Tag: Christmas

An English man, a Scottish woman and an Irish cast are… A Fairytale For Christmas at the West End’s Dominion Theatre

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The massive auditorium at the Dominion Theatre at Tottenham Court Road is heaving on this Sunday evening, the last one before the advent season begins. Not that Oxford Street minds: The surrounding buildings and rikshaws are already wearing their Christmas best and have opted in for loud festive tunes. Who is ready for Christmas yet? The Dominion … Continue reading An English man, a Scottish woman and an Irish cast are… A Fairytale For Christmas at the West End’s Dominion Theatre

Advent in the West End: Maddie Moate’s A Very Curious Christmas at the Apollo Theatre

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What do you do when planning a Christmassy day in the theatre with both children and adults who, combined, cannot stand panto or scares or elaborate musical tunes? You thank children's TV presenter Maddie Moates for putting up an one hour, interval-free, suitable-for-all show on science facts about the festive seasons without a cheesy, moral-heavy narrative which will arm young … Continue reading Advent in the West End: Maddie Moate’s A Very Curious Christmas at the Apollo Theatre

Being kinder: Kinder at The Little Angel Studios

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A trip to London's first address for puppetry has long been overdue, and my first visit to The Little Angel Theatre actually leads me a few steps down the road to its satellite, the Little Angel Studios, proudly hosting the last show of this summer's Children's Puppet Festival. Offie winner Kinder by Smoking Apples, a company focussing on puppetry and visual theatre, plays here … Continue reading Being kinder: Kinder at The Little Angel Studios

The Wind In The Wiltons near the river Thames

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I am back at London’s worse kept secret, the East End’s beautiful historic gem Wilton’s Music Hall. Their festive family show this Christmas season is a new take on the children literature classic The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. Having grown up with the book or any film or … Continue reading The Wind In The Wiltons near the river Thames

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the West End’s Gillian Lynne Theatre

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Strongly recalling visits to London’s National Theatre (another prominent example of 1970s brutalism architecture), it appears the Gillian Lynne Theatre in Covent Garden also mastered an auditorium without bad seats. For the price we paid, we are more than happy with our seats in the first row of the balcony to the right, despite the apparent restricted view: Even the … Continue reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the West End’s Gillian Lynne Theatre

Open Bar making A Christmess Carol online

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This December is the first in which I receive an email from Charles Dickens. It includes log-in details and thanks to these, tonight’s audience and actors are all together on a Zoom call: “Hello, my little Christmas crackers!” I recognize most faces from Open Bar’s Shakespeare in the Garden, the theatre company behind the only … Continue reading Open Bar making A Christmess Carol online

Watching Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on cardboard – with Polka Theatre’s key audience as judges

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Reviewing a recorded play of Charles Dickens’ uber-classic A Christmas Carol, aimed at 4-11-year-olds comes with a challenge when, however hard I try, I do not fit in the target audience. Luckily, I can rely on Eliana, six, and Nico, four, who happily help out, and with the assistance of their parents we all connect digitally and watch this 15 minute show from our screens miles apart together.  The video starts … Continue reading Watching Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on cardboard – with Polka Theatre’s key audience as judges

The Constella OperaBallet’s Christmas Gala 2020 connects stars with the nation’s care homes and your living room

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Obviously, I agree to review a Christmas concert, once I discover that it falls on the date my beloved grandma would have turned almost ninety. And especially when it has been set up to raise awareness for the isolation and loneliness of our elder citizens. The Constella OperaBallet’s Christmas Gala 2020 is available to watch … Continue reading The Constella OperaBallet’s Christmas Gala 2020 connects stars with the nation’s care homes and your living room

Zoom into Wintery Tales – an online evening of storytelling

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After a long day of working from home as I have done since March, I am too tired to switch on my camera for this online evening of storytelling and opt for the role as a silent listener. Fellow listeners here are far more interactive, greeting friends and relatives in the southern hemisphere, present their … Continue reading Zoom into Wintery Tales – an online evening of storytelling

Thalia Vista Social Club – a local institution in Hamburg’s Thalia Theater

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For the first time after leaving college I am back in Hamburg’s Thalia Theater. Founded in 1843 you can spot a real Hamburg citizen by the way the first syllable of Thalia is emphasized. I cannot remember seeing a single play here which I did not like – with productions chosen close to the curriculum … Continue reading Thalia Vista Social Club – a local institution in Hamburg’s Thalia Theater