Rev Stan's Theatre Blog
London theatre reviews and interviews
Category: Almeida
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The Line of Beauty review transcript: The Line of Beauty at the Almeida Theatre is a play that presents a slice of someone’s life over three years. It’s set in the 80s. It’s about a young gay man who ends up living with the very posh family of his friend from university. And it’s an…
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Video transcript: “A Moon for the Misbegotten at the Almeida Theatre has an absolutely fantastic cast: Michael Shannon, Ruth Wilson, David Threlfall – they are all superb. However, there is a but coming: I’m just not sure about the play. There were times when it was really gripping and I was really there with it.…
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Video transcript: I really enjoyed 1536 at the Almeida Theatre. It’s a play about three women, all at various stages of relationships. One’s unrequited. One is in a relationship they shouldn’t be in, and one is about to get married. And it follows them at a time when Anne Boleyn has just been arrested for…
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I managed to pack in more than 70 theatre visits this year and saw some cracking plays. And some that didn't quite ignite. My favourite plays of 2024 (In no particular order – links through to written or video reviews): Oedipus, Wyndhams Theatre (booking until 2 Jan 2025) Laughing Boy, Jermyn Street Theatre Shifters, Duke…
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Seeing Cat On A Hot Tin roof a couple of weeks after The Little Foxes at the Young Vic Theatre, I couldn't help but draw some parallels. Both are period pieces that feature misogyny and unhappy families manoeuvring and manipulating to get their hands on wealth. In the case of LF, it's about the spoils…
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It's been a bit of a build-up to seeing Alma Mater at the Almeida Theatre. Twice performances we booked were cancelled, and tickets had to be rearranged. So it was a relief to finally sit in the theatre watching it on a third attempt. There has been a cast change; Justine Mitchell has taken over…
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Tanya Reynolds and Samuel Adewunmi in A Mirror at the Trafalgar Theatre – photo by Marc Brenner The wedding between Layla and Joel is back on, having found a new venue at the Trafalgar Theatre. Sam Holcroft's play A Mirror, which won rave reviews when it opened at the Almeida Theatre, has brought its lies…
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It feels like theatre returned with a splash in 2023 after the dark days of Covid. I saw 62 and a half plays (64 and a half, including second viewings) across London's plethora of theatres, from tiny pubs to big West End stages. Here are my favourite 10 plays – in no particular order (links…
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At the interval during Portia Coughlan at the Almeida, I turned to my friend and said, 'it's very Greek tragedy'. At that point, I hadn't seen the Almeida's behind-the-scenes video in which Alison Oliver, who plays Portia, says: "It's very Greek in terms of the extremities she goes through". I'd been careful to avoid any…
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I was intrigued about A Mirror before I even got to my seat. Its description on the website doesn't give much away (and I don't like to read any interviews until afterwards). The Almeida foyer is decked out ready for a wedding celebration. But alongside pink ribbons and pastel balloons, there is a huge Oath…