6 Week Theatre Challenge: 21 -25

21. What is the most disappointing thing you have seen at the theatre?

Most definitely Michael Grandage's production of King Lear was the most disappointing thing I have seen at the theatre. I suspect that I might have succumbed to the hype before I went to see it which probably didn't help. If I hadn't heard comments like 'the finest King Lear I have ever seen' (Daily Telegraph) this decent production wouldn't have felt like such a let down. Gina McKee, on the other hand, was brilliant as Goneril.

22. Which actor/actress do you wish did more stage work?

I would love to see Gillian Anderson do more stage work, as well as Damian Lewis.

23. Which theatre have you been to most?

The National Theatre due to their huge repertoire and the fact that they can stage numerous productions at the same time. I find there is always something on at the National which I would like to see.

24. Is there a specific theatre you would like to go to more?

I would like to go to more regional theatres more often such as the Liverpool Everyman and Sheffield Crucible.

25. What do you wear when you go to the theatre?

When seeing an opera or ballet I opt for more formal attire (but not too formal), other than that I dress casually.

6 Week Theatre Challenge: 16 -20

16. What is the best use of set you have seen?

The set for Frankenstein was brilliant, imaginative and highly visual.

17. What is your favourite regional theatre?

The Liverpool Everyman is a charming theatre which is currently undergoing a renovation. I really hope that it keeps all its unique qualities and doesn't lose any of its quirkiness.

18. What is the best opera you have seen?

The best opera I have seen is Opera North's staging of Wanger's Die Walkure. You can see my review of it here.

19. What is the most recent thing you have seen at the theatre?

Metamorphosis Titian: 2012 is the most recent thing I have seen. You can view my review here.

20. What is the saddest thing you have seen at the theatre?

I haven't found that many productions highly emotional, however Machina nearly brought a tear to my eye. The end of King Lear always has me feeling glum.

6 Week Theatre Challenge: 1 - 5

Instead of doing a 30 day theatre challenge and subsequently having it completely take over my blog, I thought I would do 5 days all at once every 5 days, thus making it a 6 week challenge. I couldn't find a list for theatre, therefore I have constructed the questions myself...

1. What is the best production you have seen?

Controversially, I will have to go for Katie Mitchell's production of A Woman Killed with Kindness which was staged at the National Theatre last year. Hated by many, this production really hit a chord with me and to this day it has stayed with me. Being in the audience, I found this production refreshingly original, fast paced and highly enjoyable - I had never seen anything quite like it. I confess I do love a production which splits an audience, however this provocative revival would certainly get a full five stars from me.

2. What is the most frustrating production you have seen?

Michael Grandage's production of King Lear and the Donmar had me musing over it for days and days. Did I love it or did I hate it? Something just wasn't quite right and so I not only found it highly frustrating, but I also found myself eventually loathing the production which in all fairness was really quite good. After a whole year of deliberating I found the weak link to be Derek Jacobi who played Lear. For me, Jacobi's performance was just a bit too camp and safe whilst Greg Hicks' performance of Lear at the RSC really hit the spot.

3. Which play have you seen the most?

I don't tend to get the chance to see multiple productions of plays (except Shakespeare) due to there not being the opportunity too frequently. However, I have seen King Lear three times, once at the RSC and twice at the Donmar (the most frustrating production I have seen).

4. What is the most experimental production you have seen?

I haven't seen that many experimental productions so I would have to go with DV8's Can We Talk About This? Albeit not massively experimental and more controversial, this production really did examine some difficult questions through the medium of physical theatre and dance which was highly thought provoking.

5. Who is your favourite playwright?

My favourite playwright would have to be Samuel Beckett. The mix of absurdism, comedy and tragedy is beautifully handled by Beckett, therefore providing us with some of the best plays every written. There is nothing better than seeing a brilliant production of a Beckett play.

                                                       

The year of Shakespeare

Photograph: Keith Pattison

Shakespeare seems to be the name on every body's lips in the world of theatre this year. With the The Globe's hugely impressive GlobeToGlobe taking place right now and the RSC putting on their 'What Country Friends Is This' trilogy, Shakespeare seems to be everywhere up and down the country (just this morning it was announced that the Sheffield Crucible will be putting on a new production of Macbeth directed by Daniel Evans). With huge amounts of plays to choose from, I thought I would compile a list of the Shakespeare must sees of the year:

Ninagawa Company's Cymbeline at the Barbican, 29th May - 2nd June.
Otello at the Royal Opera House, 12th July - 24th July.
Troilus and Cressida at the RSC, 3rd August - 18th August.
Timon of Athens at the National Theatre, 10th July - 9th September (as of yet, more dates are yet to be announced).
King Lear at the Almeida Theatre, 31st August - 3rd November.

What is impressive about the amount of Shakespeare being put on this year is that it allows for the more obscure plays to be performed which might not normally get a look in when up against Macbeth or Hamlet. I think, this year, the most exciting productions will be of the more obscure of Shakespeare's plays such as King John at the RSC has been put into an innovative and original production by Maria Aberg.


p.s. I haven't abandoned this blog, I have just been very busy as of late and therefore my theatre-going duties will resume in a couple of weeks.