Simon Ward reviews Glamrou: Drag Mother at the Soho Theatre Drag queen Glamrou is the alter ego of Amrou Al-Kadhi, a British-Iraqi writer, filmmaker and performer. This could be called a loosely autobiographical show – you can’t necessarily believe everything they say, but some of the most outrageously […]
Simon Ward reviews Cutting The Tightrope: The Divorce of Politics From Art at the Arcola Theatre The staging of this collection of short works is an explicitly political act, which aims to galvanise audiences into further political action. Under those circumstances, therefore, it seems crass and irrelevant to […]
Simon Ward reviews Sanctuary at the Hope Theatre Christine Rose’s topical and disturbing new play is premiering in a short run at the Hope in Islington. Directed by Broadway stalwart Donna King and starring Laura Shipler Chico as Cassie and Andrea Milton-Furlotti as Amelia, it presents a vision […]
Simon Ward reviews Synchronicity at the White Bear Theatre If you emerge from Arthur I. Miller’s play feeling like you’ve had an intellectual workout, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that Miller is Emeritus Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at University College London, and this […]
Simon Ward reviews Fragments at the Etcetera Theatre In this astonishing piece Nigerian writer and performer Pearl Ada pulls no punches as she tackles the intersecting issues of colonialism and its legacy, racism, and patriarchy. Put like that, it sounds like a grim hour, whereas it is anything […]
Simon Ward reviews Distant Memories Of The Near Future at the Arcola Theatre Written and performed by David Head, Distant Memories of the Near Future comes to the Arcola to makes its London premiere following success at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023. Any idea that this may be a […]
Simon Ward reviews The Elephant In The Room at the Waterloo East Theatre Peter Hamilton’s latest play, now presented in Waterloo East under Ross McGregor’s direction after a run last year at the Tabard Theatre, is a kaleidoscopic magical mystery tour encompassing life, death and all points in […]
Simon Ward reviews Miss Julie at the Courtyard Theatre Under the direction of Jon Fentiman, this is a stripped-down rendition of August Strindberg’s naturalistic play of 1888. Taking place in the madness of Midsummer’s Eve celebrations, it is set in a world of aristocrats and servants, with strict […]
Simon Ward reviews Foreverland at the Southwark Playhouse Emma Hemingford’s stunning new play, Foreverland, is a fascinating deep dive into the possibilities that may open up in the near future as biotechnology evolves and genetic re-engineering offers the chance for some people to ‘live forever’. We follow the […]
Simon Ward reviews Port City Signature at the Hope Theatre Written and co-directed (with Phoebe Rowell John) by Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller, this is a modern riff on a film noir setup – a passing stranger gets embroiled in local skullduggery with tragic consequences. The set (designed by Hannah Williams […]
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