I'm back! Things I've seen from August 2012

As the title suggests; I'm back! After a long time away I have decided to start posting again. Due to a large work load, my theatre-going was put on hold and so after august I didn't see a lot of things which meant that I stopped posting reviews. So, to make up for lost time, I though I would quickly compile a list of things I have seen from then till now...


The Last of the Haussmans (National Theatre) - Funny, moving and brilliantly acted with a script that lacked a touch of originality. Helen McCrory was on top form and gave the best performance I believe she has ever given. ****

Timon of Athens (National Theatre) - A Shakespeare I was completely unfamiliar with. Although Hytner's production was fairly safe, the relocating to modern day did help lift the play's themes of money and hypocrisy to the surface. Great central performances and set in the second half. ****

Richard III (Globe) - Mark Rylance gave a highly original and comedic take on one of Shakespeare's greatest villains. An assured production, which rarely disappointed. ****

Twelfth Night (Globe) - A comedic tour de force, this production was one of my highlights of last year's theatre offerings. Paul Chahidi gave the best performance of Maria I have ever seen, and Stephen Fry's Malvolio perfectly blended humour with tragedy. *****

The River (Royal Court) - Haunting, mesmerising, subtle, beautiful. The battle to get tickets was certainly worth it. *****

Julius Caesar (Donmar Warehouse) - In a year of great all-male Shakespearean productions, it was refreshing to see an all-female production of Shakespeare's bloodiest play. The concept wasn't the strongest and lost its way half way through. However, the set, lighting, sound and performances redeemed it and helped produce a production that will most definitely be remembered in year to come. ****

Written On Skin (Royal Opera House) - A stunning production directed by Katie Mitchell of a stunning score and libretto. An opera truly for now. A triumph in every sense. *****

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.