Festivals Spoken Word Theatre ThisWeek In London

Three To See 10-16 Sep: Starting This Week, Already Up And Running, Short Stops

By | Published on Friday 6 September 2019

THREE STARTING THIS WEEK

All Of Me | The Yard Theatre | 10-28 Sep
This one opens in London following a triumphant run up at the old edfringe and is the work of someone whose name you will probably recognise – Caroline Horton. Would you like to read a quotation from our reviewer’s 5/5 write up? Yeah, course you do. “Horton draws us in with sly humour, apologising for the state of the show and the difficulty she had making it, before beginning to brutally, surgically open herself up. The question she grasps at, and of course can’t answer, is why do so many of us feel like this? “Maybe we should unfuck the world?” offers Horton. An inarguable point”. See the venue website here for details.

Conspiracy | New Diorama Theatre | 10 Sep-5 Oct (pictured)
“Princess Diana never landed on the moon. Elvis Presley lives in Area 51. JFK did 9/11. Three people sit in a room. The context of their meeting is unclear, but they are examining an infamous photograph and something’s not right. They are conspiracy theorists and they think they’re onto something big; but each discovery leads to the next inconsistency, the next inconvenient untruth, until their whole perception of the world, or each other, of themselves, of the very concept of truth, becomes the object of their mistrust”. Another one that’s hot-footed its way down south following a critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe outing. See this page here for info.

The Permanent Way | The Vaults | 13 Sep-17 Nov
A new, site specific staging of David Hare’s award winning verbatim play, which explores the annoying chaos arising from the very irritating privatisation of Britain’s railways. And yes, you can probably tell from my tone that I have recently had some vexing experiences of the UK’s privatised railway system, during which I was reminded of the brief halcyon period in my youth when I happily made use of scruffy and fallible but mostly usable service, and just made sure to avoid the catering. Anyway, it’s a good piece, focusing on government responsibility and accountability, so head this way to find out more.


THREE ALREADY UP AND RUNNING

Anahera | Finborough Theatre | 3-28 Sep
A show that returns to the Finborough following its inclusion as a staged reading at the venue’s 2018 Vibrant strand, a piece from playwright Emma Kinane that’s won acclaim, awards, and nominations in its native New Zealand. And here’s an idea of what it’s all about: “Eleven-year-old Harry Hunter is missing. While they wait for news, Anahera – a newly qualified Māori social worker – supports Harry’s distraught parents. But as the hours pass and the situation pushes everyone to their limits, Anahera is forced to take a stand”. Head to the venue website here for more information and to book tickets.

Different Sand / Willow | The Bunker Theatre | 8-16 Sep
This tip isn’t just “up and running”, it would also fit into a category called “runs ending soon” so get your skates on. Oh, and this isn’t just one show, it’s actually two shows, but they are both by the same company and on for the same dates so I thought we would kill two birds with one stone and chat about both. Briefly, though, because I am running out of words. ‘Different Sand’ is about Amira and Linda and their Algerian father, and offers a look at what it means to come from two different cultures, while ‘Willow’, a play focused on the faults in the relationship between Gabi and Lottie, explores how “how being certain and being truthful aren’t always the same thing, and what happens when someone you love doesn’t play the part you expect”. You can see them both as a double bill, at a discount. See this page here for ‘Different Sand’ and this page here for ‘Willow’.

Until The Flood | Arcola Theatre | 4-28 Sep (pictured)
“Missouri, 2014. Michael Brown, a black teenager, is shot and killed by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. A tidal wave of unrest sweeps across the nation, powered by a new activist movement called Black Lives Matter. Its ripples are felt all over the world”. Another show for you that’s been having a fabulous impact on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, this excellent drama, written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith, is based on real life interviews conducted in the wake of the shooting, and confronts the powerful forces of history, race and politics. See this page here for details.


THREE SHORT STOPS

Wireless Operator | The Park Theatre | 11-12 Sep (pictured)
First up in the short stops is yet another show – and don’t worry, there will be many more – that’s recently finished an August-time run in the Scottish capital. As you’ll know, given the title of this section, it’s not on for long, but we know its a goodie, so do make time if you can. Here’s what our reviewer said: “This tense, claustrophobic presentation of a flight team’s final bombing run, set during the Second World War, captures the harrowing experience wonderfully. A powerfully poignant tribute to those who lost their lives, and those who survived, albeit scarred”. Book here.

The Border | Aldersbrook Community Centre | 13 Sep
“Life is turned upside down in one small town as East Oolia shuts the border with West Oolia, dividing here from there, us from them, this from that despite all the fruit tasting the same. In the midst of it all Julia’s beloved dog Stranger has gone missing”. This fab sounding new play from the brilliant Afsaneh Gray is described as an “outrageous Brechtian parable highlighting the absurdity of borders” and is on as part of Wanstead Fringe, which is on until 15 Sep, but it’s also on at Theatre Peckham from 1-3 Oct. For more information about the show, see this page here, and for a list of events happening as part of Wanstead Fringe see this page here.

The Fear | King’s Place | 15 Sep
That there London Podcast Festival is still ongoing over at King’s Place, and, looking idly through the listings earlier this week, I saw an event there that caught my eye: “Comedy writer Sarah Morgan talks to comedians about what scares them, and attempts to triangulate the sweet spot where comedy and horror meet. Guests bring on a thing from their childhood that scared them, a movie or TV scene that gives them the shivers, and an irrational fear that they can’t shift”. Sounds interesting, yes? And the guest on this occasion is the excellent Helen Zaltzman. See this page here for this show, this page here for all the other podcasty stuff.



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