Category: London

A London Dreamtime: The Snow Queen at the Union Chapel in Islington

~ Sadie takes the Stage ~ 3 Comments

Constantly yearning for more dramatizations of Hans Christian Andersen’s oeuvre, I am blocking my calendar immediately when hearing that the London Dreamtime / Cunning Folk bunch does a personal favourite of his literary fairy tales, The Snow Queen. I have been to storytelling events by Vanessa Woolf and George Hoyle before; an evening walk by … Continue reading A London Dreamtime: The Snow Queen at the Union Chapel in Islington

Standing ovations for Syndrome at the Tristan Bates Theatre

~ Sadie takes the Stage ~ 7 Comments

Back at the Actor’s Centre at the Tristan Bates Theatre I am invited to the opening night of Syndrome, a new play by Tina Jay and directing debut of Jack Brett Anderson. Admittedly I know little about the Gulf War of the early 1990s and always thought of all soldiers’ trauma as terribly tragic, unjust … Continue reading Standing ovations for Syndrome at the Tristan Bates Theatre

The Chinese New Year’s Extravaganza at The Broadway Theatre in Catford

~ Sadie takes the Stage ~ 5 Comments

Catford’s Broadway Theatre has been on my list of London venues yet to discover first-hand for a while – no wonder I am blown away by the unexpected size of this historic music hall and admire its art deco interior already in the box office. Here panto seasons are advertised on loud posters: The previous … Continue reading The Chinese New Year’s Extravaganza at The Broadway Theatre in Catford

Immersive Theatre: We are a fair mob – Crooks 1926

~ Sadie takes the Stage ~ 6 Comments

Secretly I dream to be a location scout for pop-ups and all things show business – and love the transformation of the former King William IV pub in Elephant & Castle being transformed into the hosting grounds of Crooks 1926, a new immersive theatre experience based on the gangster scene in London’s East End of … Continue reading Immersive Theatre: We are a fair mob – Crooks 1926

The Vault Festival continues: Shybairn’s Talk Propa

~ Sadie takes the Stage ~ 2 Comments

Back at the Vault Festival I realise that many graffities and event-related art works have already been sprayed and tagged over since my visit earlier this month – the Leake Street tunnel under Waterloo Station is an ever morphing organ. I arrive well on time and can therefore venture out further into the labyrinth The … Continue reading The Vault Festival continues: Shybairn’s Talk Propa

If you do not shout STOP, nothing will change – NUMB at the Vault festival

~ Sadie takes the Stage ~ 5 Comments

Located just under Waterloo Station, I match anyone to find a venue in London better connected than The Vaults. But because train timetables are still not as reliable as in, say, Japan I arrive at the Vault’s front desk only exactly on time, am then directed through the purple-haired, crunchy wearing Vault Festival crowds and … Continue reading If you do not shout STOP, nothing will change – NUMB at the Vault festival

Hakuna Matata at the Lyceum Theatre – The Lion King is still stunning

~ Sadie takes the Stage ~ 3 Comments

It’s an amazing feeling to buy musical tickets for someone to see a show with when this very someone has taken you to the cinema years ago to watch the film this show is based on. The massive impact of The Lion King was even felt by my primary school self in late 1994 while … Continue reading Hakuna Matata at the Lyceum Theatre – The Lion King is still stunning

It’s like panto – Emma Rice does Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld in the London Coliseum

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Experiencing Jacques Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld on an opera stage has been on my wishlist for a long time. When I hear that Emma Rice’ production returns to London’s magnificent Coliseum for a few performances it takes some rearrangements to at least join the very last staging – and the newsletter of her production … Continue reading It’s like panto – Emma Rice does Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld in the London Coliseum

Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton at the Playground Theatre in West London

~ Sadie takes the Stage ~ 1 Comment

Other than the façade suggests The Playground Theatre is unexpectedly spacious inside, with free seat choice around a stage carpeted in Schauss pink, a matt magenta – the program shares so many secrets about the manipulating powers of this colour that coming here was worth just for learning about this. The brochure also confirms that … Continue reading Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton at the Playground Theatre in West London

Dare to be a victim – Dissociated at the Etcetera Theatre in Camden Town

~ Sadie takes the Stage ~ 2 Comments

I wanted to discover Camden's Etcetera Theatre for a long time Dissociated is a play about Alex who was allowed to feel empowered and strong for the last time at her sixth birthday when hitting a pinata. Afterwards the repeated sexual abuse started, followed by the traumatic experience of not being taken seriously by her … Continue reading Dare to be a victim – Dissociated at the Etcetera Theatre in Camden Town