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A Man For All Seasons: Seagull True Story - Marylebone Theatre

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It's not often that you see a play that tells you not so much a story but gives you a sense of how it feels to be in a situation, how it feels to be silenced, how it feels to be marginalised, how the dead hand of consensus stifles your creativity. However, in Seagull True Story, created and directed by Alexander Molochnikov and based on his own experiences fleeing Russia and trying to establish himself in New York, we have a chance to look beyond the headlines and understand how the war in Ukraine impacted a a group of ordinary creatives in Russia. And how the gradual smothering of freedom and freedom of expression becomes impossible to resist, except for the brave or the suicidal. Against the backdrop of Chekhov's The Seagull, which explores love and other forms of disappointment, it presents a gripping and enthralling depiction of freedom of expression in the face of adversity. After playing earlier this year in New York, it plays a limited run at the Marylebone Theatre . Fro...

Good farce: Good People

There is still time to catch David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People, which runs for another two weeks at the Noël Coward Theatre.

Margie, played by Imelda Staunton, is a sharp-tongued single-mother who has been fired from her job as a cashier for showing up at work late. Hearing that an old boyfriend who has made good is in town, she decides to corner him. But her plan brings unexpected consequences for her and the unsuspecting Mike (Lloyd Owen). Both must look to the past to re-examine the choices and secrets that brought them back together.


What could be a nasty, mean-spirited piece is made palatable by Imelda Staunton's performance. Her portrayal makes the desperation of her character realistic and human. And while the piece is predictable, the humour and warmth of the play make it a treat.

Lloyd Owen as the old flame proves to be more than a match for Staunton's strong performance as well and it is a delight to watch the two spar in the second half confrontation.

Good People originally premiered on Broadway in 2011 winning the New York Drama Desk Critic’s Circle Award for Best Play of the year. It runs until 14 June. Look for discounts at the usual outlets as well.

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Photo credits: Production photos by Manuel Harlan





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