Naima Khan looks back at February's theatreland happenings.
The Spoonfed Theatre Team have been getting to grips with what's on offer from the London fringe scene this spring and we just about got time to poke our heads in on the West End and found a flurry of literary adaptations coming our way.
Lauren and I both trekked all the way to Hammersmith for Riverside Studios Desire & Destruction Season where Fool for Love sorely disappointed one Carl Barat fan, although we hear the cast, all both of them, are getting better as the run goes on. Demi Monde, on the other hand, was superb, and is highly recommended.
Pub Theatre so far hasn't thrilled us but has definitely got us talking. Dudley looked in at Rosemary Branch Theatre and made his peace with a modern interpretation of King Lear. I hit up White Bear Theatre Club for some interpretive relationship analysis in Clam & Honey/Baby: great acting and lots of laughs. Next week's pub theatre includes A Day at the Racists at Finborough Theatre and Lord Arthur's Bed at King's Head Theatre.
In other fringe happenings, Ben discovered the next big thing in musicals when he happened upon James Duckworth, "a young Ian McKellen" at Lost Soul Music over at Pleasance Theatre. But sadly, I was less than impressed by Sunflower House at Tristan Bates Theatre.
Dance-wise, Sadler's Wells is where most of the action is right now. I fell for flamenco big time after seeing Maria Pages at London Flamenco Festival 2010 and interviewing Rojas and Rodriguez of Nuevo Ballet Espanol. Ben is off to see the part-dance/part-art installation that is You Are Here so expect a full review soon.
Off The Endz is causing a bit of a stir in Theatreland over at Royal Court Theatre and writer Bola Agbaje had a lot to say on the subject when I interviewed her. And so did Annie Saunders, founder of the See You Next Tuesday festival launching March 5th.
Meanwhile, in the West End Private Lives opened for previews on 24th February at Vaudeville Theatre. We caught up with Lisa Dillon who gave us an almost interesting insight into the 6 whole hours of work she does a day. Madness in Valencia at Trafalgar Studios got Jeremy's stamp of approval for its appreciation of Lupe De Vega's chaotic madness. Director Simon Evans invited me to get a glimpse of the rehearsal room neurosis and talked me through getting the show transferred. Oh, and La Bete is coming to town and bringing Niles Crane with it. YAY!
Look out for previews of Sutra from inspirational choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Haunted at Richmond Theatre and an interview with spoken word artist Polar Bear, as well as loads more reviews. For more recommendations check out our Top 5 London Theatre picks.
Photo Credit: B Rosen
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