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Eastern Star,Tara Arts
Review by Oliver Wake In 1988 a failed revolution in Burma (now Myanmar) led to thousands of deaths, lengthy prison terms and torture for dissidents, and the rise to prominence of Aung San Suu Kyi as a leader of resistance to the country’s military junta. These events were broadcast to the rest of the world…
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But It Still Goes On, Finborough Theatre
Review by Oliver Wake The Finborough specialises in producing neglected plays and they don’t get more neglected than this: written in 1929 but never previously performed. Robert Graves is not known as a dramatist; if you recognise his name it’s likely for his fascinating first world war memoir Goodbye to All That, his war poetry,…
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A Passage to India, Park Theatre
Review by Oliver Wake Edwin Morgan Forster published his fifth novel, A Passage to India, in 1924. It was an instant success, and has now attained ‘classic’ status. Its story of colonial abuses, racism and friendship in British India before the First World War remains shocking and deeply moving. To me it is one of…
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Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?,The Space
Review by Oliver Wake In 1943, the decomposed remains of a seemingly-murdered woman were discovered in a hollow in a tree trunk in Worcestershire. Neither the victim nor her murderer were ever identified, despite prolonged investigations. Outlandish theories suggested occult practices or Nazi spies had been involved, and, unsurprisingly, the case attracted hoaxers and fantasists.…
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This Restless State, Ovalhouse
Review by Oliver Wake Fuel Theatre’s This Restless State is created and performed by Jesse Fox (with additional recorded voices played in) and written by Danielle Pearson. It takes as its starting point the 2016 Brexit referendum result and Jesse’s nostalgia for his childhood as he finds himself devoid of optimism for the post-Brexit future.…
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The Crystal Egg, The Vaults
Review by Oliver Wake When Charley Wace’s (Des Carney) father dies, drowned in the Thames in mysterious circumstances, he goes to live with his uncle, Mr Cave (Mark Parsons) and his family at Cave’s antiques and curios shop in London’s decrepit Seven Dials. One of his father’s possessions, a seemingly ornamental crystal egg, is passed…
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Pluto, The Cockpit Theatre
Guest Review by Oliver Wake Pluto’s premise is ingenious. It dramatises the planet Pluto’s reaction to learning that he has been re-categorised – demoted, effectively – from planet to dwarf planet. Pluto throws a party to celebrate incoming news from NASA. Nobody comes, bar his moon/best friend Charon and, later, a stripper she has ordered.…
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The Amount of Us, The London Improv Theatre
Guest review by Oliver Wake The Amount of Us from the A Bunch of Chemicals Theatre Company was seen for three days only at the London Improv Theatre as part of the Camden Fringe Festival. The production calls itself “an adapted theatrical collage about the beginning and end of love”, though it’s not clear from…
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Catastrophists, White Bear Theatre
Review by Oliver Wake “The end is nigh … Bring a bottle.” Using money inherited following the convenient death of Harry’s granddad, Raf and Harry have bought a holiday home in the Cotswold. They weren’t aware their neighbours were a survivalist cult living in a field. After Harry urinates on their teepee on the way…
View from the Cheap Seat 