Tag Archives: the arts desk

Bugsy Malone, Lyric Hammersmith

Posted on June 29, 2016 by mkmswain

For those in sore need of a theatrical pick-me-up, jazz square your way over to Bugsy Malone. Last year’s smash-hit opener of the redeveloped Lyric has been given a well-deserved encore, with Sean Holmes’s production once again nailing the beguiling … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, Journalism, Theatre | Tagged alan parker, america, bugsy malone, children, dancing, drama, drew mconie, family, gangster, kids, london, lyric hammersmith, musical, prohibition era, review, sean holmes, songs, stage, the arts desk, theartsdesk, theatre | Leave a comment

Opinion: Post-Brexit, we need theatre more than ever

Posted on June 26, 2016 by mkmswain

In seeking to understand the historic, divisive and to some bewildering Brexit vote, I will turn to theatre. Through my regular exposure to it, I can number among my ever-widening acquaintance a young king, a whistleblower, a minimum-wage movie usher, … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged brexit, britain, eu, europe, harry potter, harry potter and the cursed child, play, referendum, royal court, stage, the arts, the arts desk, the man in the womans shoes, theartsdesk, theatre, tricycle theatre | Leave a comment

Macbeth, Shakespeare’s Globe

Posted on June 24, 2016 by mkmswain

It begins promisingly, a dark Gothic fairy tale – both Grimm and grim. The writhing witches (four, oddly) are summoned from a pile of dead bodies, Stefan Fichert’s eerie puppetry all chopped-up limbs and interchanging demonic heads, hands scuttling across … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged drama, globe, iqbal kahn, london, macbeth, ray fearon, review, shakespeare, stage, tara fitzgerald, the arts desk, theartsdesk, theatre | Leave a comment

Henry V, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Posted on June 23, 2016 by mkmswain

As we finally go to the polls, casting votes based on our view of national identity and Britain’s place in the world, here comes Shakespeare’s ever-topical play. Robert Hastie’s thoughtful take is contemporary dress but stripped back, not so much … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged agincourt, battle, cross casting, drama, england, eu referendum, france, henry v, history, king, michelle terry, nation, open air theatre, play, regents park, review, robert hastie, shakespeare, st crispins day, stage, the arts desk, theartsdesk, theatre, vote, war | Leave a comment

Wild, Hampstead Theatre

Posted on June 21, 2016 by mkmswain

Who do you trust? The EU Referendum campaign has exposed a mounting suspicion of the establishment, from financial institutions to press and politicians, and our sense of nationhood has never been murkier. But if we cease to believe in anything, … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged america, drama, edward snowden, government, hampstead theatre, james macdonald, julian assange, leak, Mike Bartlett, miriam buether, play, privacy, referendum, review, russia, security, spy, stage, surveillance, technology, the arts desk, theartsdesk, theatre, trust, whistleblower, wikileaks, wild | Leave a comment

The Quiet House, Park Theatre

Posted on June 11, 2016 by mkmswain

Infertility affects one in six couples, but it’s still something of a taboo subject. Gareth Farr’s new play throws welcome light on the challenges of conception, and is accompanied by a Fertility Fest that brings together artists and medical experts … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged baby, child, drama, fertility, gareth farr, infertile, ivf, london, north london, parent, park theatre, play, review, stage, tessa walker, the arts desk, the quiet house, theartsdesk, theatre | Leave a comment

The Spoils, Trafalgar Studios

Posted on June 3, 2016 by mkmswain

“The most interesting characters are initially difficult to like,” proclaims Jesse Eisenberg’s would-be filmmaker protagonist, in case his cringe comedy’s mission statement was otherwise unclear. Ben is an outlandish collage of unlikeable qualities: abusive, misanthropic, arrogant, vicious, self-loathing, needy, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged alfie allen, america, comedy, drama, game of thrones, jesse eisenberg, katie brayben, Kunal Nayyar, london, new york, play, review, scott elliott, the arts desk, The Big Bang Theory, the spoils, theartsdesk, theatre, trafalgar studios, west end | Leave a comment

Sideways, St James Theatre

Posted on June 1, 2016 by mkmswain

Alexander Payne’s adored 2004 film adaptation of Rex Pickett’s semi-autobiographical novel didn’t just pick up an Academy Award – it led to a plummeting in sales of Merlot and Pinot Noir becoming the drink of choice. What might Pickett’s theatrical … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged alexander payne, california, comedy, drama, drinking, merlot, pinot noir, review, rex pickett, road trip, sideways, st james theatre, stage, the arts desk, theartsdesk, theatre, wine, wine country | Leave a comment

Romeo and Juliet, Garrick Theatre

Posted on May 26, 2016 by mkmswain

Trouble remembering in which country Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers cross paths? Branagh’s panting paean to Fellini will sort you out. Stylish as a monochromatic Vogue spread, and as self-consciously Italian as Bruno Tonioli guzzling lasagne in a gondola, it’s not exactly … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged cinderella, derek jacobi, drama, fellini, fifties, garrick theatre, italy, kenneth branagh, la dolce vita, lily james, meera syal, review, richard madden, rob ashford, romeo and juliet, shakespeare, stage, the arts desk, theartsdesk, theatre, west end | 1 Comment

The Philanderer, Orange Tree Theatre

Posted on May 18, 2016 by mkmswain

Gender deconstruction, fraught feminism and the perils of hook-up culture: George Bernard Shaw’s comedy of manners, penned in 1893, shows we haven’t come as far as we might think. It’s a point rammed home by Paul Miller’s choice of modern … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged a doll's house, divorce, drama, feminism, gender, george bernard shaw, ibsen, love, marriage, orange tree theatre, paul miller, play, review, rupert young, stage, the arts desk, the philanderer, theartsdesk, theatre, victorian | Leave a comment

Tag Archives: the arts desk

Bugsy Malone, Lyric Hammersmith

Opinion: Post-Brexit, we need theatre more than ever

Macbeth, Shakespeare’s Globe

Henry V, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Wild, Hampstead Theatre

The Quiet House, Park Theatre

The Spoils, Trafalgar Studios

Sideways, St James Theatre

Romeo and Juliet, Garrick Theatre

The Philanderer, Orange Tree Theatre

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