Peter Kirwan
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Much Ado @ Wyndham’s Theatre
June 19, 2011
I want to make clear – I have NOT seen Much Ado about Nothing at Wyndham’s Theatre, starring Catherine Tate and David Tennant. Quite simply, I couldn’t afford it. I was also sceptical about what appeared to be a particularly cynical production aimed at the West End. The two most popular stars of the most …
Rare John Fletcher at the White Bear
June 3, 2011
And another newsworthy story, as the 21st century premiere of John Fletcher’s The Wild Goose Chase comes to the White Bear in June/July. Definitely a must-see.
The Two Noble Kinsmen in Cambridge
Writing about web page http://www.junction.co.uk/artist/3329 I just found out about this (thanks: Mervyn Capel) – a very rare production of The Two Noble Kinsmen happening in Cambridge next week. It’s a student drama group, but even so, I’d be hugely excited to get down to this. Assuming I can’t find the time, though, please do …
The Memorable Masque @ The Shakespeare Institute
May 29, 2011
The annual British Graduate Shakespeare Conference pleasingly put performance at the centre of this year’s plenary events. As well as a taster by the Institute’s performance research group for their upcoming Macbeth, we were treated to a staged reading of George Chapman’s The Memorable Masque of the Middle Temple and Lincoln’s Inn, first performed to …
The Merchant of Venice (RSC) @ The Royal Shakespeare Theatre
May 27, 2011
Writing about web page http://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/merchant/ Rupert Goold’s new production of The Merchant of Venice for the RSC has already caused something of a stir in the press, dividing critics and audiences alike. Despite the presence of a star name in Patrick Stewart in the cast, this was not the traditional Merchant that many may have …
The City Madam (RSC) @ The Swan, Stratford–upon–Avon
May 26, 2011
Writing about web page http://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/city-madam/ It’s so wonderful to have the Swan back in action. Not only is the space itself one of my favourite places to see theatre, but its fundamental artistic remit offers so much scope for invention and discovery. How often does one get to see a full-scale production of a play …
Cardenio (RSC) @ The Swan – Revisited
May 19, 2011
Follow-up to Cardenio (RSC) @ The Swan Theatre, Stratford–upon–Avon from The Bardathon I’m just back from my second viewing of the RSC’s Cardenio, and it’s still great. This time, familiar with the new material and the reshaping of Double Falsehood, I had more leisure to enjoy the sparky relationship established between Oliver Rix’s Cardenio and …
Henry VI Part One @ The Rose Theatre, Bankside
May 16, 2011
The Rose on Bankside has been continuing its ongoing series of productions based on the original repertory of Henslowe’s theatre. This month sees a particularly special event: an in-house production (as opposed to the usual hosting of young companies) of 1 Henry VI, unusually presented in isolation from the rest of the trilogy. Further, the …
All’s Well That Ends Well @ Shakespeare’s Globe
May 15, 2011
Writing about web page http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/on-stage/alls-well-that-ends-well It was a good weekend for obscure Shakespeare in London. In between a version of the first quarto Hamlet and a rare revival of 1 Henry VI, I found time to get to the Globe, bravely leading off its main summer season with its first ever production of the little-loved …
Hamlet (Vital Signs) @ The White Bear Theatre Pub
May 14, 2011
I was surprised to see such a sparse audience for this, Vital Signs Theatre’s new production of Hamlet at the White Bear. While Hamlets are two-a-penny at the moment, it’s rare to get a chance to see a straight version of the first quarto (Q1). While the programme’s claims that it’s the first time the …