Cirque Berserk founder: Great circus involves real jeopardy – and the audience needs to feel it February 23, 2023 In our interview series The Lowdown, we ask performers and directors how they’re feeling ahead of their London show openings. Here, we sit down with Cirque Berserk founder Martin ‘Zippo’ Burton, a legend of the circus scene who’s been performing for 49 years HOW DOES IT FEEL TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF CIRQUE BERSERK? 10 [...]
Romeo and Julie is the perfect romcom for the National Theatre crowd February 23, 2023 Romeo and Julie is the tale of two star crossed lovers from Splott, Cardiff, whose forbidden love threatens to tear apart two houses not particularly alike in dignity. We first meet the tragic hero elbowdeep in a soiled nappy. This Romeo is a working class, 18-year-old single dad struggling to raise the baby he couldn’t [...]
Mike Nelson: Extinction Beckons at the Hayward Gallery is a new high bar for installation art February 23, 2023 The Hayward Gallery has emerged as London’s foremost destination for large-scale installation art since it reopened in 2018, from the bio-technological horror of Lee Bul’s pink tentacles to the jaw-dropping scale of a Finnish spruce in Among the Trees. But even against this backdrop, Mike Nelson’s Extinction Beckons sets a mind-boggling new standard for transforming [...]
My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) review: A joyous outsider tale is a must-see February 22, 2023 My Son’s A Queer review and star rating: ★★★★★ There wasn’t a dry eye in the room: Rob Madge’s autobiographical show about his life growing up as a queer outsider is intensely joyous, and required viewing for queers and their allies. (And most importantly, required viewing for the people who wouldn’t think to book a [...]
Florian Zeller interview: The Son director on fighting the shame of mental illness February 22, 2023 Who among us hasn’t dreamed of a meeting that forever changes the direction of their life? This is exactly what happened to French author, playwright and director Florian Zeller. The meeting in question came about after Zeller had adapted a screenplay from his harrowing 2012 portrait of dementia The Father, in which he tailored the [...]
Medea, Soho Place, review: Sophie Okonedo’s devastating portrait of trauma February 20, 2023 Medea, Soho Place, review and star rating: ★★★★☆ Soho Place, the first new West End theatre to open in 50 years, has sped to relevance. The £300 million project with its spectacular rooftop balcony opened with a piece of new writing with no famous actors in it, both a bold and brave move that was well [...]
Consultants role is to be a trusted adviser February 20, 2023 | Sponsored The job of the consultant is to be a trusted adviser. To rigorously analyse the best possible data. To bring to bear specialist expertise and experience across multiple sectors to give the client a new perspective on how they can achieve their goals. A new book on the consulting sector titled ‘The Big Con’ (City [...]
Exclusive: Bridgerton cast rally to save vital London arts event from closure February 19, 2023 Speaking exclusively to City A.M., some of Bridgerton’s lead cast, including Nicola Coughlan and Jonathan Bailey, rally to help save Vault Festival, one of the UK’s brightest arts festivals, which faces closure after landlords have said they’ll turf them out in 2024. Help Save Vault by donating to their campaign here Bridgerton’s leading actors have [...]
The Son film review: Florian Zeller returns after the success of The Father February 17, 2023 Florian Zeller’s incredible drama The Father won Anthony Hopkins an Oscar, and traumatised all who saw it with its harrowing portrayal of dementia. While his new film, The Son, isn’t a direct sequel, its themes continue the story started three years ago. Hugh Jackman stars as Peter, a man making a new life for himself [...]
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On review: Adorable animation February 17, 2023 The ungainly title isn’t the only thing unusual about this imaginative family film. Conceived as a YouTube short by former spouses Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer Camp, it centres on Marcel (Slate), an anthropomorphic shell who lives with his grandma. He meets documentarian Dean (Fleischer Camp), who makes him an internet phenomenon, prompting Marcel the [...]