Throwback Theatre 2023: part 3 of 3

April 5, 2024April 21, 2024 gemmaw700Abigail Thaw, Alice Birch, Alison Oliver, Almeida Theatre, Alun Armstrong, Ambassadors Theatre, Anna Chancellor, Annie Baker, Anthropology, Apollo Theatre, April de Angelis, Audrey Niffenegger, Bertie Carvel, Caroline Quentin, Carrie Cracknell, Christina Kirk, Christopher Luscombe, Dakota Blue Richards, Dave Stewart, David Hunter, Dorfman Theatre, Erica Whyman, Federico Garcia Lorca, Felicity Kendal, Garrick Theatre, George Bernard Shaw, Glenda Jackson, Hamnet, Hampstead Theatre, Harriet Walter, Infamous, Infinite Life, Isobel Waller-Bridge, James Fleet, James Macdonald, Jermyn Street Theatre, Joanne Woodward, John, John Owen-Jones, Jonathan Coy, Joss Stone, Kenneth Branagh, King Lear, La Cage aux Folles, Lauren Gunderson, Lee Curran, Lindsay Posner, Lolita Chakrabarti, Lyttelton Theatre, Maggie O'Farrell, Marina Carr, Marion Bailey, Marylouise Burke, Mathew Horne, Merle Hensel, Michael Frayn, Myanna Buring, Nigel Havers, Noel Coward, Noises Off, Patricia Hodge, Patsy Ferran, Portia Coughlan, Private Lives, Pygmalion, Rebecca Frecknall, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, Richard Bean, Richard Jones, Richard Wilson, Rose Quentin, Sorcha Cusack, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Tamsin Outhwaite, The Antipodes, The Flick, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Old Vic, The Time Traveller's Wife, Theatre Royal Haymarket, To Have and to Hold, Toby Stephens, William Shakespeare, Wyndham's TheatreLeave a comment

Covering September-December 2023

The last chunk of throwback musings for 2023…

September 2023

La Cage aux Folles / Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

To the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre on the hottest day of the year during September’s weird heatwave! Great timing! Fortunately, I was on the shaded side for this matinee performance of La Cage Aux Folles. I really did feel for the cast, having to deliver crazily high energy song and dance numbers while covered in feathers, sequins and full-face make-up in such temperatures. Troupers that they were, they performed to perfection. It was a lively, funny, heart-felt show, with the added bonus of seeing John Owen-Jones in tights.

Continue reading →

Throwback Theatre 2023: part 2 of 3!

March 18, 2024April 12, 2024 gemmaw700Abbey Theatre, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Alistair McDowall, all of it, Andrew Lancel, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Ardal O'Hanlon, As You Like It, Aspects of Love, Ben Thompson, Brian Friel, Bridge Theatre, Colin Richmond, Dancing at Lughnasa, Daniel Mays, Douglas O'Connell, Duke of York's Theatre, Eileen Walsh, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank and Percy, Georgina Onuorah, Geraldine James, Girl on the Altar, Guys & Dolls, Hampstead Downstairs, Harold Pinter, Ian McKellen, Jack Thorne, James Hayes, Jamie Lloyd, Jason Manford, John Clark, John Gielgud, Johnny Flynn, Josie Rourke, Kate O'Flynn, Lily Allen, London Palladium, Lucy Prebble, Lyric Theatre, Lyttelton Theatre, Lyttleton Theatre, Malcolm Sinclair, Marina Carr, Mark Gatiss, Martin McDonagh, Michael Asante, Michael Ball, Olivier Theatre, Omar Elerian, Owain Arthur, Paapa Essiedu, Reece Sheersmith, Richard Burton, Roger Allam, Royal Court, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, RSC, Sam Mendes, Samuel Beckett, Shomit Dutta, Siobhan McSweeney, Stephen Tompkinson, Steve Pemberton, Stumped, Taylor Russell, The Effect, The Motive and the Cue, The Pillowman, The Wizard of Oz, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Theatre Royal Windsor, Tuppence Middleton, William ShakespeareLeave a comment

Covering May-August 2023

More throwback thoughts about productions I saw in 2023…

May 2023

Dancing at Lughnasa / Olivier Theatre

Just the one production in May, but what a treat it was. Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa at the Olivier Theatre, directed by Josie Rourke. This memory play presented the narrator, Michael, looking back on growing up with his mother and aunts in rural 1930s County Donegal, and reflecting from his adult point of view on their frustrations, constraints and disappointments. Far from being a mournful watch, the strength, resilience and humour of the sisters was superbly portrayed by the ensemble cast, with Siobhán McSweeney aka Sister Michael from Derry Girls making a particularly strong impression. And for bonus clerical connection points, Ardal O’Hanlon aka Father Dougal from Father Ted was in it too. Amen.

*Dancing at Lughnasa cast and creatives*

Continue reading →

Throwback Theatre 2023: part 1 of 3!

March 18, 2024April 5, 2024 gemmaw700@sohoplace, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Anoushka Lucas, Arlene Philips, Arthur Darvill, Ben Daniels, Bridge Theatre, Brigid Lamour, Bunny Christie, Cordelia Lynn, Criterion Theatre, Daniel Rigby, Dario Fo, Franca Rame, Frances Barber, Frank Loesser, Georgina Onuorah, Guys & Dolls, Hampstead Downstairs, James Macdonald, Jersey Boys, Luke Suri, Lyric Hammersmith, Mark Gatiss, Medea, Michael Simkins, Oklahoma!, Paule Constable, Reece Shearsmith, Sea Creatures, Sophie Okonedo, Steven Moffat, The Merchant of Venice 1936, The Unfriend, the-merchant-of-venice, theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket, theatre-review, Tom Basden, Tony Gardner, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Trafalgar Theatre, Watford Palace Theatre, William Shakespeare2 Comments

Covering January-April 2023

Brief summaries of the productions I saw in 2023 – an eclectic mix, from farce to tragedy and everything in between…

Some absolute standouts and thankfully nothing I truly regret seeing – I can always find something to enjoy (even if it’s just my interval wine…)

January 2023

Jersey Boys / Trafalgar Theatre

A musical start to the year with Jersey Boys at the Trafalgar Theatre. One of the earlier jukebox musicals (I think), this was a straightforward, chronological gallop through the life of Frankie Valli and his Dreamer chums. Luke Suri showed off tremendous pipes as Frankie (how did he reach those high notes?!) with excellent support from the talented band.

Continue reading →

Sir Antony Sher / Twelfth Night 1987 / King Lear 2016

February 14, 2022February 14, 2022 gemmaw700Bill Alexander, Bruce Alexander, David Bradley, David Troughton, Deborah Findlay, Glenda Jackson, Greg Doran, Harriet Walter, King Lear, Paapa Essiedu, Roger Allam, Sir Antony Sher, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Twelfth NightLeave a comment

I watched the recent BBC4 tribute night to Sir Antony Sher who died in December 2021 and it got me thinking… I only saw him on stage twice but the first of those was in 1987, in one of my most memorable early theatre experiences, so I thought a Throwback Theatre blog might be in order as a way of saying “So long, Sir Antony, and thanks for all the Shakespeare…”

Continue reading →

Hamilton / Hamlet

January 24, 2022January 25, 2022 gemmaw700Adrian Dunbar, Alan Rickman, Andrew Scott, Andy Blankenbuehler, Anna Fleischle, Ava Brennan, Cush Jumbo, Greg Hersov, Hamilton, Hamlet, Jamie Parker, Joseph Marcell, Karl Queensborough, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nina Dunn, Norah Lopez Holden, Roger Allam, Sharon Rose, Simon Anthony Rhoden, Tara Fitzgerald, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Victoria Palace Theatre, Young VicLeave a comment

I ham hamazed (see what I did there?) I got to see mega-musical Hamilto n and Cush Jumbo’s much anticipated Hamlet in 2021. During the Covid-19 pandemic, seeing any theatre has felt like a major achievement. So experiencing two of the most exciting shows around blew my tiny stimulus-starved mind…

Continue reading →

Peggy For You: 2000 and 2022

January 9, 2022January 10, 2022 gemmaw700Alan Plater, Comedy Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, James Cotterill, Maureen Lipman, Peggy For You, Richard Wilson, Tamsin Greig, Trevor FoxLeave a comment

*Peggy for You programmes: 2000 and 2022*

I moved to London in the late ‘90s, seeking adventure and my fortune, Dick Whittington style. Unlike Dick, I did not become Mayor of London (there’s still time), although I did eventually acquire not one but two cats. What has this got to do with Peggy for You, Alan Plater’s play about his indomitable theatrical agent Peggy Ramsay, I hear you cry!?

Continue reading →

Throwback to February 2018

February 11, 2019February 14, 2019 gemmaw700Amelia Donkor, Andrew Dunne, Anneika Rose, Annie Baker, Chiara Stephenson, Chloe Lamford, Christian Slater, David Mamet, Don Warrington, Dorfman Theatre, Glengarry Glen Ross, Great Britain, Hull Truck Theatre, James Graham, James Macdonald, John, June Watson, Kenneth Cranham, Marielouise Burke, Mark Babych, Night of the Iguana, Playhouse Theatre, Post Office Ken, Robert Glenister, Sophie Phillips, Stanley Townsend, Tennessee Williams, The Culture - A Farce in Two Acts, The Flick, Tom MothersdaleLeave a comment

Throwback to my theatre trips in February 2018, including lots of swearing, the cultural highlights of Hull, spooky dolls and a delightful encounter with Post Office Ken… Who’s Post Office Ken, I hear you cry? Read on to find out… Continue reading “Throwback to February 2018” →

Nine Night / Trafalgar Studios

January 30, 2019February 11, 2019 gemmaw700Cecilia Noble, Dorfman Theatre, Jade Hackett, Natasha Gordon, National Theatre, Nine Night, Rajha Shakiry, Roy Alexandar Weise, Trafalgar Studios1 Comment

Natasha Gordon’s superb Nine Night, on at Trafalgar Studios, is the first play by a black British female playwright to be produced in London’s West End. The first. Ever. It’s 2019, in case you forgot. About a fifth into the twenty first century. Theatre bigwigs constantly say that diversifying voices is a priority so it’s depressing to hear this. Especially when David Hare has his eight millionth play on… Continue reading “Nine Night / Trafalgar Studios” →

Uncle Vanya / Hampstead Theatre

January 27, 2019 gemmaw700Alan Cox, Alice Bailey Johnson, Anton Chekhov, Ben Ormerod, Hampstead Theatre, June Watson, Terry Johnson, Tim Shortall, Uncle VanyaLeave a comment

This new version of Uncle Vanya at Hampstead Theatre was much funnier than expected, with director and adaptor Terry Johnson dialling up the humour and bringing a contemporary flavour to the dialogue. I’m pretty sure Anton Chekhov’s original production didn’t have Vanya petulantly snapping “Whatever!” like a stroppy teen… Continue reading “Uncle Vanya / Hampstead Theatre” →

Throwback to January 2018

January 13, 2019January 13, 2019 gemmaw700Alexis Leighton, Almeida Theatre, Anne Washburn, Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston, Cell Mates, Edward Hall, Garrick Theatre, Geoffrey Streatfeild, Hampstead Theatre, Helen Tiernan, Ivo van Hove, Joe Murphy, Joe Robertson, Justin Martin, Lee Hall, Lyttelton Theatre, Mel Brooks, Mimi Jordan Sherin, Miriam Buether, Mrs Shaw Herself, Network, Paddy Chayefsky, Paul Steinberg, Richard Jones, Ross Noble, St Martin's Theatre, Stephen Daldry, Susan Stroman, The Jungle, The Mousetrap, The Twilight Zone, The Young Vic, Tristan Bates Theatre, Young Frankenstein1 Comment

It’s not just Jodie Whittaker who can time travel, you know! Journey with me now to January 2018 for a spin around the seven plays I saw that month… Continue reading “Throwback to January 2018” →

Throwback Theatre

Past and present productions: nearly always nice reviews by a theatre fan

Menu

Throwback Theatre 2023: part 3 of 3

September 2023

La Cage aux Folles / Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Throwback Theatre 2023: part 2 of 3!

May 2023

Dancing at Lughnasa / Olivier Theatre

Throwback Theatre 2023: part 1 of 3!

January 2023

Jersey Boys / Trafalgar Theatre

Sir Antony Sher / Twelfth Night 1987 / King Lear 2016

Hamilton / Hamlet

Peggy For You: 2000 and 2022

Throwback to February 2018

Nine Night / Trafalgar Studios

Uncle Vanya / Hampstead Theatre

Throwback to January 2018