Celebrating its 30th year of existence, Masquerade Theatre Company is a new group for this reviewer, as is the Miskin Theatre venue (not the easiest to access given the circuitous route to its entrance, direction provided by previously experienced audience members). Only the programme and website acknowledgement of their Kent Drama Awards 2019 give a clue that this is an
Read more
The script description of Hell Yes I’m Tough Enough defines it as a “relentless, fast paced, hysterical, crude, offensive, passionate, visceral and oh so British comedy that will leave you wanting to grab a placard and take to the streets!” Unfortunately, while this may have been the intention, actualisation fell some way short of ambition. Apparently informed by sources within
Read more
With a cast of three, Jon Brittain and Matt Tedford’s outrageous cross dressing romp takes aim at the political domination of the 1980s by Margaret Thatcher. Matt Tedford reprises his acclaimed take on Margaret Thatcher, leading the audience through the main premiership events but with a particular focus on the introduction by Jill Knight (and an unmentioned David Wilshire) of
Read more
Just two days after her birthday (it would be less than good manners to mention which one) Crazy Coqs welcomed back the formidably talented and remarkably youthful Lorna Dallas to perform no less than 20 songs to a room at Zedels packed with many clearly devoted followers. Her programme, entitled “Stages” reflected a long career which began in small town
Read more
26 Leake Street Gallery – Thursday 8 February It hardly seems possible that it is 25 years since Nelson Mandela’s autobiography “A Long Walk To Freedom” was first published. The abomination that was apartheid may be no more than a vague concept to younger generations. But while major events and atrocities may have hit the headlines in this country, the
Read more
It comes as a sobering discovery to those of us of a certain age to realise that the first television broadcast of Dad’s Army was over fifty years ago. Frequent repeats of the nine series produced have exposed successive generations to this classic sitcom. It still has the power to amuse to a not insignificant extent owing to character recognition,
Read more
On the face of it, a play about the wartime flight of the majority of Denmark’s Jewish population across to Sweden suggests a balance tipped in favour of worthy theatre as opposed to escapist entertainment. Less than comfortable seats (a complaint shared by neighbouring audience members) did nothing to ease a sense of foreboding. Any misgivings were however completely confounded
Read more
The Other Place – Park Theatre There can be few people whose lives have not been touched by the effects of a friend or family member suffering from dementia and for some that would include the impact of early onset symptoms. With that knowledge, it is also unlikely that many people would choose to put themselves through the potential trauma
Read more
Eastern Star at Tara Theatre With the desperate plight of Rohingya people and resultant tarnishing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s reputation, the situation in Myanmar has been a feature of news broadcasts in recent months. Notwithstanding moves towards democracy and some liberalisation, many people may be vaguely aware that real power still lies in the hands of Myanmese generals.
Read more
Earthquakes in London by Sedos It is unfortunate that for too many people, the epithet “amateur” in relation to theatre remains redolent of inexpert performance in draughty church halls by well-meaning performers of limited talent. The reality is that for many groups nowadays, there is an almost invisible line between so called professional performance (ironically not necessarily of the highest
Read more