Theatre & Performance – Page 10 of 12

26Oct

By Louise JonesNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Interview with Director of MTS

I caught up with MTS director Kathryn Pickering and spoke with her about the Into the Woods Performance and its production, and why being involved in MTS is such an excitement. Why did you decide to get involved in MTS? – is it because of the course you did or because it is just something you love to do? It is something I love to do (although I do study drama and music). When I started I had to make a decision about whether to continue in drama society or MTS, I chose MTS as I had been cast in their performance of A Little Shop of Horrors, however I wonder how different my university life would have been if I had continued with another society. Was there someone who inspired you to get into theatre? Sounds silly but not particularly. I always wanted to do it (performing), I...

The Student Workshop Presents: ‘Di and Viv and Rose’.

21Oct

By George SomersNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

The Student Workshop Presents: ‘Di and Viv and Rose’.

‘A big and warm-hearted piece about female friendship’. This is how The Evening Standard describes Amelia Bullmore’s laugh out loud West End comedy 'Di and Viv and Rose', which completely captivated the London theatre scene earlier this year over a sadly limited five-month stint. Now, Holloway are trying their hand at bringing the easefully witty piece to life, with Lizzy Fretwell taking the directorial helm as part of The Student Workshop’s first term season. From Wednesday 28th to Friday 30th October, the script critics praised as ‘unforcedly funny’ (The Times) is being rejuvenated by RHUL’s dramatic talent, taking over Rehearsal Studio 1 in the Caryl Churchill Theatre for three nights only. First meeting in their university halls, gutsy Di, corset-loathing feminist Viv and eccentric ...

7Jun

By Lis CarltonNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV, Theatre & Performance, Visual Arts

A Cultural Summer in the City

Having a cultured summer shouldn't entail breaking the bank. This summer has ample opportunities to get cultured for little to no money, all while still having fun! If you are looking for the perfect outdoor cinema experience this summer, Film4’s Summer Screen returns from the 6th to the 19th of August with an array of cult, classic and contemporary screenings, with new films selected to premiere throughout the event. Situated in the courtyard of Somerset House, London’s largest outdoor screen will begin the fortnight with the opening night premiere of ‘Gemma Bovery’ starring Gemma Arterton and close with the premiere of the Sundance Film Festival’s critical darling ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’. From new releases to classic favourites including ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, ‘The Gradu...

All My Sons at the Richmond Theatre – Review

6May

By Laura DenhamNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

All My Sons at the Richmond Theatre – Review

On Saturday 4th April, a friend and I went to see Arthur Miller’s All My Sons at the Richmond Theatre. It is currently on tour (until 25th April), and is a Talawa Theatre Company production – the Talawa Theatre Company is a UK-based black company, Talawa meaning ‘small but mighty’ in Jamaican patois. All My Sons was Arthur Miller’s first success, and follows a family, the Kellers, almost torn apart from the Second World War. One of their two sons was reported missing three years ago, and the patriarch of the family, Joe Keller, was exonerated after having been jailed for providing the military with faulty airplane parts, which caused the deaths of twenty-one pilots. However the blame was placed firmly on Joe’s partner, and the family is as rich and successful as ever, despite the fact that...

6May

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

The Vote

The Vote is a groundbreaking new play by James Graham which covers the final ninety minutes before the polls close in this year’s general election. Dame Judi Dench, Mark Gatiss and Catherine Tate are among the ensemble cast of fifty actors who have been brought together to star in the production which is set in a fictional polling station with the action taking place in real time. Being staged at the intimate Donmar Warehouse in London from the 24th April to the 7th May, The Vote marks a monumental national event, as the play will be broadcast live on television on the 7th to coincide with the closing of the polls. James Graham’s previous political drama This House premiered at the National Theatre in 2012 and went on to be screened nationwide in cinemas through the NT Live scheme. As a y...

6May

By Chloe WrightNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

A ‘Posh’ Performance by RHUL Drama Soc

Royal Holloway Drama Society will be putting on the play 'Posh' by Laura Wade which is highly relevant in light of the upcoming general election in May. 'Posh' is based upon the infamous Bullingdon club - an exclusive but unofficial all male students' club at Oxford University noted for its wealthy members and riotous rituals such as trashing restaurants and university dorm rooms. The prestigious club has had famous members such as David Cameron, Boris Johnson and George Osbourne (Prime Minister, Mayor of London and the Chancellor of the Exchequer). The 2014 film version of 'The Riot Club' is an adaptation of the play which you may have encountered. So, if you have read the play or seen the film then you know the basic plot; a group of ten wealthy youths from Oxford University go to ...

28Jan

By Emma BradleyNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music, Theatre & Performance

Understanding Opera; Misconception & Snobbery

In its prime, opera was considered in much the same way as we now think of cinema. So what keeps so many young people away from opera today? Two obvious reasons are the initial uncertainty of watching entertainment in a foreign language, and perception of opera being exclusively geared to a wealthy elite. However, there are more subtle prejudgements surrounding the genre, such as how popular music today is linked to a more free and casual vocal style as opposed to the vocal precision and intensity of opera. With this in mind, how do we go about dealing with the issue of inaccessibility in opera? Is it more important to have an audience who can access and experience more of the work, or respect the composer’s original opera? Taking libretto (the operatic text) as an example; the composer...

28Jan

By Abi TurnerNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Swan Lake

Swan Lake- Theatre Royal Windsor Elegance, precision, tenderness, ecstasy, beauty, terror… Just a few words that come to mind when someone mentions Swan Lake, but how close to tradition can one stay before the conventional is challenged? Sawn Lake tells the story of Prince Siegfried’s love for the Swann Queen Odette; they battle against the evil sorcerer, Rothbart, and face a fearful encounter with the manipulative Odile. A tragic tale of true love that binds two people together in the face of evil requires perfectionism and emotional engagement, which is ballet in a nutshell. The acclaimed Vienna Festival Ballet Company brought the traditional ballet to Windsor in November however, the anticipated charm of this Christmas classic was altered. The dancers unarguably were incredibly t...

28Jan

By Emma JefferyNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV, Theatre & Performance

Funny Girls

In recent years there has been a visible surge in the popularity of female comedians, seemingly in correlation with a rise in the awareness of feminism. Their presence on prime-time comedy shows is increasingly noticeable, and rightly so; there is some serious talent which needs to be televised. Dated attitudes such as "she's funny… for a woman" are thankfully fading, as is the distinction between male and female comics. More and more, comedians are appreciated for their wit and creativity, regardless of gender. Despite the excellent progression of women in the comedy business, they are still greatly outnumbered in their field. Upon reflection, I have assembled a list of those who I consider to most greatly embody female success in the industry. So without further ado; here are three of m...

28Jan

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Cheap Theatre- a How-to!

Theatre in London is becoming more accessible for students on a budget and cheap tickets can even be purchased on the day of performances. The TKTS booth in Leicester Square sells tickets for many popular West End shows on the day with special deals and half price discounts. Another option is to go to the theatre’s box office when it opens to queue for day seats which are reserved tickets at a considerable discount, often selling at £10 to £20 a ticket. If you want to book tickets in advance before trekking to London, rehearsals and previews of West End shows before their main run are more likely to sell tickets at a discounted rate or even for free! £15 Mondays at Trafalgar Transformed proved such a success for Jamie Lloyd’s productions in 2013 that the scheme has been reintroduced for h...