Court came up top of levi David Addai that list. “I got involved there in doing something doesn’t want to called Critical Mass at the Royal Court change the which is a free programme for black and ethnic minority writers – and the ‘free’ bit world, he just was important because this was after university – and that gave me the tools, as it wants to write were.” Did the Royal Court open doors that might good plays, as have otherwise remained closed to him? “Oh definitely. And of course it broke down he tells Richard any stigmas I might have attached to theatre myself, coming from where I was coming Hodkinson from. Just having work performed in Sloane Square when you’re from Lewisham was something that, probably just a year before, I wouldn’t have thought possible. Being encouraged to tell the stories you want to tell the way you want to tell them is what makes the Royal Court so great, and that definitely changed my view different from what people probably writing about and should be trying to of theatre. expected me to be doing.” achieve politically. But I’m not a politician “It’s not even as though they programme Modest and engaging, Addai has clearly not or a school teacher, I’m a playwright, and if your work and then that’s it. They continue fallen into the trap of believing his own people take something away with them to foster you, to pass you on to other press, despite the fulsome praise attracted from the theatre that helps them make sense companies so you can continue to develop by 92.3FM, and he remains refreshingly of society, then I’m happy with that. But it’s your work.” ‘grounded’ about his growing reputation. not why I write plays. Addai’s involvement in Paines Plough - the “It help that I’m not from some big theatre “I think often when you read reviews of dynamic company that promotes new family, I think. I mean, when 92.3 was first new plays, critics sometimes want to see writing and which commissioned House Of on, my mum came with a friend and then them as state of the nation pieces or try to Agnes - came directly though his came back the next night with more friends. impose a political agenda on them.” association with the Royal Court. My brother came on the last night because Do people do the same to his plays? “I was introduced to Roxana Silbert it was, y’know ‘my little brother’s doing a “Yes, I think they probably do.” [Artistic Director of Paines Plough] who, I play, big deal,’ but he got to the theatre and Addai is also hosting other events as part of think, saw a dress rehearsal for 92.3, must I think it hit him, so even today he’s a bit the Paines Plough residency at the Oval have liked it and kept me in mind. They got apologetic about leaving it so late. He House, including one titled ‘Why do the me involved in their Wild Lunch events makes sure he comes to see everything I do British love West African Playwrights?’ where they basically lock a load of writers now. Addai laughs. “Yeah, I’m quite interested in up over the weekend and tell them to write “My family are very proud of me, but it can that one myself. Do the British love West Londonand then see what happens. Through that I be hard because, unless you’re in the African playwrights? I dunno.” met the rest of the team and George Perrin industry, no-one really knows what’s He is in a stronger position to add to the who is directing House Of Agnes. involved in writing and staging a play – debate than most – both his parents were “And they called me back last year in they just see the finished production which born in Ghana, which simplified the February for a week’s lock-in when I looks quite straight-forward. So it is research process for House Of Agnes produced the first draft of House Of Agnes, sometimes difficult for people to considerably. But does he consider himself so it’s been a solid year of writing and understand what I spend my time doing.” a black playwright or a playwright who working on the play, draft after redraft after Has he had time in his young career to happens to be black? redraft… But really enjoyable of course.” develop a clear idea of the role of the “There’s always that kind of question about Despite being what he describes as ‘a playwright in the 21st Century? He is black playwrights and actors,” he says, “but normal Lewisham boy’ Addai had characteristically, and disarmingly, honest I always feel that, y’know, if I was a bin developed a theatrical CV based around on the matter. man, you wouldn’t describe me as a black acting before becoming involved in the “No, I haven’t really got a clear idea of bin man – I’d just be a bin man. I just see Royal Court. what I’m doing this for, other than I really myself as a writer, and if I haveyoung to “I’d been part of the National Youth Theatre want to be telling stories on the stage, to categorise myself, then it’s as a and I went to university to study drama, but create characters that can take the audience writer.” I wasn’t from a theatrical background at all, on a journey. That’s why I do it, but that’s House Of Agnes opens at the Oval House just a normal working class family. not really answering your question. Theatre on 4 March and runs until 29 “Even today I find it quiteCalling hard to explain “I think some people have a very clear idea March. See listings for details exactly what I’m doing, because it’s so of what a young playwright should be 6

From: 11 Mar To: 30 Mar maker's life is turned upside- Delamere Terrace, W2 Tue - Sun 7.30 pm down by rumour and innuendo. 020 7289 6054 An inspiring dramatisation of a In The Great Opportunity, Bates Tube: Warwick Avenue true story, movingly depicting recalls the joy and pain of first NewsRevue the trials, trauma and triumph of love. Presented by: Canal Cafe THELIST people and loved ones coping Contact 07874 394953 Theatre and recovering from substance [email protected] From: 29 Feb To: 28 Mar abuse. Lunchbox Theatre - Thu - Sat 9.30pm Sun 9.00pm Arcola Theatre The Tempest Topical satire updated every Arcola Street, E8 Blue Elephant By: William Shakepeare week with songs and sketches 020 7503 1646 Theatre Directed by: Joanna Turner about the latest news and cur- Rail: Dalston Kingsland 59a Bethwin Road, SE5 Presented by: Baseless Fabric rent affairs. The Living Unknown 020 7701 0100 From: 25 Mar To: 11 Apr The Institute Soldier Tube: Oval Tue - Fri 1.00pm (for approxi- By: The Institute Based on Le Soldat Incoou The Harbour mately 45 minutes) Presented by: Canal Cafe Vivant by Jean-Yves Vivant Devised by the Company Shipwrecked on a magical Theatre Directed by: Sebastian Armesto Directed by: Ben Samuels island and surrounded by 5 & 19 Mar 9.30pm Presented by: Strawberry Vale Presented by: Limbik strange spirits, the Italian kings The Canal Cafe's resident Productions From: 5 Mar To: 7 Mar and princes must face the improv group, comedy games Created by: Simple8 Wed - Fri 8.00pm scheming magician Prospero. and sketches all at the audi- From: 26 Feb To: 15 Mar “We know more about the sur- Waiting For Godot ence's suggestion. Mon - Sat 8.00pm face of the moon than the bot- By: Samuel Beckett Limehouse Wed (excluding 13 Feb)3.00pm tom of the sea…”. Exploring Directed by: Robert Pennant By: Sally Eyl France, 1918. A soldier is found loss, risk and renewal, brought Jones Presented by: The Eyl Group wandering a station platform. to life through visual story- Presented by: The Tower From: 4 Mar To: 22 Mar With no knowledge of his iden- telling and haunting live music. Theatre Company Tue - Sat 7.30pm tity, or the country he has been Closed Circuit From: 25 Mar To: 29 Mar Limehouse is a new comedy defending, he is saved from By: Sara Pascoe Tue - Sat 7.45 pm Sat 3.00 pm play about an actor who sees a death but exiled from life. What Directed by: Katie Lewis Waiting for Godot is both bril- counsellor to get analysed out follows is a war story, a ghost 19 March 8.00pm liantly funny and profound. of the theatre. story, an absurd comedy and a Rehearsed reading dealing with Two flawed specimens of Creme Anglaise chilling tragedy in which the the macrocosmic issues of city humankind wrestle with such Presented by: Compagnie ensemble rise from a no-man's life through the microcosm of a absolutes as action and thought, Carreau land of mud to imagine and Central London sex-shop, told grief and happiness, good and From: 25 Mar To: 5 Apr remember the life of the living through theatrical naturalism evil. Conclusions seem to Tue - Sat 7.30pm unknown soldier. and stylised montages. depend on the promised arrival A new play about the French in Double Portrait Strange Land of Stars of Godot… London, performed in French. By: Tom Shkolink By: Emily Hunka Contact 020 7353 1700 / Directed by: Tom Shkolink Directed by: Emma Hewitt www.towertheatre.org.uk/boxo.htm Cochrane Theatre From: 4 Mar To: 29 Mar 20 Mar 8.00pm Southampton Row, WC1 Mon -Sat 8:15pm A family celebrates. A stranger Broadway Studio 020 7269 1606 Two sisters. One running away arrives at the door… Theatre Tube: Holborn from her demons, the other hid- This rehearsed reading of Catford Broadway, SE6 Love's Labours Lost ing in a dark room afraid of the Strange Land of Stars asks: 020 8690 0002 By: William Shakespeare world. The impossible distance when do a country's laws stop Rail: Catford / Catford Presented by: Drama Centre between those who ought to be protecting citizens and start per- Broadway London closest of all. Award-winning secuting them? Money From America From:12 Mar To: 14 Mar filmmaker Tom Shkolnik brings The Dada Suicides By: Tom O'Brien Wed - Fri 7.30pm his first devised play to Arcola. By: Afsaneh Gray Directed by: Jillian Wallis Thu & Fri 2.00pm Directed by: James Kermack Presented by: Croft Shakespeare's delightful come- The Arts Theatre 26 Mar 8.00pm Productions- dy takes us into a world of gild- 6-7 Great Newport Street, WC2 Rehearsed reading. Jacques From: 11 Mar To: 20 March ed youth, delight in flirtation 265 Camden High Street, national press of homosexuality. The Sister Wendy 0870 060 1742 Vaché acquired notoriety after Tue - Sat 8.00pm and the game of love - but it NW1 Jingo Musical Tube: Leicester Square he killed himself and a friend in 15 & 19 Mar 2.00pm may come at a price! 020 7482 4857 By: Charles Wood By: Marcus Reeves The Viewing Room Paris in 1919. Waking up on Jack Carey returns to his home Twelfth Night Tube: Camden Town Directed by: Tom Littler Directed by: Omar F Okai By: Daniel J Rubin stage, he finds himself the farm in Ireland after thirty years By: William Shakespeare Tatters Presented by: Primavera Presented by: Simon James Directed by: AC Wilson unlikely subject for a play. in America determined to stake Presented by: Drama Centre By: Heather Taylor From: 26 Mar To: 19 Apr Collier, Mr Theatre and Presented by: Practicum Golden Lads & his rightful claim on the farm. London Directed by: Goo Birks Tue - Sat 7.30pm Hackney Empire Ltd Theatre Lasses Must However his younger brother, From: 18 Mar To: 20 Mar Presented by: King and Queen Sat & Sun 3.00pm From: 3 Mar To: 23 Mar From: 4 Mar To: 29 Mar By: Peter Lindley Lardy, has different ideas. A Tue - Thur 7.30pm Productions Jingo is a hilarious exploration Tue - Sun 7.30pm Tue - Sat 7.30pm Directed by: Rebecca Tortora play about land, jealousy, greed Wed & Thu 2.00pm From: 4 Mar To: 6 Mar of relationships and patriotism, A vibrant and enchanting musi- Thu & Sat 3.00pm 27 Mar 8.00pm and murder! One of Shakespeare's best- Tue -Thu 9.30pm set among the privileged expa- cal of the world's best known The near future: a white subur- Rehearsed reading. loved plays 'Twelfth Night' is a Using Cinderella stories from triate community of Malaya in 'art nun'. The show follows the ban couple enlist as in house Ted Hughes is dying of cancer. Brockley Jack bittersweet examination of the around the world, Tatters the days before the largest story of this media phenome- prison officers to host a black He slips in and out of con- Theatre human heart. weaves a tale of modern slavery British surrender of the Second non, who became a household inmate. Complete with cage, sciousness, dreaming of Sylvia 410 Brockley Road, SE4 Frankenstein set in the UK and beyond. World War. name spreading her philosophy instruction manual, cameras and Plath and the fateful weekend in 020 8291 6354 Presented by: Youth Music The Vagina that 'art is meant for everyone'. tracking devices, their new 1963 when she committed sui- Rail: Crofton Park Theatre UK Monologues Gate Theatre guest is installed in the living cide. Moll Flanders From: 26 Mar To: 29 Mar By: Eve Ensler 11 Pembridge Road, W11 Half Moon Young room. The Americans By: Daniel Defoe, adapted by Wed - Sat 7.30pm Directed by: 020 7229 5387 People’s Theatre By: Matthew Freeman Brute Farce Thu 2.00pm Sat 3.00pm Presented by: Shams Tube: Notting Hill Gate 43 White Horse Road, E1 Barbican Directed by: Directed by: Rob Crouch Murder, horror, loss of inno- Development Organization Press 020 7709 8900 Silk Street, EC2 Presented by: Grey Light in Presented by: Brute Farce cence and an unstoppable voy- (SDO) Created and performed by DLR: Limehouse 0845 120 7550 conjunction with the New York From: 13 Mar To: 15 Mar age into the darkest recesses of 7 & 8 Mar 9.30pm Pierre Rigal Icicle Bicycle Tube: Barbican Metropolitan Playhouse. Thu - Sat 8.00pm the human soul. A very different Charity performance as part of Presented by: The Gate Theatre, By: Chris Elwell Tough Time, Nice 28 March 8.00pm In an hilariously inventive new kind of 'monster' from that nor- the 2008 International V-Day Compagnie dernière minute, Directed by: Chris Elwell Time Rehearsed reading.One young version of this well-loved liter- mally associated with the book. Campaign to end violence Théâtre Garonne - Toulouse and Presented by: Half Moon Presented by: Ridiculusmus man sitting alone in his room ary classic, Brute Farce's versa- Frankenstein against women and girls. Rencontres chorégraphiques 1 March 11.00am & 2.00pm From: 29 Feb To: 15 Mar writes a poem that in a moment tile cast of five breathe life into By: Mary Shelley, adapted by Sum internationales de Seine-Saint- All zipped up against the winter Mon - Sat 8.15pm of unexplainable magic causes a rambunctious rabble of prosti- Nick Stimson, Music by Jimmy By: Myung il Lee and Ozlem Denis. wind, Spike and Bella huddle A secret, a spa in Bangkok and his apartment to explode… tutes and pickpockets, prisoners, Jewel Ozhabes From: 29 Feb To: 8 Mar together on their back doorstep two naked Germans…Martin, Written by one of perverts and peers. Armed with Directed by: Nick Stimson Directed by: Myung il Lee and Mon, Tue, Thu - Sat 7.30pm just thinking. What does Nanna an ex-rent boy drug-dealing nytheatre.com's ‘People of the a simple set and a few props Presented by: National Youth Ozlem Ozhabes Pierre Rigal, is renowned for his Baaba get up to when she goes lawyer, shares his tales of mis- Year 2004’. (along with serious amounts of Music Theatre UK Presented by: physical prowess as performer beyond the garden gate? This fortune with Stefan, a jaded cross-dressing) they bring From: 26 Mar To: 29 Mar From: 11 Mar To: 16 Mar and agile inventiveness as cho- play will be performed in fully hack writer. Together they Bridewell Theatre Daniel Defoe's England garish- Wed - Sat 7.30pm Tue - Sat 7.30pm Sun 6.30pm reographer. In Press, Rigal sets integrated British Sign weave through stories about Bride Lane,Fleet Street, EC4 ly to life. Thu 2.00pm Sat 3.00pm Double bill of: himself a Houdini-esque chal- Language and English. sex, celebrity and genocide. 020 7353 3331 A full-length gothic horror Shut up! directed by Myung lenge that makes even the Gate InsideOut The Harder They Tube: Blackfriars Bush Theatre musical, loosely adapted from il Lee (Korea) look spacious. Presented by: Fraser Hooper Come August 2 Shepherd’s Bush Green, the famous novel of the same Sinir directed by Ozlem 8 Mar 11.00am & 2.00pm By: Perry Henzell An adaptation of Chekhov's W12 name by Mary Shelley. Ozhabes (Turkey) Greenwich Playhouse Fraser Hooper, one of the UK's Directed by: Kerry Michael and Uncle Vanya by Julian Mitchell 020 7610 4224 Scott Capurro: Laughtershock Greenwich Station Forecourt finest contemporary clowns Dawn Reid Directed by: Wyn Jones Tube: Shepherd’s Bush Courtyard Theatre By: Scott Capurro 189 Greenwich High Road, brings us a spectacular show Presented by: Theatre Royal Presented by: Guildhall School Artefacts 40 Pitfield St, N1 13 & 14 Mar 9.30pm SE10 featuring original music, live Stratford East of Music & Drama By: Mike Bartlett 0870 163 0717 Leave it to comic Scott Capurro 020 8858 9256 percussion, sound effects and a From: 6 Mar To: 5 Apr From: 26 Feb To: 1 Mar Directed by: James Grieve Tube: Old Street to ask the tough questions that Rail/DLR: Greenwich whole lot of clowning. Mon - Sat 7.45pm 26 - 29 Feb 7.30pm Presented by: nabokov The Death of the Labour Party wants us to America Voices Shadow Play 8, 15, 22, 29 Mar and 2, 5 Apr 28 Feb & 1 Mar 2.00pm From: 29 Feb To: 22 March Margaret Thatcher ignore. Directed by: Georgina Guy Presented by: Travelling Light 2.30pm On a farm estate in Wales over Mon - Sat 8.00pm Sat 3.00pm By: Tom Green The Moops Presented by: Grey Light in 15 Mar 11.00am & 2.00pm Following two sell-out runs at a hundred years ago, the quiet A regular 16-year old from Directed by: June Abbott By: Sam Michell, Ollie Rance association with New York Travelling Light return after the Theatre Royal Stratford East, domestic routine of the Davies London discovers that she is Presented by: The Courtyard and Simon Yadoo Metropolitan Playhouse and success of Papa, Please Get The the musical magic of The family is dislocated by the half-Iraqi. This takes Kelly on Theatre 25 - 26 Mar 7.30 & 9.30pm Greenwich Playhouse Moon For Me with a vibrant Harder They Come hits the arrival of distinguished relatives an unexpected journey, far from From: 26 Feb To: 2 Mar New writing. From: 11 Mar To: 23 Mar mix of music, dance and mime Barbican. This exhilarating pro- from London. Starbucks and Oxford Street, Tue - Sat 8.00pm Donahue Sisters Tue -Sat 7.30pm Sun 4.00pm in a show, which celebrates the duction is based on the film of Contact Barbican Box Office into the heart of Baghdad. With devastating, hugely By: Geraldine Aron The Monkey's Paw by natural creativity of children. the same name, which launched 020 7638 8891 Artefacts is an eventful and enjoyable precision the writer Presented by: Solas Theatre Kevin Crowley - 16, 19 & 21 Rags To Witches reggae onto a world stage. The A Programme Of thought-provoking drama Tom Green asks us “where Company Mar Presented by: Josh Elwell cast perform all the classic Opera Scenes exploring family, cultural identi- will we be?....how will we 12 Mar 9.30pm The Most Wonderful Theatre songs from the film soundtrack, Directed by Stephen Medcalf ty and the West's failure to com- react?....will we be the Set in 1990's Ireland, three sis- Love by Matthew Freeman - 22 Mar 11.00am & 2.00pm including You Can Get It If You Musical preparation by prehend the complexities of the same?” ters reunite in their attic play- 12 & 18 Mar In the forest lives Billy who Really Want. Elizabeth Rowe Middle East. The Provoked Wife room of their youth, on hearing The Feast of the Flying likes playing video games. Presented by: Guildhall School By: John Vanbrugh of their Father's ill health. Cow…and Other Stories When an abandoned baby jack- Barons Court of Music & Drama Camden People’s Presented by: Courtyard of War by Jeni Mahoney 13 daw is left on his doorstep his Theatre 12 & 14 Mar 7.30pm Theatre From: 4 Mar To: 30 Mar Finborough Theatre & 20 Mar life is transformed. Billy and his 28a Comeragh Road, W14 11 Mar 2.00pm 58-60 Hampstead Road, Tue - Sun 7.30pm 118 Finborough Road, SW10 The Americans by grandmother, set out on a jour- 020 8932 4747 Singers from the Guildhall NW1 Restoration frolics meet con- 0870 400 0838 Matthew Freeman - 15 & 23 ney filled with ancient tradi- Tube: Barons Court School's award-winning Opera 08700 600 100 temporary cool in this stylish Tube: Earl’s Court Mar tions, spells and puppet The Crimson Course perform scenes from Tube: Euston revival of Vanbrughs The Plague Over England Ezekiel's Wheelchair by paparazzi! Conquest both well-known and rarely- Leaving Provoked Wife. Camarilla By: Nicholas De Jongh Trav S. D. - 11, 14 & 22 Mar By: Ally James performed operas. Don't miss By: Sarah O' Hanlon replace 17th Century dandies Directed by: Tamara Harvey Following a year-long collabo- Hampstead Theatre Presented by: Act First Glance this chance to catch opera stars Directed by: Rose Lewenstein with highly paid footballers, Presented by: Chantelle ration with the New York Eton Avenue, NW3 Theatre in the making. Presented by: Split Soul Dance and beautiful ladies desperate to Staynings and Neil McPherson Metropolitan Playhouse, Grey 020 7722 9301 From: 29 Feb To: 8 Mar Contact Barbican Box Office Theatre be their WAGS. With its gallery From: 29 Feb To: 22 Mar Light presents a series of read- Tube: Swiss Cottage Tue - Sun 7.30 p.m. 020 7638 8891 From: 29 Feb To: 1 Mar of vivaciously imagined charac- Tue - Sat 7.30pm ings and semi-staged produc- 3 Sisters On Hope Fri 7 Mar 3.00 pm Shot Actress - Full Fri - Sat 8.00pm ters brought to life with Sat & Sun 3.00pm tions allowing British audiences Street World Premiere of a new adap- Story! Leaving follows the lives of Camarillas vibrant mix of In 1953, Sir John Gielgud was to engage with scripts never By: Diane Samuels and tation of Dangerous Liaisons. By: H E Bates four women - a dancer, a chess movement and text “The arrested in a Chelsea public before presented outside of the Tracy-Ann Oberman, after The story of 5 individuals Directed by: Ann Casson player, an asylum seeker and a Provoked Wife” is sure to lavatory for persistently impor- USA. Chekhov trapped in a complex web of Presented by: Graham Padden mad woman - combining physi- delight traditional theatre audi- tuning men for immoral purpos- Directed by: Lindsay Posner sex, romance, deceit and power. From: 16 Mar To: 20 Mar cal theatre and animated ences and the MTV generation es. Gielgud's conviction caused Hackney Empire From: 26 Feb To:29 Mar My Name Is Bill Mon - Thu 7.30pm Sun 5.00pm scenography to illustrate its alike. a sensation, threatened the con- Studio Please call box office for per- By: Phil Fox Graham Padden performs two poetic text. tinuation of his career and 291 Mare Street, E8 formance dates and times. Presented by: Outside Edge tales by H E Bates. In Shot Etcetera Theatre helped break the great taboo 020 8985 2424 Liverpool, 1946: A year after Theatre Company Actress, Full Story! a watch- Canal Cafe Theatre Oxford Arms, upon general discussion in the Rail: Hackney Central the sudden death of their father, 7

From: 5 Mar To: 29 Mar African dictators. The Baby Box commissioned for Oval House Tue - Sat 7.30pm Sarajevo Story By: Chris Leicester and performed in every nook Red Hot & Cole celebrates the By: Lightwork Directed by: Stephen Henry and cranny of the building. The life of one of the great song- Directed by: Lightwork Presented by: Too Write playwrights are Future Perfect 3 writing masters of this century - Presented by: Lightwork and Productions - Paines Plough's hothouse of Cole Porter, andfeatures over 25 the Lyric Hammersmith From: Feb 29 To: Mar 22 young talent. Porter standards. From: 26 Feb To: 15 Mar Tue - Sat 7.30pm Sun 6.00pm Confessions of a Sit Down Sunday Mon - Sat 8.00pm There's a police search on the Dancewhore (Boys!) Inspired by actual circum- streets and a media crusade on By: Michael Twaits Presented by: The Landor stances, Sarajevo Story tells a the television the night Glenda Presented by: Michael Twaits Theatre contemporary tale of a couple comes home to find an intruder 26 & 27 Mar 8.00pm and 9 Mar 8.00pm who get caught in a moral in her house. It's Yvonne, the From: 28 Mar To: 3 May The Petrie brothers host as dilemma that will push the sister she hates who spent 12 Thurs & Fridays 9.00pm sketch comedy spectacular with boundaries of their relationship. years in prison for murder. Why Politics and pop culture meet in special guests. Beachy Head is she here and what does she this foul-mouthed theatrical Sit Down Sunday By: Analogue want? As Yvonne seeks refuge cabaret - an accomplished and (Girls!) Directed by: Analogue in the family home the sisters vivid queer solo performance for Presented by: The Landor Presented by: Lyric confront their past. The evening everyone who has ever felt like Theatre Hammersmith will change their lives forever. an 'other'. 16 Mar 8.00pm From: 20 Mar To: 22 Mar In My Name Roll up! Roll up! Slow Country Thu - Sat 8.00pm By: Steven Hevey Queen’s Theatre present a sketch comedy extrav- From the company behind the Directed by: John Howlett Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 aganza. award winning Mile End, Presented by: Yaller Skunk 1QT comes a sneak preview of their Theatre 01708 443 333 Lion & Unicorn fresh project Beachy Head. At From: Mar 25 To: Apr 12 Tube: Hornchurch Theatre the top of the cliffs stands a Tue - Sat 7.30pm Sun 3.30pm Relatively Speaking 42-44 Gaisford Street, NW5 telephone box, at the foot is a It's not easy being optimistic in By: Alan Ayckbourn 020 7485 9897 lighthouse. They come from London. You've just been Directed by: Matt Devitt Tube: Kentish Town across the world to this spot. It dumped, your landlord won't fix Presented by: cut to the chase… The Cherry Orchard takes eight seconds to fall. the boiler, the city's going up in From: 7 Mar To: 29 Mar By: Anton Chekhov Metamorphosis smoke and to top it all off your Tue - Sat 8.00pm Directed by: Victor Sobchak By: Franz Kafka new flatmate may or may not 20 Mar & 29 Mar 2.30pm Presented by: Act provocateur Directed by: David Farr and have taken the deliveryman In this sparkling comedy of mis- Int. gisli Orn Gardarsson hostage. understandings and mislaid slip- From: 26 Feb To: 16 Mar Presented by: Lyric pers, Greg follows girlfriend Tue - Sat 7.30pm Sun 6.00pm Hammersmith and Vesturport Old Vic Ginny back to the in-laws, but A new adaptation of Chekhov's Theatre 103 The Cut, Waterloo Rd, gets more than he bargained for! masterpiece. As a part of the From: 25 Mar To: 5 Apr SE1 'Chekhov's Season' at the Lion Mon - Sat 7.30pm 0870 060 6628 Riverside Studios & Unicorn Theatre. 29 Mar & 5 Apr 2.30pm Tube: Waterloo Crisp Road, W6 The Witch Due to unprecedented demand Speed-the-Plow 020 8237 1111 By: Anton Chekhov this phenomenally successful By: David Mamet Tube: Hammersmith Directed by: Victor Sobchak & collaboration between Directed by: Matthew Warchus Frankenstein Victoria Appleton Vesturport Theatre's Gísli Örn Presented by: The Old Vic A new adaptation by Catriona Presented by: Act Provocateur Gardarsson and the Lyric's Theatre Company Craig Int. Artistic Director David Farr, From: 29 Feb To: 26 April Directed by: Neil Sheppeck From: 15 Mar To: 6 Apr returns to the Lyric for a final Mon-Sat 7.30pm Sat 2.30pm Presented by: Love & Madness Sat - Sun 3.00pm two week run prior to its inter- Mamet's witty, caustic play - Ensemble A low rank priest is blaming his national tour. filled with his trademark rapid- From: 11 Mar To: 27 Mar young wife in doing witch- Contains Violence fire dialogue satirises the deal 11, 14, 15, 20, 25, 27 Mar craft…one night, during a By: David Rosenberg making that goes on behind-the- 7.45pm 16, 22 Mar 2.00pm sisters Gertie, May and Rita Management out a host of new material about snowstorm a young postman Directed by: David Rosenberg scenes in the movie business. Mary Shelley's classic tale is Lasky share their once grand 10 Mar 9.30pm animals and death, amongst arrives…An adaptation of Presented by: Lyric brought to life in this stunning home on Hope Street with their Matt Green - Grow other more traditionally Chekhov's short story. Hammersmith Orange Tree Theatre new adaptation. Victor asthmatic brother Arnold, up Green comedic topics. “Best sketch 'Highly recommended' (What's From: 27 Mar To:26 Apr 1 Clarence Street, Richmond, Frankenstein is an ambitious Auntie Beil (who still keeps her Presented by: RBM show on the fringe” (Observer), On) Mon - Sat 8.00pm in Mar, Surrey, TW9 young student who discovers the packed suitcase under the spare 13 Mar 9.30pm “Well-observed characters... the Mad Girl 8.30pm in Apr 020 8940 3633 secret of giving life to inanimate bed) and old family friend Dr Hilarious debut solo show from most accomplished sketch com- By: Yukio Mishima After sundown on the Lyric ter- Tube: Richmond material. He assembles a crea- Nate Weinberg (who claims, star of Comedy Showcase, edy I have seen in years” Directed by: Victor Sobchak race, London voyeurs bear wit- Chains of Dew ture from dead body parts and hand on heart, to be on the Comedy Lab, Inspector Steine (Sunday Telegraph ****). Presented by: Act Provocateur ness to the peculiar private lives By: Susan Glaspell succeeds in giving it life. wagon). Combining warmth, etc. “Definitely one to watch” Int. of others. Part mystery and part Directed by: Kate Saxon Horrified by the result he aban- poignancy and comedy, this (Guardian) “Going to be a big Jermyn Street From: 15 Mar To: 6 Apr peep show, Contains Violence Presented by: dons his creation, leaving it to vibrant new take on Chekhov’s name sooner or later” (Evening Theatre Sat & Sun 3.00pm invites you to don binoculars From: 12 Mar To: 26 Apr fend for itself, learn the cruelty classic unites the talents of Standard) “A young comic to 16b Jermyn Street, W1 A young girl was abandoned by and headphones for a live, site- Mon - Sat 7.45 pm of mankind and ultimately exact Diane Samuels keep an eye on” (Chortle) 020 7287 2875 her lover. Every day she is specific thriller taking place Thu & Sat 2.30 pm its terrible revenge. (Kindertransport), and well- Pete Firman Tube: Piccadilly Circus waiting for him on the train sta- along the west-London skyline. A 1920s tale of poetry, birth con- 'Innovative & hard punching ... known television and theatre 14 Mar 9.30pm The American tion bench. She is living in the trol and bobbed hair by one of adaptation at its very best' actress Tracy-Ann Oberman to Pete Firman previews his 2008 Songbook in London house of a Lady Artist. One day Menier Chocolate America's finest writers. Will the Western Mail create a powerful and witty new Edinburgh show. “A gob- Presented by: Jeff Harnar her unfaithful lover comes Factory liberal intelligentsia of New The Tempest work. smackingly talented magi- From: 29 Feb To: 15 Mar back… 51-53 Southwark Street, SE1 York lure Seymore Standish, By: By William Shakespeare cian…equally good at stand-up Tue - Sat 7.30pm 0871 230 2616 poet, away from his boring Directed by: Directed by Jack Hen & Chickens and boasts immaculate timing” Sat & Sun3.00pm Little Angel Theatre Tube: London Bridge banking life? Shepherd Theatre Mickey Noonan, Metro “The Karen Akers until Sun 2 March 14 Dagmar Passage, Cross St, La Cage aux Folles Presented by: Love & Madness 109 St Paul’s Road, N1 MySpace generation's Tommy Simon Green 2 & 3 March N1 By: Jerry Herman and Harvey Oval House Theatre Ensemble 020 7704 2001 Cooper” The Scotsman "If you Steve Ross 4 - 9th March 020 7226 1787 Fierstein 52-54 Kennington Oval, SE11 From:12 Mar To: 22 Mar Tube: Highbury & Islington are partial to a bit of magic with Jessica Martin 9 & 10 March Tube: Angel / Highbury Directed by: Terry Johnson 020 7582 0800 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 22 Mar Ladies in Waiting your comedy, Firman is the best Jeff Harnar 11 - 15 March Hanging By A Thread Presented by: Chocolate Tube: Oval 7.45pm 19 Mar 2.00pm By: Carolina Giammetta & of the bunch." Bruce Dessau, The History Of By: The Ding Foundation Factory Productions House of Agnes Prospero, a potent magician Charlotte Palmer Evening Standard “The audi- London Until It Got Presented by: The Ding Final perfs: 26 Feb To: 8 Mar By: Levi David Addai lives in exile with his daughter Directed by: Gareth Corke ence is caught between guffaw- Burnt Down Foundation Tue - Sat 8.00pm Directed by: George Perrin Miranda on an island. Aided by 2 & 3 Mar 7.30pm ing laughter and amazed gasps” By: Richard Roques From: 26 Feb To: 16 Mar Sat & Sun 3.30pm Presented by: Paines Plough the spirit Arial he conjures a Ladies in Waiting is a new char- The Guardian Directed by: Richard Roques Tue - Sun 8.00pm Welcome to the pride of St From: 4 Mar To: 29 Mar storm to wreck the ship carrying acter driven comedy show. It Isy Suttie & Bridget Presented by: The Ding Foundation presents Tropez, La Cage aux Folles! Tue - Sat 7.45pm his enemies who are washed up features the lives of a group of Christie A & R Theatre Company this story of two women. A Douglas Hodge and Philip This new play by the acclaimed on the island. Prospero wants brownies who were selected for 16 Mar 9.30pm From: daughter cares for her mother Quast lead a fantastic cast in up and coming young writer justice, Miranda wants a hus- a very special event in the 80's A work in progress night from 25 Mar To: 19 Apr who is ill in bed and slipping this musical spectacular - pre- Levi David Addai is a tender, band, Arial wants freedom. and catches up with them 25 two fantastic character comics Mon - Satu7.30pm towards death. A story about the pare for a little guts and lots of astute and humorous portrait of Jack Shepherd (one of the UK's years later to see if they really who took Edinburgh by storm Wed 9 & 16 April 3.30pm duties that bind people together, glitter! clashing traditional and cultural best known character actors and did 'keep their promise.' last year. Christie: "A revolu- Sat 3.30pm and voyages of the imagination values in modern family life. star of TV's Wycliffe) directed The Beau Defeated tionary redefining of character Romans invade, Saxons shop, to transcend those duties. New End Theatre Paines Plough in resi- the opening production at By: Mary Pix comedy" ***** The Herald Vikings pillage, Norman con- Sound, puppetry and physicality 27 New End, NW3 dence at Oval House Shakespeare's Globe and has Directed by: Marianne Paul Suttie: "Comedy with heart and quers the Lionheart tries to sell conjure up a strange and com- 0870 033 2733 Theatre: Tuesday subsequently worked there many Presented by: Debbie Edler soul" **** Chortle London. 3 actors play nuns, pelling visual language. Tube: Hampstead Late Night with Levi times. Management Umbrage Swain & peasants, kings, butchers, bak- Jellybean Jack Lunch With Marlene David Addai 'Reinventing Shakespeare while From: 4 Mar To: 15 Mar The Magical Diamond ers, & candlestick makers. Plus By: Peter Glanville By: Chris Burgess Presented by: Paines Plough remaining faithful to the original Tue - Sat 7.00pm Sat 3.00pm of Ramtuti lots more to make you laugh. Directed by: Peter Glanville Directed by: Stewart Nicholls 11 Mar 10.00pm text' The Independent London 1700-2008: The coolest By: James Wren & Alan Presented by: The Little Angel Presented by: New End Theatre Hosted by playwright Levi La Festa (The Party) city in the world? You decide in Freestone King’s Head Theatre Theatre From: 26 Mar To: 27 Apr David Addai, Paines Plough By: By Spiro Scimone this wanton, sexy and Directed by: Alan Freestone 115 Upper Street, N1 From: 29 Feb To: 27 Apr Tue - Sat 7.30pm kick off their residency with an Presented by :Italian Theatre debauched tale of love, lies and Presented by: Unrestricted View 020 7226 1916 This exciting new version of Sat & Sun 3.30pm evening of brand new work. An Season all things kinky. “The Beau From: 25 Mar To: 29 Mar Tube: Angel / Highbury 'Jack and the Beanstalk' com- A play and a revue celebrating eclectic mid-week mix-up of 10 Mar 8.00pm Defeated” follows London elite Tue - Sat 7.30pm Fat Christ bines table-top and shadow- Marlene Dietrich's thirty-eight evening entertainment. The play shows a day in the life (and not so elite) in their quest It is the 1980s and the world By: Gavin Davis puppetry, bringing to life the year long friendship with Noel Paines Plough in resi- of a family marked by cruel for love, fortune and most once more is in peril. An evil From 26 Feb To: 23 Mar well-know story of the brave lit- Coward. Renowned actress, dence at Oval House games of retaliated disdain. The importantly, celebrity. In an age entity known only as 'The Tue - Sat 7.30pm tle boy who climbs a magic Kate O'Mara makes her New Theatre: Why do the family has gathered to celebrate where rehab and horse tranquil- Darkness' has plans for global Sat & Sun 3.30pm beanstalk and overcomes a fear- End Theatre debut with co-star British love West the couple's 30th wedding lisers dominate the media, “The domination and needs to find Jack Taylor is always hopeful ful giant. Set in a wild desert Frank Barrie as Noel Coward. African playwrights? anniversary. Set in the confines Beau Defeated” is certainly the magical diamond of that the next idea will be his big world, it wonderfully weaves a Presented by: Paines Plough of a kitchen, the three characters front page news. Ramtutiti to fulfil his dastardly break in life. His attempts have traditional tale with a modern New Players Theatre 12 Mar 9.45pm cause grave upset to the family's Slap, Tickle & Squeak design. There is but one hope left him and his pregnant wife setting. The Arches, Villiers Street, Stay after this evening's House microcosm. This is the first By: Slap in the Face Theatre for mankind, a New Romantic with next to nothing and he has WC2 of Agnes performance for a work Scimone wrote in Italian; 9 Mar 7.30pm hope… to clean windows just to put Lyric Hammersmith 020 7930 6601 crackling debate about West it is preceded by two previous An improvised vaudeville spec- Dave & Dave food on the table. Never one to King Street, W6 Tube: Charing Cross African playwriting with a panel works, Nunzio and Bar, written tacular. Slap, Tickle & Squeak By: Dave Skinner & Dave Bell admit defeat, he sells himself 0870 050 0511 Make Me A Song including Dipo Agboluaje and in the Messinese dialect. bring you a magnificently 27 Mar 9.30pm into another insanely ambitious Tube: Hammersmith By: Rob Ruggiero Levi David Addai. freakish comedy improv Audience Wanted:Roguishly scheme with a top London art The Resistible Rise of Directed by: Andrew McBean Paines Plough in resi- Rosemary Branch extravaganza! Featuring freaks, charming comedy duo seek dealer. Jack crucifies himself to Arturo Ui Presented by: Junkyard Dog dence at Oval House Theatre daredevils, and the latest won- attractive, vivacious, open- his ambitions for a better life in By: Bertolt Brecht Productions Theatre: Tuesday 2 Shepperton Road, N1 ders from the modern world minded crowd, aged 16 - 160. this hilarious comedy full of Directed by: David Farr From: 3 Mar To: 6 Apr Late Night with Levi 020 7704 6665 including the Amazing Must have GSOH, and access sharp one liners, sustained Presented by: Lyric Tue - Sun 7.30pm David Addai Tube: Old Street Furniture Man, the Reversible to eyes and ears. “Hip, cool, humour and a gloriously uplift- Hammersmith Sat & Sun 3.00pm By: Paines Plough The Tempest Family and new theories from seriously funny” - New! ing twist in the tale. From: 26 Feb - To: 15 Mar A cast of major West End Presented by: Paines Plough By:William Shakespeare the young Dr Freud. Magazine 'Imaginative, inven- Mon - Sat 7.30pm singers including Frances 18 Mar 10.00pm Directed by: Helen Tennison Jimmy Carr tive, and very funny' - Landor Theatre 8, 15 Mar 2.30pm Ruffelle and Ian H Watkins are The boldest new talent sought Presented by: Darker Arts Presented by: Chambers Comedylounge.co.uk : 70 Landor Road, SW9 12 Mar 1.30pm to star in this British premiere out and commissioned by Levi From: 20 Feb To: 20 March Management Two Left Hands 020 7737 7276 Lyric Artistic Director David of the Off-Broadway hit, cele- David Addai to write and per- Tue - Sat 7.30pm Sat 7.00pm From:10 & 17 March 7.30pm By: Charlotte Hudson & Leila Tube: Clapham North Farr and acclaimed brating the songs of William form their own work: a rare late Sun5.00pm & 9.30pm Hackett Red Hot & Cole Zimbabwean actor Lucian Finn. night opportunity to see the best Dark Victorian fairy tale with Jimmy Carr tries out his new 30 & 31 Mar 7.30pm By: Cole Porter, James Bianchi, Msamati combine to reinvent emerging playwrights on stage. original soundscore. Slightly cut material in this wonderfully Charlotte Hudson and Leila Muriel McAuley & Randy Brecht's hilarious and terrifying Old Red Lion Paines Plough in residence at original text. Suitable for stu- intimate venue. Fast, furious Hackett are Two Left Hands, Strawderman gangster play for modern Theatre Oval House Theatre: Around the dents. and very funny. whose most recent show was a Directed by: Robert McWhir Africa. Lucian Msamati will 418 St John Street,EC1 House with Future Perfect 3 Johnny Candon sell-out at the 2007 Edinburgh Presented by: The Landor play the title role, inspired by 020 7837 7816 25 Mar 6.45pm Royal Court Theatre Presented by:Noel Gay Fringe. Come and see them try Theatre Robert Mugabe and other Tube: Angel Seven premieres of short plays Sloane Square, SW1

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FIRSTACT Arts Cut www.firstactmagazine.com Victims Issue No 015 March 2008 Fight Back Editor: Richard Hodkinson And staying with the Drill Editorial Associate: Hall, although on a less Josh Boyd-Rochford happy note... The recent Arts Council decision to remove the hall’s funding lead not only to a fully justified howls of outrage from Cover Image: right minded theatre- goers but to a determined fund-raising effort. Pierre Rigal The very, very funny and prodigiously talented in Press Ukulele Orchestra of By Pierre Rigal Everyone Says Awww Great Britain play a Playing at the Gate benefit concert on 4 April Theatre between and no less a figure than 26 February and 8 March. Michael Nyman will Box Office: At The Drill Hall perform his I Sonetti 020 7229 5387. Lussuriosi with soprano Parents and long-time collab- and carers living in the Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury orator Marie Angel on 6 neighbourhoods have a secret. Every Tuesday at The Drill FirstAct is published April. monthly by Cultural Times Hall, the theatre throws its doors open to under-fives. The Perfectly pitched concert Publications Ltd, an children get to take part in creative play sessions, story- for the Drill Hall, that last independent company. telling, theatre performances, arts and crafts, movement one, because the lyrical dance, and music. Next up in its programme is content of Nyman's Letters to the editor to: Dreamspinners, a workshop designed for Early Years and settings are, well, rather FirstAct, Reception children. Dream up a fantastical night-time more than saucy and in Unit 3Q, Leroy House, world, talk with a mermaid, feast at the teddy’s picnic and the true close-to-the- 436 Essex Road, London find out just what Professor Bubbly-Quick is up to. The N1 3QP knuckle, oo-err Missus weekly sessions are free, and it can get very busy. So make nature of several shows All enquiries: sure you book your tickets early. FirstAct has witnessed in Richard Hodkinson Booking is essential. Please call the Box Office on 020 the venue over the years. 020 7226 6525 7307 5060 to book your tickets. [email protected] Call the box office on Weekly activity schedule on the Sure Start section of the 020 7307 5060 Drill Hall’s website www.drillhall.co.uk

Directed by: Daniel Teafoe Directed by: Maggie Grace and 020 7978 7040 the dark heart of occupied ances, but times vary so please Theatre, Croydon on 12 March Presented by: Daniel Teafoe Emer O’ Connor Rail: Clapham Junction Ireland during the 18th century. call the box office for more with a new production based on From: 1 & 2 Mar 8.00 pm Presented by: Siren Stories Shadow Language Cast: Gerard Murphy, JD information. the life of one of comedy's most From out of nowhere comes the Theatre Company By: Kelly Stuart Kelleher, Edward Macklian, A galactic adventure about two endearing and enduring charac- THELIST Resurrected. Take a meandering From: 21 Mar To: 23 Mar Directed by: Tim Stark Andrew Macklin, Billy Carter, stars by one of Japan's foremost ters - Stan Laurel. journey into the afterlife as Fri - Sun 8.00 pm Presented by: Theatre503 & B29 Samantha Young, and Derbhle children's writers, Kenji Edward Carpenter's eloquent What does Emer get up to while Productions Crotty. Miyazawa, is intertwined with Watford Palace 020 7565 5000 narration about the hereafter is her man is astray and what does From: 29 Feb To: 15 Mar Days of Significance the story of how he first became Theatre Tube: Sloane Square brought to life by Daniel Teafoe the warrior woman make of yet Tue - Sat 8.00pm Sun 5.00pm By: Roy Williams a writer. Clarendon Road The Vertical Hour as the Resurrected. another young pup? Songs and An American woman searches Directed by: Maria Aberg Watford, WD17 By: David Hare Attraction To Atrocity stories of connection, destruction Turkey for a deported Kurdish Presented by: Royal Upstairs at the 01923 225 671 Directed by: Jeremy Herrin By: Brian Astbury and lust. man who has disappeared. A Shakespeare Company Gatehouse Rail: Watford Junction Presented by: Royal Court Directed by: Brian Astbury Princess (Enterprise darkly comic journey through a From: 12 Mar To: 29 Mar Junction of Hampstead Lane / The Doubtful Guest Theatre Presented by: East 15 08) land where a language is illegal Mon - Sat 8.00pm North Road,N6 Directed by: Shôn Dale-Jones From: 29 Feb To: 1 Mar From: 5 Mar To: 8 Mar By: Debbie Kent, Francesca and history is drowned. 19 & 26 Mar 2.00pm 22 & 29 020 8340 3488 Presented by: Hoipolloi and the Mon - Sat 7.30pm Wed - Sat 8.00 pm Sat 2.00 pm Dale Writers Ensemble Mar 4.00pm Tube: Highgate Theatre Royal Plymouth in asso- Thu & Sat 3.30pm The battlefields of the world res- Directed by: Debbie Kent, Presented by: Weaver Hughes 2pm (mid-week) & 4pm (Sats) Talent ciation with English Touring David Hare's play pits personal onate with atrocities committed Francesca Dale Ensemble Two young soldiers make the By: Victoria Wood Theatre and Watford Palace philosophies against global poli- by ordinary people. Attraction to Presented by: Dirty Market 3 Mar 8.00pm most of a drunken night out with Directed by: John Plews Theatre tics Atrocity looks inside the dark Theatre Weaver Hughes Ensemble is a their friends before they leave Presented by: Ovation From: 13 Mar To: 22 Mar Scarborough recesses of these ordinary minds From: 21 Mar To: 23 Mar new writing theatre company for active service in Iraq. Once From: 8 Mar To: 6 Apr Mon - Sat 7.30pm (no show14 By: Fiona Evans to try and understand our Fri - Sun 8.00 pm about the here and now. there, their personal lives and Tue - Sat 8.00pm Sun 4.00pm & 21 Mar) Directed by: Deborah Bruce impulse to hurt and humiliate Louise's tower is a gleaming Sound Dust insecurities directly impact on Talent was Victoria Wood's first Sat 2.30 Fri & Tue 1.30 Presented by: Northern others. glass block in Docklands with a By: Jamie Harper & Sasha their tour of duty. play written in 1978 and set in When a seemingly normal Firebrand SeaSuite: UltraViolet state-of-the-art security system, Yevtushenko the seedy backstage dressing household discover a mysterious From: 29 Feb To: 15 Mar (Enterprise 08) and her hair isn't long enough to Directed by: Jamie Harper & Unicorn Theatre room of a northern cabaret club. creature roaming the house they Mon - Wed & Fri - Sat 7.45pm By: SeaSuite weave into a ladder... The story Sasha Yevtushenko 147 Tooley Street, SE1 It premiered at The Crucible have no idea how to react. Soon Thu 5.30pm & 8.30pm Directed by: SeaSuite of a woman who begins to ques- Presented by: Theatre503 08700 534 534 Theatre in Sheffield and was he is wreaking havoc and chal- Sat 4.00pm Presented by: SeaSuite tion whether life is really a fairy From: 18 Mar To: 22 Mar Tube: London Bridge seen the following year at the lenging their peaceful existence. A dangerously charged romance 9 Mar 7.30 pm tale. Tue - Sat 8.00pm Lighten Up ICA in London. Talent examines is played out amidst bittersweet A meditative, sensual journey The Invisible Skin An improvised play that Directed by: Sue Buckmaster the pitfalls of entering a compe- White Bear Theatre love songs in this award-win- into the inner recesses of human Between Us responds to current events and Presented by: Theatre-Rites and tition designed to humiliate its 138 Kennington Park Road, ning new play. experience. SeaSuite:Ultraviolet (Enterprise 08) deals with the interaction Unicorn Theatre participants as they are presented SE11 random fuses spoken word, film, dance, By: Kim Dexter between the 'exterior' world and From: 29 Feb To: 9 Mar to a jeering audience between 020 7793 9193 By: debbie tucker green Indian classical vocal and an Directed by: Kim Dexter the 'interior' world of our imagi- Tue - Sun the beer break and the bingo. Tube: Kennington Directed by: Sacha Wares electronic soundscape, exploring Presented by: Kim Dexter nation. 1.15pm (Tue, Thu); 10.15am & On the Stage and Off Sive Presented by: Royal Court the subconscious, shadows and, 25 & 26 Mar 6.00 pm 1.15pm (Wed); 10.15am (Fri); By: Jerome K Jerome By: John B. Keane Theatre ultimately, love. A one to one performance Theatre Royal 11am, 2.30pm (Sat); 2.30pm Presented by: Elsewhere Theatre Directed by: Tom Begley From: 7 Mar To: 12 Apr Round Round encounter that explores scars as Stratford East (Sun). 2 March 4.00pm Presented by: Inda Uk Mon - Sat 7.30pm Sat 3.30pm By: Adam Hemming testaments to human fragility Gerry Raffles Square, E15 Sue Buckmaster collaborates Rodney Bewes plays Jerome K From: 11 Mar To: 30 Mar An urgent new play by debbie Directed by: Adam Hemming and questions the possibility of 020 8534 7374 with sound artists A Man Called Jerome himself as well as the Tue - Sat 7.30 p.m. tucker green. Presented by: East 15 empathy between strangers. Tube: Stratford Adam, lighting designer Aideen characters he encounters: theatre Sun 5.00 p.m. From: 12 Mar To: 15 Mar Never Heard That Marilyn and Ella Malone and five multi-talented managers, landladies, stage door From the pen of Co. Kerry's Soho Theatre Wed - Sat 8.00 pm Sat 2.00 pm One Before By: Bonnie Greer performers to use puppetry, keepers, agents and, of course, famous son the late John B 21 Dean Street, W1 Whore, Politician, Husband, (Enterprise 08) Directed by: Colin McFarlane mime and dance to take young actors - from stars to extras, Keane Sive is a full length play 0870 429 6883 Wife, Lover, Cheat - linked by 25 & 26 Mar 8:15 pm Presented by: Theatre Royal audiences on a mesmerising playing parts from high tragedy set in a remote area of Kerry, Tube: Tottenham Court Road their sexual misadventures. An experiment created as a Stratfrod East journey of discovery about light. to low comedy. Slowly he which tells the story of the A Couple of Poor, Patients in a sexual health clinic backlash to the mass production From: 29 Feb To: 15th Mar Hello Maru-Chan comes to see the glamorous promise in marriage, of the Polish-Speaking force each other to re-enact the of bookes and over-hyped Tue - Sat 7.30pm Directed by: Peter Wilson world of showbiz for what it is. young Sive to an older man. Romanians scenes that led them there. authors looking at the lost art of 8 & 15 Mar 3.00pm Presented by: Kazenoko Theatre By: Dorota Maslowska, translat- Round, Round is a modern re- writing, trying to reconnect with Marilyn Monroe and Ella Company Warehouse Theatre ed by Lisa Goldman and Paul telling of Arthur Schnitzler's the roots of story telling: Fitzgerald, two of the 20th From: 11 Mar To: 29 Mar Dingwall Road, Croydon CR0 Please note: The Sirett cautionary drama, La Ronde. The Revenger's Century's greatest icons, come Tue-Sun (11 Mar - 16 Mar) 2NF summaries of shows Directed by: Lisa Goldman Restless Tides Tragedy (Enterprise together in this true story of Tue, Sun 1.45pm; Wed, Thu, 020 8680 4060 Presented by: Soho Theatre in (Enterprise 08) 08) friendship, prejudice and deter- Sat: 10.45am, 1.45pm; Fri: Rail: East Croyden featured in these association with the Polish By: Left Luggage Theatre By: Metra Theatre mination in this new musical 10.45am. Stan Laurel, Please listings are provided Cultural Institute Directed by: Left Luggage Directed by: Metra Theatre drama. (18 Mar - 29 Mar) Tue, Wed, Stand Up by the From: 29 Feb To: 29 Mar Theatre Presented by: Metra Theatre Thu, Sat: 10.45am, 1.45pm; Fri By: Bob Kingdom theatres Mon - Sat 7.30pm Presented by: Left Luggage From: 27 Mar To: 30 Mar Tricycle Theatre 28 Mar only: 1.45pm. Presented by: Richard Jordan themselves. Although Sat 3.00pm Theatre Thu - Sun 8.00 pm 269 Kilburn High Road, NW6 Maru-Chan is a little girl made Productions Ltd in association they do not A fast-paced road trip on black From: 18 Mar To: 20 Mar Metra Theatre explore the clas- 020 7328 1000 of paper, born into an exquisite with Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud necessarily represent the ice, laced with dark ironic Tue - Thu 7.30 pm & 9.00 pm sic tale of treachery, with an Tube: Kilburn paper world. In this story she Theatre and Warehouse Theatre views of FirstAct, we’re humour. This is the debut play Left Luggage respond to the eclectic mix of performance I'll Be The Devil explores the world around her, Croydon presents from award-winning Polish remembered and the forgotten; skills and philosophical fore- By: Leo Butler meeting many fantastic creatures From: 12 Mar To: 30 Mar sure all

writer Dorota Maslowska. the historical and imagined; the sight, applying sumptuous Directed by: Ramin Gray on the way. Wed - Sat 8.00pm (Tuesday 18 productions wish and dreamt; and the stror- colour to this dark tragedy and Presented by: Royal Tony Graham at 6.30pm) Sun 5.00pm listed are terribly good. LIST The Space ies whispered by objects and allowing it to resonate with a Shakespeare Company By: Mike Kenny Fringe-First winner and THE 269 Westferry Road, E14 spaces. contemporary audience. From: 26 Feb To: 8 Mar Directed by: Tony Graham Edinburgh Festival legend Bob 020 7515 7799 Bridge of Leaps Mon - Sat 8.00pm Presented by: Unicorn Theatre Kingdom (Dylan Thomas - DLR: Mudchute (Enterprise 08) Theatre 503 5 Mar 2.00pm 1 & 8 Mar From: 14 Mar To: 6 Apr Return Journey, The Truman Resurrected By: Maggie Grace & Emer 503 Battersea Park Road, 4.00pm Tue - Sun Capote Talk Show) begins a By: Daniel Teafoe O’Connor SW11 An epic and brutal journey into Morning and afternoon perform- national tour at the Warehouse