White Noise, Bridge Theatre review: A provocative take on racism in America October 15, 2021 White Noise, Suzan-Lori Parks’ explosive play on race in twenty-first century America, is as much about the problem of silence in the face of injustice as it is about performative solidarity. The play centres on four thirty-somethings: Leo (Ken Nwosu), a black artist, his white lawyer girlfriend Dawn (Helena Wilson), and their old college friends, [...]
Shatner hits back at Prince William’s space travel criticism October 15, 2021 William Shatner has shot down Prince William’s criticism of space travel. He believes the royal is missing the point”. The former Star Trek actor told Entertainment Tonight that Prince William was a “lovely, gentle, educated man” but that he has the “wrong idea” about going to space. Shatner argues that space travel is the first [...]
Theaster Gates at Whitechapel Gallery review October 14, 2021 Fenchurch Street is currently a mess of diggers and drills, creating the perfect backdrop for a sculpture exhibition that begins with bricks. Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates explores the historical significance of clay and clay artefacts, using them as a way of understanding racial identity in an urban setting. Sculpture, installation and film all feature in [...]
Dexter, Directors, and Dirt – an interview with Michael C Hall October 13, 2021 Michael C Hall is a busy man. Next month, he returns to his most famous role, serial killer Dexter, in a reboot of the award-winning drama. Before that he stars in John and The Hole, an indie thriller about a family held captive in a bunker by their teenage son. Hall talks getting his hands [...]
The Normal Heart at the National Theatre is a desperate howl October 8, 2021 In the same week Matthew López took home the Best Play gong at the Tony Awards for The Inheritance, a work that has drawn strong comparisons to fellow Tony-winner Angels in America, the National Theatre began its revival of the original play chronicling the AIDS crisis: The Normal Heart. Larry Kramer’s semi-autobiographical 1985 play follows [...]
John and the Hole: A surreal family drama designed to confuse October 8, 2021 Some films signal their intentions from the beginning: good vs evil, a love story, or a hero out to save the world. Then there are films like indie thriller John and The Hole, which leave almost every frame open to interpretation. Having just starred in Sean Durkin’s drama The Nest, Charlie Shotwell once again explores [...]
The Addams Family 2: A sequel more silly than spooky October 8, 2021 One of the surprise hits of 2019 was the animated reinvention of The Addams Family, a slight comedy that captured the creepy fun that makes the clan so enduring. After some delays, the all-star cast are back with the inevitable sequel, taking this spooky show on the road. The Addams Family remain blissfully happy in [...]
October in the City: the cultural events not to miss October 7, 2021 How much fun is it being out and about dancing, being immersed in art and going to live music again? On 7 October Unpredictable Thursdays presents experimental music, free improvisation, film, and art sessions, which are well worth checking out. For something more classical, Fidelio Orchestra Cafe has introduced a new series of concerts featuring [...]
What If If Only, Royal Court review: a punchy analysis of grief October 5, 2021 Could things have been different? Can we change the past? Should we risk the consequences? These are the questions posed by Caryl Churchill’s latest wisp of a play, What If If Only – and which it teasingly, infuriatingly, only half answers. Perhaps that’s due to the play’s length: at just 17 minutes long, it is [...]
No Time To Die: Daniel Craig signs off in style October 1, 2021 Fifteen years after first donning the tuxedo, it’s time for Daniel Craig to take his final bow as James Bond. He arrives just as cinema is crying out for a hero: No Time To Die’s several delays (starting in March 2020) were a constant reminder of an industry still reeling from the last 18 months, [...]