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The greatest show and other bromances: Adam Riches and John Kearns ARE Ball and Boe @sohotheatre

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Alfie Boe and Michael Ball seem to be a bit of a joke act anyway. Their endless interpretations of popular songs (also known as covers) and their double-act bromance make them quintessential crossover artists where popular music meets opera and Broadway. And a perilous choice for the discerning listener. It’s not that they aren’t talented musicians and performers in their own right. Still, their musical choices are always safe, predictable and less than their potential. But every country deserves to have a pair of self-described national treasures that can tour the local arenas and give people a good time for the bargain price of £175 a seat.  And so the concept of Adam Riches and John Kearns - two world-famous from the Edinburgh Fringe comedians taking on this bromance seems like a curious choice for a Christmas musical fare. One can only hope that over the fourteen nights, it is playing at the Soho Theatre that the show evolves into something more substantial than a series of po...

Odd Shaped Balls Preview @ORLTheatre


Now playing at the Old Red Lion theatre is Odd Shaped Balls. It's a play about an outed Rugby Player James and the fallout created from it.

Odd Shaped Balls is a one man show that tackles the issue of homosexuality in sport and probes into why it's such a big deal in the first place. And ultimately, isn't it more important how you play the game and work as a team?

Matthew Marrs plays James Hall. He has the world at his feet as a professional rugby player but after people find out his sexuality, he finds his life changing dramatically. James has to decide whether he has the courage to not only be true to himself, but act as a role model for others.


It can be a tough decision to decide the right time to come out. For those in the limelight in can be even more daunting. The decision can be entangled with fears of homophobic abuse and negative reactions from their teammates. In a recent study of over 9500 participants, only 1% of lesbian, gay and bi-sexual respondents felt they were fully accepted within sporting culture.


But perhaps (at least in Rugby), the tide is turning. Rugby star’s Sam Stanley and Keegan Hirst received overwhelming support when they came out last year.

The production transfers to the Old Red Lion after a run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015.

Produced by Plane Paper Theatre is a young company dedicated to creating a platform for emerging theatre makers. They aim to develop and produce original work that explores interesting questions and themes. They also recently produced Don't Smoke In Bed at the Finborough Theatre. Written by Richard Sheridan and directed by Andy Twyman, Odd Shaped Balls runs at the Old Red Lion Theatre until 25 June.

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