by guest critic Gregory Forrest
German physicist Werner Heisenberg talks of pairs and duality. The one thing against the other. The one in terms of the other. Directed by Marianne Elliott and written by Simon Stephens, this is an evening of girl meet boy, of random encounters, and the unpredictability of (human) nature.
Lucy and Jess have just finished their GCSEs and they are the best of friends. They love the beach, Chardonnay and boys, and they’re going to grow up and conquer the world.
But because real life rarely works like that, these two young people don’t grow up to conquer the world. They stay in their hometown of Scarborough, working jobs they aren’t in love with. Life ticks by. But they both have something much bigger than them casting a shadow over their lives.
Toni and Madeline are happily settled in their North London home, but Madeline is missing something. From a young age, she has looked forward to being a mother. Now 32 and snuggly coupled, she thinks she’s running out of time to conceive. But as lesbians who can’t afford clinic fees, it’s not so easy. As her biological clock ticks, her desperation drives her to commit an appalling act of deception.
by guest critic Liam Rees
Grid Iron and the Traverse Theatre’s new co-production Jury Play is a play of two halves with rather mixed results. Based on Dr Jenny Scott’s research into jury members’ experiences and how to improve them, director Ben Harrison and writer, Dr Jenny Scott, have decided that the best way to bring these issues to life is to cast the audience as the jury in a fictional murder trial.
Erin Markey is a darling of the New York performance art, comedy and cabaret scenes. With an established, devoted fan base, her work has been lauded by publications such as the New York Times and Time Out. But after seeing Boner Killer, it’s unclear how she has garnered so much acclaim.
Sami and his mum are preparing for her to go to Mars for years and years and years. Both obsessed with space, Sami’s proud of her but worried that he might never see her again. To help him come to terms with her imminent departure, mum buys him a book about Laika, the first dog to go to space.
I’ve seen sexist theatre. I’ve seen ableist theatre. But it’s rare to come across a show that is so openly and unashamedly both of these things.
Even more frustrating, these aspects of the story are heightened and played for laughs. There’s no commentary or condemnation, just the worst parts of cult movies rolled into one superhero story reliant on anti-women stereotypes. The performances are excellent and there are some great tunes, but the overtly offensive storyline overwhelms any of the production’s positive aspects.
Chile has suffered regular bombings since 2005. Unlike the current spate of terrorism the UK is experiencing, more than 80 disparate, domestic anarchist groups have claimed responsibility for these actions. Disaffected by the government and inspired by those before them, they continue to plant their homemade explosives around Santiago.
Atir is a young boy living in Egypt, working as a servant to The Pasha. When the ruler wants to send a gift of a baby giraffe to the King of France, he asks Atir to take her. An adventurous journey ensues as the pair make their way from Cairo to Paris in this surprisingly complex narrative for children.
By guest critic Liam Rees
Damned Rebel Bitches is a real joy to watch thanks, in no small part, to Tina Gray’s delightful portrayal of Ella, a no-nonsense, free-spirited, gin-loving octogenarian. It tells Ella’s life story, from surviving the Clydeside Blitz and falling in love, to saving her feckless grandson’s failing marriage in the middle of Hurricane Sandy. By writer and director Sandy Thomson, this transatlantic epic about survival in the face of disaster doesn’t have any time for tired stereotypes. It’s definitely a breath of fresh air.
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