seeing theatre in a new light
If you are (or know anyone who is) aged 15-24, you’ll definitely want to know about Go Live Fortnight.
This year, Go Live Fortnight takes place from February 1st until February 14th. By signing up to the scheme (it’s free to join), you can gain access to a special presale for more than 10 shows, as well as exciting workshops, tours and a few more surprises to be revealed…
For more details, and to sign up, visit Mousetrap Theatre Projects’ website here
The worst kept secret in years has finally been announced. In March 2023, Spitlip’s singularly hilarious cultish comedy musical OPERATION MINCEMEAT (based on the true story of an incredible WW2 mission) opens for 8 weeks only at the Fortune Theatre. My instinct is that it will have several extensions before it even opens. (Note, added Nov 20th – I see the run has already been extended by a further eight weeks. Undoubtedly it will be further extended).
The hype has helped its announcement. It will be interesting to see how the show, whose previous homes have been the 80-seat New Diorama and the 200-seat Southwark Playhouse (as well as Riverside Studio) will sit in the 432-seat Fortune Theatre. The theatre is renowned for its intimacy (something often lacking in the formality of West End spaces) but nevertheless this run may experience a new physical removal from the audience which they will have to navigate. This could rein back the show’s connection with audiences it has had in its previous black box outings, but I have a feeling that the all-round strength of this zany new musical will overcome all obstacles and win through, as the original plan of the mission did.
“…has the potential to become one of those rare theatrical cult hits.”
Unrestricted Theatre review, July 2019. You saw it here first, friends!
Tickets are blanket priced at a reasonable £35 across the house for March/April, rising in May onwards, creating a buyer momentum while spreading the word about this unique show which those who attend will undoubtedly want to bring their friends to. I hope that the higher ticket prices won’t put people off trying this inventive and sometimes challenging musical which at times makes BOOK OF MORMON feel tame.
Crucial to the speed and smartness of delivery of the crisp music and super-sharp lyrics, one hopes that the sound challenges – in getting each word to the back and top of a 400-seater – will be overcome by using the best sound team they can afford.
It’s important to praise not only the huge amount of work which has gone into refining this chunk of theatre gold, but we must also acknowledge that the show was originally commissioned by New Diorama Theatre, and co-commissioned by The Lowry, Salford. It was supported by the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. Later, additional support and full commercial exploitation came from Avalon.
You can read my first (2019) review of OPERATION MINCEMEAT here
Find out more and book tickets for the West End run here
“must have a head…must be a man“
Find out what it means at OPERATION MINCEMEAT
Perhaps you, like me, dream of travelling back in time to see a particular show or star, and although some productions were filmed in some manner or other, most have been lost to the mists of time.
Here is just a fleeting chance to roam London’s West End in 1975, where we can stroll and admire the exteriors of some of London’s finest theatres, and see the shows that kept them going then.
You’ll catch glimpses of The Lyric, Globe and Apollo (all on Shaftesbury Avenue), the Adelphi and Vaudeville (on the Strand), and close by, the Strand, Duchess and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Enjoy this four-minute nostalgia trip, courtesy of British Pathe.
The excellent talks given throughout the year by Gresham College’s invited speakers are always worth seeing. Occasionally, theatre and arts-related talks come up, and I am happy to recommend them to you.
Here is a recent talk given by Professor Simon Thurley about the early incarnations of theatre in London in an area we today call Theatreland.
In this, the second lecture in the series Buildings in the West End of London, Professor Thurley looks at the significance and impact of these three great institutions on the development of London.
The talk lasts 51 minutes and is free to view whenever you have time.
Watch the talk by clicking on the image below or open in a new window here
A company called Yoo Capital has bought the Odeon (ex-Saville Theatre in the West End for around £30million, it was recently announced.
Opened in 1931, designed by the noted firm of T P Bennett & Sons, the originally 1400-seater mid-sized venue was in theatrical use until 1970, when it was remodeled as a twin-screen cinema, split horizontally, as which it continues today.
Thankfully Camden Council rejected several recent attempts to get permission to gut the building for a 90+ room hotel adding extra floors to the building. A recent inspection showed that there was much more of the original interior still existing than originally thought, with quite possibly more to be uncovered as the 70s additions are stripped away.
This is the second time that we have heard of Yoo Capital in relation to London theatre; they are also one of the investors behind the new complex at Olympia which will build a large, brand new theatre which Trafalgar Entertainment will lease. Interesting too that Trafalgar have expressed interest in the Saville building before, so this may signal that the renovation of the Saville may well be run by Trafalgar.
The most easily appreciated original elements are on the original facade which has an incredibly detailed bas-relief frieze by sculptor Gilbert Bayes. Measuring 129 feet in length, depicting ‘Drama Through the Ages’ with representations of ‘St. Joan’, ‘Imperial Roman Triumphal Procession’, ‘Harlequinade’ and ‘War Plays’ etc. Sections of this frieze were displayed at the Royal Academy in 1930-1931, prior to their installation on the building. Along the top of the façade are a series of plaques, again sculpted by Gilbert Bayes, which represent ‘Art Through the Ages’.
This lengthy, arresting frieze remains intact and is Grade II listed.
No doubt we will hear more about this interesting development in the months ahead.