Il team di The Hidden Review è stato presente alla prima teatrale dello spettacolo prodotto da “La Compagnia di Antonino” dal titolo Pandoro, Mutuo e Maradona, con la regia di Antonino Laudicina. Questa compagnia teatrale ha molto prestigio ed è acclamata in teatro da anni per la presentazione di spettacoli molto vivaci anche quando presenta temi e copioni particolarmente difficili. La Compagnia di Antonino quest’anno ha portato in scena, per il suo pubblico, uno spettacolo inedito scritto e realizzato da ASAAMA, che ha debuttato dal 1 al 3 dicembre al Teatro Immacolata. L’idea prende spunto da uno dei pilastri del teatro di Eduardo, Natale in Casa Cupiello, scritto e diretto dallo stesso Eduardo De Filippo, regista/attore più acclamato del teatro napoletano e ambientato a Napoli nel 1931. Lo spettacolo Pandoro, Mutuo e Maradona, cala il Natale in casa Cupiello in una versione contemporanea, con un'ambientazione diversa e una diversa scomposizione dei personaggi, che mette in mo

  The THR has watched a one-man show called 'Bonding', written and performed by Cyril Blake at The Hen & Chickens Theatre, which played three nights as part of the Camden Fringe. Blake plays Stephen Lewis, a self-confessed 'struggling' actor who loves James Bond; a love which he has inherited from his dad. It is a beautifully told story that deals with the special moments and sometimes challenging bond within the relationship between dads and sons. Blake's character talks to the audience in an energetic and often humorous manner, and asks the audience questions about their knowledge of the Bond franchise with great banter and rapport. Throughout the play, there are references to James Bond's character, and even if one isn't a fan, it enthuses and enlightens. The part when he recounts going to see the Bond films with his dad after his mother's death is touching as he pretends there's 'something in his eye' as he doesn't want to show he

THR has watched After All These Years at The Jermyn Street Theatre. The play, written by Giles Cole, won the Outstanding Theatre Award at The Brighton Fringe. All These Years is a play divided into three acts and tells the story of relationships between two couples, now residing in a seaside town, as they reminisce over their lives and friendships over the years. Moreover, starring four seasoned actors, Jeffery Holland (best known from TV’s ‘Hi-De-Hi’), Judy Buxton, Carol Ball, and Graham Poutney (who also directs), all at the top of their games and very much at home on stage. Throughout the play, the characters had known each other for quite some time and were all in show business at one point. Act 1 reflects on the two male friends, Alfred and Charlie, in a local pub and shows a fantastic bond between them as they banter about their lives and the woes of getting older. Then the following acts play out with the two women, taking place in one of their homes after a swift se

  The THR has watched Love is Blue playing at The Drayton Arms Theatre from July 20th-22nd, just before heading to the Edinburgh Fringe. This two-hander, part of four plays produced by LAMBCO Productions, is about an unlikely encounter between a slick city trader and a young man who is homeless and he helps out by inviting him back to his loft apartment for a shower and some food. The two leads are very engaging as they explore their new-found understanding of each other’s pasts; Olly is an older man who is quite a drinker as he is grieving for his late boyfriend. The more introspective and somewhat naive younger man reveals his childhood trauma of being abandoned at six months old and adopted by a religious family. Furthermore, the director Prav MJ follows a stylish direction as it takes us on an emotional roller coaster journey. The characters live out their attraction to each other and reveal, more and more, a respective pain blossoming into a friendship. At the same time, the songs

  "So...you knew?" The THR watched at the Barons Court Theatre "So...you knew?" written by Bart Bartolini and directed by Maria Cristina Petitti. During a week of mixed weather, it was very apt to see a solo show dealing with the climate change crisis that was told in such a powerfully uplifting way. The performer Bart Bartolini is terrific as he takes us on an energetic, funny and thought-provoking journey from the early eighties to the present day and beyond into the future, playing various characters with great confidence and charisma. Primarily Willie, a former scientist who uncovers the truth about carbon dioxide emissions while working at Essen Mobil and balancing life with his wife and child. Moreover, using a backdrop projector adds a very engaging multidimensional aspect to the show, whilst the lighting and overall design, at times overwhelming, keep the audience intrigued and mesmerised. At the same time, the director Maria Cristina Petitti uses some inter

The Hidden Review has watched "Bubu Killer King" at Babolin Theatre, online theatre is odd, but, when executed well, it can be used to great effect. The challenge of an unknown medium poses a lot of opportunities, and Babolin Theatre takes this to the extreme in an exciting way. Bubu Killer King is ludicrous, absurd and comical, but much like a lot of Babolin's work, underneath this is a sharp satire, witty political commentary and a strong creative force. Bubu Killer King is essentially an unconventional interpretation of the Alfred Jarry classic 'Ubu Roi', and the banal absurdism of Jarry lends itself to a deconstructed theatre performance. At its core, it is a parody of Macbeth, which goes off the rails fairly quickly. The show is performed in solo performances which allow you to stumble your own way through the already confusing narrative of Ubu. While this presented an opportunity for differing perspectives and subplots, the story became hard to follow and co

“One day. Six cities. A thousand stories” The Hidden Review has watched Barber Shop Chronicles, written by Inua Ellams and performed at the Round House London, shown on National Theatre at Home. Inua Ellams is sharp, snappy and engaging as ever in his smash hit new play that throws us into barbershops across two continents. The vibrant environment of a barbershop is brought to life excellently by Ellams' and is used excellently to provoke questions, introduce themes and explore ideas, of language, cultural tension and boundaries. This is a snapshot into an atmosphere distinct atmosphere, that holds a special place in the black men's culture, and everything that comes with it. Ellams' use of the Brechtian approach gives him the space to move quickly through the piece, employ comedic archetypes and stereotypes and get straight to the point. We follow experiences in barbershops that appear to be unconnected; however, Ellams subtle writing begins to weave this together to great