Polly Findlay

THEATRE REVIEW: Alma Mater starring Lia Williams & Phoebe Campbell at the Almeida

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Saturday 15 June, running through 20 July 2024 RUNTIME: 145 minutes including a 20-minute interval) Update: Justine Mitchell replaces Williams. Shows were postponed from Tuesday 18 July and resume Monday 24 July 2024

A sexual assault takes place on an elite university campus and an activist student reports it to the first ever female master of the college hoping for action.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is 1 of the most thoughtful new plays we have seen so far this year
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Number starring Roger Allam & Colin Morgan at the Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Bridge Theatre RUNTIME: 60 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 14/2, press night 19/2 runs to 14/3/20

Colin Morgan plays three very different characters in this Caryl Churchill revival, two of whom are clones of the other.

  • Read on for reasons including how this compares with Far Away the Donmar’s Churchill revival

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THEATRE REVIEW: Macbeth starring Christopher Eccleston and Niamh Cusack at the Barbican

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Barbican RUN TIME: 2 hours and 33 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: 27/10, runs to 17/11/18

The most striking thing about this modern-day re-imagining of 1 of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays is how the 3 witches become 3 identically-dressed schoolgirls.

  • Read on for reasons including how Doctor Who fans should relish Eccleston’s performance

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie starring Lia Williams at the Donmar Warehouse

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE: Donmar

WHEN: 8/6, press night 12/6, runs to 28/7/18

RUN TIME: 2 hours and 35 minutes (with 15 minute interval)

Star Lia Williams’ last two plays (Oresteia and Mary Stuart) transferred into the West End from their runs at the Almeida and it would not surprise us in the least if that feat was repeated here.

  • Read on for reasons including why Williams’ performance is the best by any actress this year

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Alchemist starring Siobhan McSweeney

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHERE: Barbican

WHEN: 16/9, runs to 1/10

When prostitute Dol Common (the excellent Siobhan McSweeney) is winched so she is left hanging from the ceiling (picture above) it doesn’t feel out of place in this re-imagining of a comedy by one of Shakespeare’s contemporaries.

  • Read on for a hint of the surprise ending that we’ve seen the RSC pull off once before

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