Theatre & Performance

To have one stellar Samuel Beckett revival is always a treat, but to have two at the same time is cause for celebration. The Young Vic plays host to Beckett's iconic Happy Days, in which Juliet Stevenson is buried up to her waist in some sandy form of hell, whilst the Royal Court (followed by a brief stint at the Duchess) stages a trilogy of Beckett's one-women shorts. Beckett's writing for women has always been extraordinary, and these two productions do more than justice to his bringing poetry to ordinary people, and surreality to mundanity. Winnie, the protagonist of Happy Days, has been called the female Lear, and though the role must be as great a challenge to Juliet Stevenson as Shakespeare's King is currently to Simon Russell Beale, what makes Stevenson's performance particularly...

Across London there are many schemes available to students and young performers providing opportunities to experience theatre in a variety of ways. ‘Masterclass' is run by the Theatre Royal Haymarket and brings in many celebrated performers in the theatre industry to host inspiring talks and performance workshops. The scheme is free to anyone between the ages of 17-30 and those not qualifying for free admission can pay a small sum of £10 per class or £55 for the year. A few of the many past masters include: Jeremy Irons, Joanna Lumley, James McAvoy, Ewan McGregor, and Rufus Noris. ‘Theatrecraft' was set up by Masterclass to give people aged 16-25 a chance to gain experience in the non-performance side of theatre. There are workshops on offer to try every role available in the industry: ...

“There is no real me: only an entity, something illusory. Though I can hide my cold gaze, and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable… I simply am not there.” If I'm honest, the main draw for me to go and see American Psycho: The Musical at the Almeida Theatre, was that Matt Smith was starring as Patrick Bateman, and also to spite my mother as she was unable to get any tickets. I've never read the book. I hadn't seen the film adaptation. I had no clue what to expect, except to try and get Matt Smith to smile at me in the audience. It was amazing. Everything was perfect to a tee. Every actor really took over their role, every dance move was eye catching and the use of original and 80's music was brought togethe...

Over the years the Quad production has seen a lot of Shakespeare and Renaissance plays, but these are not the only classics. It is our hope that this year, with The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, we will re-vitalise the Quad and bring summer to Royal Holloway. After a busy year and a term full of exams what Royal Holloway needs is a bit of fun, and it is for this reason that I chose to bid The Importance of Being Earnest. With muffin fights, cucumber sandwiches and, in the production, a man in drag, we hope to bring back the witty silliness for which British comedy is so renowned. When people asked me what I wanted to do with the play, my answer was to have fun. Indeed my answer for all questions such as ‘What is your director's concept?' was simply the word ‘fun'; I was ...

Charlotte Cole talks to writer and director, Josh King and Jemima Standen-Jewell, of A Writer's Lot, an original play written and performed by Royal Holloway Students. What can you tell me about your lives here as students?JK – I'm a third year English and Creative Writing student. I've done a few things on campus, like Midnight at the Boilerhouse and the Writing Society. It's all built itself up to this from first year, so it is a massive thing for me to be able to do this.JS – I'm a second year Drama student and I've done quite a few shows on campus helping out backstage, but this is my first time to actually direct a show. What can you tell me about A Writer's Lot?JK – It's about William, a playwright, who through his fixation with writing plays about death, has to eventually choose ...