Simon Ward reviews The Whisper Comes Before The Plant at the Hen and Chickens Theatre Nia Braidford’s new play, in which she also plays the role of Faith, is an ambitious and compelling exploration of the reality of living with mental illness and the after-effects of a coercive-controlling […]
Simon Ward reviews I’m A Philosopher Why The #@$% Am I Here? It is a very funny premise for a comedy show. Take a bunch of philosophers, whose stock in trade is to unpick the differences between appearance and reality, and place them in the egregiously unreal world […]
Simon Ward reviews Baby Brain at the Bridewell Theatre I have done a few reviews over the years where the subject matter is so much more important than my opinion of the show that it feels almost irrelevant. This is one such production. Endorsed by the charity Action […]
Simon Ward reviews Londongrad :Tech Takeover at the Courtyard Theatre One has to feel for political satirists writing in the current febrile climate. No sooner has one scandal broken than there is a string of resignations and a whole new crew has stepped in to start all over […]
Simon Ward reviews Pews At Ten at the Hope Theatre The tiny city of St David’s or Tyddewi in Wales, has a population of well under two thousand, but is home to a rather splendid cathedral. And it is here that lifelong friends Dilys (Nia Brooks, who also […]
Simon Ward reviews This Year I Am Going To Die at the Hen and Chickens Theatre As this one man show begins, the audience are attendees at the funeral of Jojo (Jonas Feind). He is prostrate on the floor clutching a sunflower, as though in an open coffin. […]
Simon Ward reviews Philosophy of the World at the Yard Theatre The newly refurbished Yard Theatre re-opens with a show that was a big hit at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe – Philosophy of the World presented by In Bed With My Brother. Confused? You will be. In Bed […]
Simon Ward reviews The Effect at the Old Red Lion Theatre Many people, your reviewer included, will have seen writer Lucy Prebble’s The Effect during one of its runs at the National Theatre. This production vividly demonstrates the thrilling power inherent in witnessing great work in the intimacy […]
Simon Ward reviews -320°F at Sadler’s Wells Theatre This is an all-out assault on the senses which it is all but impossible to sensibly review without some grounding in Japanese theatrical culture and practice. Starting with a mysterious title, ‘Minus Three Twenty Fahrenheit’, this is a vast, sometimes […]
Simon Ward reviews Persona at the King’s Head Theatre Another day, another play set in a posh-dinner-party-gone-wrong, see last month’s ★★★Dinner Party From Hell for details. There must be something in the ether. It is a well-worn technique – the characters all gathered together in close proximity, the […]