Theatre – The Cultural Exposé

Invisible Treasure at Ovalhouse puts you (and others) centre stage

Matilda — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 13:00:45 +0000

I’ve made a habit of not reading synopses where films and theatre shows are concerned. This means I have no idea of what I’m getting myself into so I can make an unbiased critique at the end. But in the case of Invisible Treasure, a new interactive production at the Ovalhouse theatre, I wish I read the memo. That way I would have brought a friend along (trust me, bring a buddy) and I’d also have a better understanding of the premise – a digital playroom that involves connecting with others, evoking your inner-child, losing your inhibitions (or in some cases, not).

I’m not gonna drop any spoilers, but as a piece of theatre, it’s definitely one of the more creative concepts I’ve ever engaged with, making amazing use of technology. And with no obvious plot to follow, it’s thought-provoking, a little bit strange, but an experience nonetheless. If you have a spare Saturday afternoon, it deserves the attention before it wraps up on 14th November. You can check out pics from the production below and for more info, visit: http://www.ovalhouse.com/whatson/detail/invisible-treasure-by-fanshen.

Pic: Cat Lee

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The Lion King musical: a visual jubilee 16 years on

Matilda — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 07:45:26 +0000

I’d never seen the Lion King. Not the film obviously – that happened when I was probably too old to be watching Disneys but couldn’t help but be charmed by the loveable tale of a kid who thought he knew everything (much like my precocious 13-year-old self). But the musical, like most cultural and historical institutions on our doorstep that us Londoners shamefully take for granted, has been chilling out on my never-ending bucket list.

Disney’s The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, London. Photo by Brinkoff and Mogenburg

It’s ironic then, that as I mark 16 years of living in the capital, I finally get to see the UK version of this infamous Broadway musical that also celebrates its 16th birthday in London. And like most awesome things in life, it was worth the wait.

The heartwarming animated tale translates to nearly 3 hours on stage, and it’s told through a colourful spectacle of technical puppetry and energetic showmanship that never lets up. There’s clearly a reverence for the music and traditions of African culture too, and talking drums and dance are as pivotal to the show as the wonderful Simba who we see go from a kid to a king. By the end, I realised I hadn’t stopped smiling since Rafiki opened the proceedings with The Circle of Life. And once I got home, I was all over YouTube, looking for a sing-a-long for that problem-free philosophy Hakuna Matata. I know for a fact that I’ll be buzzing from all of that feel-good energy for the next week, at least.

Disney’s The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, London. Photo by Johan Persson

There’s no doubt I’ll be watching this again. Tickets for the musical are currently on sale until March 2016 for individual bookings and July 2016 for groups – so if that sounds like West End’s best-selling stage production could be seeing its last days, you’ll probably want to tick this off, stat. You’ll hardly regret it.

THE LION KING plays at the Lyceum Theatre (21 Wellington Street) Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm with matinee performances on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm. For more details call the Box Office number: 0844 871 3000 or visit www.thelionking.co.uk.

Many thanks to The Corner Shop for the invite!

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Something you should see… Banksy: The Room in the Elephant

Laura Thornley — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 10:00:11 +0000

The street artist provocateur Banksy is well-known for his controversial murals, sticking one to the man and always remaining cloaked in anonymity. His socialist values never failed to prevail throughout his work and his name has become synonymous with anti-capitalist propaganda. This new play at the Arcola Theatre explores the story of Tachowa Covington, a local Los Angeles legend, who was the surprising victim in a Banksy graffiti stunt.

As is the fashion with Banksy street art, as soon as it is recognised as a product of his fair hand, the vultures descend. We have seen it here in London at the Poundshop in Wood Green and Tottenham. In a similar vein, during a trip to the Oscars, Banksy sprayed the phrase ‘this looks like an elephant’ on the side of a water tank (which perhaps unsurprisingly, looked like an elephant). Unbeknownst to him, the water tank had been home to Covington for years, a space he had nurtured and furnished, hooked up to electricity and even had his post delivered to. What ensued raises a myriad of questions around what is art, ownership and whose life really matters.

Gary Beadle performs this one-man show: a face and name most Eastender’s fans will recognise. The play is by Tom Wainwright, a playwright from Banksy’s hometown of Bristol. The Room in the Elephant was a complete sell-out during its time up in Edinburgh in 2013 and it now visits the Arcola as part of its national tour. A vital piece of theatre. (Words: Laura Thornley)

On until 26th April. For more info, visit: www.arcolatheatre.com/production/arcola/banksy-the-room-in-the-elephant

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Something you should see… Fuerzabruta

The Cultural Exposé — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 10:30:18 +0000

It begins with a bang. All of a sudden, a man is running for his life – through walls and space, in order to escape something. It’s only after a few moments that the audience realises that he is running on a treadmill, hovering above their heads…but it’s quickly descending, as the audience is far below the chaos taking place.

This explosion of energy is just the beginning; for the next hour and a half, Fuerzabruta’s electric blend of modern dance and theatrical performance will have the whole audience gazing up in wonder. It’s an amazing show: and almost seven years ago, Fuerzabruta inaugurated the newly-opened Roundhouse as a performing space. Since then, the show has toured the globe, with a 5-year stop in New York. The show is still luring people into the chaos of dancing limbs, gravity-defying pools of water and the chance to walk on air as one of the talented performers pulls you through his or her “cloud in the sky.”

For 100 nights, visitors will find themselves huddled into the centre of the Roundshouse’s main hall wondering how performers are able to defy gravity with such ease. After a bit of neck strain comes on, the show suddenly turns into a bit of a night club. Loud music pulses through the room as visitors are encouraged to dance and smile. The show’s name means “brute force”, and the performers want visitors to not just see this force through their performances, but to also feel it and share it with others. (Words: Barbara Cole)
Fuerzabruta is playing until the 2nd March 2014 at the Roundhouse. There’s also a special New Year’s Eve show featuring the NYC Downlow DJs. For more info, visit: www.roundhouse.org.uk/fuerzabruta

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Somewhere you should go… Ready, Steady, Colour

The Cultural Exposé — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 10:34:43 +0000

Camden is an area known partially for its bustling market, full of bright lights, loud noises, and happily, the smell of tasty food being made all over. There are street stalls of grilled meats and tasty fried snacks along with rows of restaurants offering tastes from all over the world. One restaurant, though, might catch your eye this season. In Unit 3 at the Camden Lock Market, you’ll find a restaurant that doesn’t serve dinner. Or lunch. Or breakfast. It does offer takeaway, but you’re not likely to settle a rumbling tummy this way.

Pic: Rosalind Butt

This is the home of Ready Steady Colour, a pop-up theatrical event by the artist and theatrical designer, Anna Bruder. Walk inside the restaurant, and you’ll find a decorative scheme of bold, crayon lines and lots of empty white spaces. This isn’t coincidence—the guests are meant to supply the colour! Sitting down to a café table, the staff brings out your meal in a decidedly flatter version than you might be used to at other restaurants. Instead of how you’d like your steak cooked, you can decide what colour you’d like your chicken to be! After you’ve completed (colouring) in your meal, the staff will wrap it all up for you to bring home, maybe more for the wall than the fridge.
Like most friendly restaurants, walk-ins are welcome but bookings are encouraged. The “restaurant” will be open from Wednesday, 18th December through Sunday, 22nd. All mains are £6 per plate and reservations can be made by emailing Anna at annabruder@mac.com.

For more info, visit: www.alineart.co.uk

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Somewhere you should go… MI1020: A Gingerline culinary spy adventure

The Cultural Exposé — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 12:43:19 +0000

Gingerline has come a long way since starting out as another pop-up supperclub with a bit of entertainment on the side. Their ambitious experiences – taking place

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at venues along the East London line – are rapidly becoming the stuff of legends (see pics from last year’s Gingerline Royale here). Now they’re teaming up with Nokia Lumia 1020 and Windows Phone for another daring production that could be their best to date. Taking place on December 11-14th at a secret location, MI1020 will be an experimental evening of good food, entertainment and secret missions and will be free to attend – you just need to register your interest at Gingerline.co.uk/MI1020 and keep across the website (or follow the hashtag #MI1020 on Twitter) to discover when tickets will be released. Regular Gingerline nights usually sell out months in advance, so here’s your chance to experience alternative dining that never fails to amaze. Good luck!

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Something you should do… Winter at Southbank

Lucy Palmer — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 11:00:13 +0000

We all have those Christmas traditions we look forward to every year and one of mine is going with my friends to the Southbank too see the Christmas lights and ice rink and drink mulled wine as we wander by the river to keep out the cold. This year with so much on offer, they’ve set up www.southbanklondon.com/winter to make planning your Southbank visit hassle free and super easy to organise. Upcoming events include the 12 cocktails of Christmas at Oxo tower, Light Princess a new musical by Tori Amos, the Eyeskate ice rink and even Father Christmas at the London Aquarium where he’ll be hanging out with the penguins.

The site includes more than just event listings and will also host an online photo contest launching in January and a special Southbank advent calendar, as well as offers and deals for the areas many restaurants and shops, saving you more money for all the Christmas presents you need to buy.
With so many events on offer at the Southbank it’s the perfect time to visit and get in that Christmassy mood. And with events running into January it’s more than just a Christmas celebration but the perfect chance to beat the winter blues. (Words: Lucy Palmer)

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Something you should see… Soweto Kinch: The Legend of Mike Smith

The Cultural Exposé — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 10:00:11 +0000

Earlier this year, Soweto Kinch‘s prized saxaphone was stolen – and though the felony didn’t quite make Crimewatch, it was enough of a tragedy to see the jazz star’s countless fans show their solidarity by joining him in a massive social media campaign to get the sax back, which he did a month later. To that end, the news of Kinch‘s forthcoming show at The Albany this month is a sigh of relief – we’ll get to see the award-winning musician reunited with his trusty 1963 Selmer Mark Vi to perform a dynamic live version of his album The Legend of Mike Smith.

It tells the story of a young MC facing a world of temptations, and with choreography coming from hip-hop pioneer Jonzi D, it’s little wonder critics are calling it “mindblowing” in its clever take on The Seven Deadly Sins and Dante’s Inferno. It’s only got a short run though (wraps up October 5th), so don’t miss this chance to see this mighty man and his sax in action.

For more info, visit: www.thealbany.org.uk

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What we’ve been up to… Thriller Live at Lyric Theatre

The Cultural Exposé — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 10:50:43 +0000

If Michael Jackson was still alive, he would have recently celebrated his 55th birthday. It’s an age which would’ve easily been acceptable for retirement given his riches, achievements and line of work (although the late James Brown thought otherwise, still pulling out the odd shuffle and shimmy up until his 73rd birthday, bless him). Yet, despite Jackson’s ambitions with the 2009 This Is It tour passing away that same year, many would agree that his best years would always remain in an era where the brilliance of the music preceded the fancy footwork, as iconic as it would later become. It’s a point made in Thriller Live, a fun, feel-good two and a half show that celebrates the King of Pop’s music and legacy, with the help of rotating singers/hosts, dancers, a kid (playing lil’ Michael of course) and a pretty convincing impersonator in singer David Jordan. Though the rest of the leads are a bit hit and miss at times (with the exception of the sensational Miranda Wilford and Britt Quinton), the dancers never skip a beat, pulling off amazing displays to bring to life hits like ABC, Shake Your Body, Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough and Can You Feel It in Act 1.

In Act 2, the crowd are treated to a mix of songs from Bad, Dangerous and HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 – with Smooth Criminal and Billie Jean being the undeniable highlights of the section – but the Thriller performance makes its mark, with zombies running through the audience and that legendary dance executed to perfection. The show doesn’t end here, however, and there’s an extra performance of Bad and Black or White before a sensational reprise of Smooth Criminal and Thriller wrap up what’s not only been an amazing sing and dance-a-long, but the sort of heartfelt tribute that Michael Jackson himself would have been proud of – especially as it’s his music that does all the work. One for the weekend.

For more info, visit: www.thrillerlive.com

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What we’ve been up to… Groove On Down The Road

The Cultural Exposé — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 10:00:20 +0000

Scattered yellow notebook pages cover the floor of the Queen Elizabeth Hall. They are everywhere, and the staff is in no hurry to tidy them up. A closer look reveals they form a path – and this modern yellow brick road winds its way to the auditorium for ZooNation’s latest production Groove on Down the Road.

This take on the classic Wizard of Oz story is set in a classroom where creativity has no place. Dorothy (played by Portia Oti) is a dreamer, turning in poetry instead of equations. The Scarecrow (played by Jaih Betote Dipito Akwa) is teased for his dyslexia. The Tin Man (Michael Ureta) and Lion (Corey Culverwell) are outcasts.

Through a set of upbeat dance numbers set to the likes of Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson, the characters slip into the wondrous world of Oz. This time, though, the story is told only by the brilliant young dancers’ expressions and movements. When Dorothy, shod in her ruby sneakers, sets off to Emerald City High with Toto (the accomplished Michael McNeish), she dances around the audience with such joy and hope, that the audience can’t help but to feel part of her journey.

The set is cleverly designed to draw the audience into the fantastical Oz. A screen flashes drawings, like sketching made during a boring lecture, that help flesh out the production. But the true standout is the dancing and young people that bring it to life. Kate Prince’s choreography keeps the story exciting and energetic, while also showcasing the dancers’ talents. Culverwell’s Lion particularly steals the show with his acrobatic and soulful movements.

The show, running until 1^st September, is entertaining and intelligent, and wonderful for both adults and kids – you’ll leave in awe. (Words: Barbara Cole)

For more info, visit: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/zoo-nations-groove-on-down-th-74861

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