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One hundred people’s ninth favourite thing: [title of show] @swkplay

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[title of show] takes you back to a time before the fast paced social media where word of mouth for a positive show came from chat boards, video diaries or (god forbid) blogs. A simple staging makes it an ideal (and economical piece to stage), but it’s sweet and earnest take on just putting on a show, and putting it out there and taking a chance gives this show its heart. With a strong and energetic cast and endless musical theatre references, it’s hard to resist and it’s currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse .  It opens with Hunter (Jacob Fowler) and Jeff (Thomas Oxley) as struggling young writers in New York City. An upcoming New York Musical Theatre festival, inspires them to write an original musical within three weeks to make the deadline. As they discuss ideas, writers block, distractions and endless other good and bad musicals, an idea for a show emerges. Which is about writing a show for a musical theatre festival.  Their friends Heidi (Abbie Budden) and Susan (Mary Moor

Ambiguously Straight: Bromance @udderbellyfest @bmtroupe


Flying by the seat of your pants takes on greater meaning with circus troupe Barely Methodical and their latest offering Bromance, which is at the Udderbelly Festival on the South Bank until 19 July.

The three performers, Beren D’Amico, Louis Gift and Charlie Wheeller, fuse circus performance with their expertise in martial arts tricking, parkour and breakdancing; not to mention some hilarious comic interactions for a thrilling hour.


By the end of the evening there are more than a few times you will find yourself gasping at some of the positions they throw themselves into and the feats they perform. Handshakes become handstands as D’Amico and Gift perform a series of clinches and grasps. Meanwhile Wheeller captivates the audience balancing on the Cyr Wheel as he goes it alone… And before the end of the show they strip down to their underwear showing their fantastic... er... form by creating a human pyramid.

The piece explores the boundaries and limits of male companionship. Trust, the essence of relationships and the boundaries of support and personal space. Much of the humour is derived from challenging what is considered to be acceptable non-sexual behaviour between men (much to the titillation of the audience).

The performers relish this ambiguity and these boundaries... Is it just friendship or is it something more. But it is a thoughtful examination of how it is possible to use acrobatics, movement, dance and theatre to provide  insight into what makes us who we are.

Yet another amazing piece of circus theatre at the Udderbelly, Bromance runs on the South Bank until 19 July. Don't miss it.

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

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