Pip lives a chaotic life and is sometimes caught up when disastrous things keep happening beyond her control. Just as Pip thinks it’s under control something else takes over. Along with Jean, the Scottish lady inside her head Character Flaw lays bare Pip’s experience of living with ADHD.

There’s plenty of humour as Pip describes various events that take place. Especially the orange tiger situation at a festival. The friends she was with certainly knew what it was like to be “tangoed”, for readers old enough to know what I am talking about. This led to Pip becoming a social outcast.

You cannot help but warm to Pip and feel every frustration she describes. If you got home to find your house flooded I doubt you would be pleased. From the flip side, it wasn’t a malicious or careless act. Pip tries hard to focus and remember to turn off the bath taps, no matter what she does something else takes over. However, I am not going to ask Pip to house-sit anytime soon.

Pip explores in detail her coming out journey, the real side effects experience of taking the prescribed medication and how it affected her behaviour although she became more “conformative” it isn’t who she is and I think we can all learn to be more understanding with the right knowledge from those navigating life with it.

Coming from a place where my daughter is suspected of having ADHD and being diagnosed as an adult. Some of the events Pip describes are very close to home. Especially the frustrations of having a short attention span. We need more honest performances like these to allow audiences the know of the internal dialogue and the difficulties ADHA can create.

Pip is a brilliant ambassador and there’s a place for Character Flaw as an educational resource. Schools and College students would certainly benefit from watching it to help either understand themselves or those they know with ADHD.

For more information on Character Flaw and future productions at The Actors Pub, please use the link below.

Five Stars

https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/character-flaw/

Does anyone else feel like that life is waiting to start? I Bought a Flip Phone looks at the detrimental effect mobile phones have had on our everyday lives. Charlie (Panos Kandumas) decides if he removes himself from the screen addiction and buys a flip phone his life might be shaped into the life he imagined.

Charlie openly discusses life, love, friendship and his despair of feeling lonely and abandoned by his friends. Charlie isn’t alone with these feelings it’s just rarely discussed openly. People go back to hiding behind a screen and observing instead of living.

From the Instagram posts your friends post that show a life of frivolity and fun. People living their best lives without any issues or hang-ups! While your cruising along in a job you don’t particularly like and feeling lonely,  when will you get the same break in life? There’s a good chance their reality is very different though.

There are good points and bad points about the level of technology in our lives today. The hours of screentime “wasted” out of boredom, waiting for a text that’s more than likely never going to be sent or hoping that a life-changing notification might arrive. Instead, Charlie wants to only receive phone calls or texts to remove the lure of social media and try to meet actual people in the real world. In all honesty who can blame him?

The one thing taken away from the performance is looking at your phone habits and whether you can reduce them substantially to start living the life you have wanted to live, no matter what that is, as I can be sure it wasn’t watching a screen just in case the next notification will deliver that for you!

For more information about I Bought a Flip Phone and future productions at the Actors Pub please use the link below.

Three Stars

https://www.rotundatheatre.com/brightonfringe/iboughtaflipphone

https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/i-bought-a-flip-phone/

https://www.actors.pub/brighton-fringe

MACREADY!Dickens’ Theatrical Friend written, staged, designed, and performed by Mark Stratford is a fascinating play about the life and loves of William Charles Macready, born in 1793-1873. With a father who ran a theatre and spent time in debtor prison, he was advised by his father to study at the Bar and stay away from the Stage. However, he followed his “calling” rather than his father’s demands although he openly spoke about how much he disliked the theatre.

Due to the financial problems left behind by his father when he went to prison and a sense of personal responsibility, he left the Bar and education to temporarily take to the stage. In 1810 Macready made his debut performance in his father’s company, in the lead role as Romeo. The audience loved him and he continued with acting.

The story offers an honest approach to Macready’s life. Stratford switches between himself the author and Macready the actor. Curt comments to Stratford at times put Macready in control of the dialogue and reflect the deep respect Stratford has for the late actor, offering a knowledgeable and factual recollection of Macready’s life.

Macready formed a close friendship over the years with author Charles Dickens. Stratford shares an insight into how, where and why their friendship developed and how important it was to both of them.

Stratford has written a fascinating story that is a tribute to the man, Macready whose love of the theatre and insistence on rehearsals, correct dictation, and an incredible insight into how a theatre should be run correctly probably has a huge influence on the guidelines and regulations followed in Theatres nowadays. After all, everyone wants perfection when opening night arrives.

I knew absolutely nothing about Macready when I entered the performance and within 80 minutes I left informed and eager to find out more. Fringe Theatre doesn’t get much better than this.

For more information on this performance,  Macready’s life and future work by Stratford’s theatre company Stratford Productions please use the links below.

Five Stars.

https://www.stratfordproductions.co.uk/

https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/macready-dickens-theatrical-friend/

https://www.rotundatheatre.com/brightonfringe/macreadydickenstheatricalfriend

https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-17741

Welcome To The Macready Theatre

Four skilled and charismatic Acrobats take to the stage to entertain and wow audiences in GODZ. The four Greek Gods dress to impress their target audience, which from the reactions they received from the auditorium they succeeded.

Zeus, their Father is displeased with how the four have currently been behaving. They are Apollo, the god of the Sun; Dionysus, the god of Wine; Cupid, the god of Love; and Hercules who is a mere demigod.  Their human form takes the shape of four Australian acrobats from the award-winning Melbourne-based Head First Acrobats, who created the show.

Hercules disgraces his father and is banished to the underworld. The storyline is loose and never takes itself too seriously. The acrobats are there to entertain and perform their skills along with audience interaction and encouragement to cheer them on, not that they needed to for some of the audience.

Cupid performs an acrobatic trick with a stack of chairs, which at one point I did question how he would get down. Then from the side, others arrive to “help” him. It’s not a straightforward descent to the stage though. Cleverly choreographed and I am in awe of the skills used to perform safely.

It’s an adults-only show for a very good reason and they ask you not to film them at all and photograph certain scenes, which they state beforehand that are obvious and trust me they are. Apart from that they are happy for you to photograph and hopefully share on your social media platforms.

If you get the opportunity to watch GODZ I highly recommend the show. They also perform a children’s show as well which I have not seen. Although their strong rapport and onstage charisma suggest to me that it will also be a very entertaining children’s show.

For more information on GODZ and other shows performing at St Peter’s Venue at the Brighton Fringe please check out the link below.

Five Stars.

https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/godz/

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https://www.instagram.com/headfirstacrobats/

A Year and a Day is performed by writer Christopher Sainton-Clark. Spanning just over two months during Nathan’s life yet sixty-five years of his girlfriend’s, friends and family’s life the story begins in County Meath in Ireland and brings us across to Norfolk.

Sainton-Clark draws the audience in from the beginning as he shakes nervously awaiting for the trigger to be pulled. However, this is not the end of the story simply the part of it which grabs your attention and hooks you into the journey of Nathan’s experiences.

Nathan is a small-time criminal trying to get by in life, his Father is bedridden reasons for which are uncovered as the story unfolds and his Mother works hard yet struggles to get by which creates debts they cannot afford. Adding pressure and worry to the household. Life is tough for all of them and getting by is a struggle.

Nathan spends much of his free time on the heath with his friend Sam and his girlfriend Elsie. Between them, they hatch a plan to make some serious money by deceptive means, but things do not go as they should meaning relationships and lives change forever with devastating outcomes.

The storytelling by Sainton-Clark keeps the audience captivated throughout and you become strongly invested in the storyline. Nathan suffers a life-changing event which means he loses a year each time he falls asleep and has to catch up on the year that just passed each time he wakes back up. However, although to him only a day has passed those around him are ageing rapidly and life changes fast.

A Year and a Day offers a thought-provoking storyline of love and an unexplained phenomenon that changes everyone’s destiny in an instant.

For more information on A Year and a Day and other productions showing at the Rotunda venues in the gardens of Regency Square,  please click on the link below.

Four Stars

https://www.rotundatheatre.com/brighton-fringe

With the current political climate in the state, it is in and how we have seen it over the last few years, political satire writers are left with a wealth of material. Michael McManus’s new political satire Party Games encompasses the political storylines surrounding the early days of Boris Johnson taking the leadership helm.

Matthew Cottle leads the cast in the role of John Waggner the newly elected, but not elected new Prime Minister, he needs twelve more seats to gain the majority, exactly the amount the SNP now hold. What could possibly go wrong?

Waggner loosely leads. It’s the political machine around him who is the one doing all the work. When he employs Seth (Ryan Early) our resident Dominic Cummings character the rot sets in and the in-house mind games start to take over. Waggner openly admits to not reading his briefings properly if at all, although he can fully rely on Seth to help him out!

Waggner’s wife Anne (Natalie Dunne) portrays in many ways Johnson’s wife Carrie. She reads these documents and points out the danger of letting Seth make decisions. Dunne looks fantastic in her power-dressing outfits predominantly green and white created by Francis O’Connor. They set her up as the power force behind the leader which is superb casting.

The production is performed on a backdrop of a Union Jack flag in black and white. Triangle sections move to create scene settings predominantly the offices behind the famous black front door of Number Ten Downing Street. It is an intricate and effective design by set designer O’Conner it is one of the best stage designs that I have seen for a while which utilises the whole stage area.

I think in some ways this play is too “raw” for audiences at the moment who have lived through the debacle and after-effects of this portrayal of the leadership. In thirty years perhaps it could take a spot as a historical comedy farce that will entertain audiences that haven’t been closely affected and see it from a different perspective.

Three Stars.

Photo credit Craig Fuller

For more information and to book tickets for Party Games and future productions at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford please use the link below. Party Games will then be going on tour, check out the British Theatre Guide link for details.

https://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/welcome

https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/listings/4320

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is the heartfelt musical about year eleven Jamie New (Ivano Turco) whose ambition is to become a Drag Artist, much against his career teacher Miss Hedge’s (Sam Bailey) advice which is that he should be a forklift driver! Not an advisable career choice in heels that’s for sure.

Bought up by single Mum, Margaret New (Rebecca McKinnis) who tries to do everything she can to protect Jamie from the uglier side of life, especially his Dad’s feelings towards Jamie. He is brutally disowned by his Dad (Akshay St Clair) who is extremely embarrassed by his son being gay and doesn’t want anything to do with him.

The year eleven classes are ready to take their exams and are enduring career lessons. Apart from his best friend Pritti Pasha (Talia Palamathanan) who wants to go to Cambridge to become a Doctor the rest of the class is undecided and doesn’t have any clear decisions on their future careers.

Turco’s performance as Jamie is packed with sass and confidence. Walking in those very high bright red shoes isn’t an easy feat, I have never been able to walk let alone dance in heels. However,  Turco makes it look easy.

There’s an energy and strong rapport from all of the cast members on stage. When McKinnis delivered her solo number talking about her relationship with Jamie a few tears were being shed around me in the auditorium. Take a pack of tissues with you, just in case.

Resident director Georgina Hagen along with head of sound Guy Watson have brought the hit West End musical out on tour to allow regional audiences the pleasure of experiencing this uplifting production. Watching the “buzz” between people as the audience left the theatre endorsed this.

I am sure there are thousands of “Jamie’s” all over the world who can and will relate to this storyline. All it takes is understanding and care to help those who need our support feel that they are accepted to be whoever they choose to be without judgment or ridicule.

If you haven’t seen Everybody’s Talking About Jamie go and catch it while it’s on tour and you will discover what they are talking about and have a great night at the theatre too.

For more information on Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and future productions at King’s Theatre Portsmouth please click on the link below.

Four Stars

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Mark Weinman dons his red cape again and takes the audience on an emotional journey at Southwark Playhouse in his role of Mark, aka Captain Amazing father to Emily, an inquisitive child who keeps him on his toes.

Weinman was Mark (Captain Amazing) in Newcastle and Edinburgh Fringe over ten years ago. Weinman works incredibly hard throughout the sixty five minute performance as he plays a multitude of characters besides Captain Amazing. The battle of words between Mark’s daughter Emily and Mark is scarily believable and I dare say most parents watching will see part of themselves in the dialogue. Especially when she is constantly asking ‘why’ to the point of irritation.

Weinman switches effectively between roles in a heartbeat, for example when he is dealing with Evil Man to an awkward B and Q customer! A couple of times the change takes place instantly making the audience jump with sudden bangs, which certainly keep you engaged with the storyline.

Everyone has their own narrative, behind every meeting there’s a superhero waiting to reveal themselves but rarely ever do. A superhero act can be saving the  day for someone in distress to simply making a cup of tea for someone whose straggling. Every act of kindness or a thoughtful act can “save” someone else’s day.

Director Clive Judd and Matthew Schmolle Productions bring Captain Amazing back to the stage to share his heartfelt and emotional journey with audiences once again.

The stark white patchwork set was designed by Georgia de Grey, where throughout the play the walls gradually have words and phrases added to them randomly in the form of scrawled projected writing in coloured graffiti style. An eye catching and effective design.

I do suggest taking some tissues just in case you are moved to tears, like some of the audience around me were. It is plays and performances like Captain Amazing which make me fall in love with Fringe Theatre over and over again.

For more information and booking tickets for Captain Amazing and future productions at Southwark Playhouse please use the link below.

Five Stars

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Image Ali Wright

Rehearsals are well underway at the Penton Operatic Society,  although they are severely behind schedule and falling further behind after each rehearsal. In A Chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn things go from bad to worse quite slowly as Director David Ap Llewellyn (Robert Bowman) tries to steer the production of A Beggar’s Opera forward oblivious to what’s going on around him.

The Operatic cast is an odd mixture of people who in their everyday lives more than likely wouldn’t mix. Then comes along widower  Guy Jones (Damian Humbley) who unintentionally stirs things up and causes quite a few issues between two of the married cast members. Hannah Llewellyn (Rebecca Cooper) is married to the director and Fay Hubbard (Sasha Fox) is married to businessman Ian Hubbard (Richard Hurst).

There’s a hidden agenda that comes to the surface as the storyline develops. Both David and Ian are looking to purchase a piece of land. Guy is assumed to have inside knowledge about the secret land sale by his multinational employer BLM, and is treated as a confidant by the various competing parties for the land. Guy’s naivete turns out to be his undoing.  He ends up playing Macheath the lead role, yet he is also socially ostracised by the entire cast.

Director Gareth Machin excellent casting choices for this touring production. Each of the characters offers the audience a believable narrative of their lives outside the Opera. Some of whom are likeable and others you would probably avoid at all costs.

Teri Buxton, costume supervisor created a selection of matching clothing options for married couple Enid Washbrook (Heather Williams) and Ted Westbrook (Lloyd Notice) to match their “twee and lovie dovie” personalities. I especially liked the patchwork duffle coats they wear. We all know that one couple who likes to wear matching clothes!

A Chorus of Disapproval offers plenty of humour throughout the performance, and I lost count of the times it caught me off guard, and I couldn’t stop laughing. Watch out for the director, David, as he works all over the theatre, making sure the production runs smoothly. Well, it gets to opening night at least!

For more information about A Chorus of Disapproval and future productions at The Salisbury Playhouse please use the link below.

Four Stars

Photo credit The Other Richard.

https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/

With the new CEO, Diana Jones (Kia Pope) now leading the Marketing company changes and job losses are inevitable as they want to make their mark on the company. Marketing managers Timothy Davies (John Goodrum) and Brian Stevens (David Martin) work together one last time to see which one of them will keep their job.

As It Comes! is a brand-new comedy farce set over three scenes, taking place over two working days in the office. Potentially it could be insight into the world of advertising marketing and the work that goes on behind the scenes of the catchy advertising slogans. I don’t have any experience in this industry to know whether it is or not.

Jilly Jenkins (Karen Henson) delivers the bad news to the pair via email and the managers aren’t sure what she means by “cutting the fat”. She’s not overly confident in the pair’s ability to deliver the last job. However, she is far too interested in chasing after Arun Anthony (Pavan Maru) in an attempt to go out for a drink to give the job too much thought.

Some of the farcical scenes reminded me of watching the scene in Fawlty Towers when they are desperately trying not to “mention the war” and fail miserably when Brian is attempting to convince Diana, very “badly” that is, that he is Timothy! Especially when a good redundancy package starts to be discussed by Diana.

Rumpus Theatre Company has created a good old-fashioned comedy farce. The style of play that you don’t see performed on smaller stages very often. Done correctly they are very entertaining and funny, which As It Comes! manages to live up to and the response from the audience confirmed this.

For more information on As It Comes and future productions at The Haymarket in Basingstoke please use the link below.

Three Stars.

https://www.anvilarts.org.uk/visit-us/how-to-get-here/the-haymarket

https://www.facebook.com/RumpusTheatreCo