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Love is love: An Instinct - at The Old Red Lion Theatre

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What do you do when a pandemic breaks out and people start dying? In An Instinct, the answer is to escape to a remote cabin in the woods with your ex-boyfriend, leaving your current boyfriend behind. This is the premise behind Hugo Timbrell’s An Instinct, billed as a queer thriller that delivers a few shocks along the way. Yet, the real tension lies in the disturbing dynamics between the three characters—the mind games, gaslighting, and unhealthy dependencies. While the play is cleverly constructed, its underlying themes of domestic violence may not be everyone’s cup of tea. It's currently running at the Old Red Lion Theatre .  The play opens with Max (Conor Dumbrell) and Tom (Joe Walsham) arriving at Tom’s parents’ cabin in a remote part of England. A pandemic broke out, but not the kind where you have to pretend to practice social distancing or hand out government contracts to your mates for dodgy hospital gowns and face masks. This one is highly contagious and very deadly. But s...

Mad as hell and serving Cava: Derailed @Ovalhouse

Sometimes the best laid plans go awry. But when life gives you lemons make lemonade. Or in the case of Derailed at Oval House, make gazpacho. And serve Cava. 

The premise is that in the post-Brexit UK, they are heading back to Spain. But rather than leave downtrodden and defeated, they’re going to stage the mother of all leaving parties. 

The music blares, the party poppers fly and the party begins.

The piece opens with a series of photos from Patricia and Mercè‘s 12 years living in the UK. With the grey skies and dismal towns you start thinking Brexit wasn’t the only reason for their decision to leave.

And with a series of improvised scenarios you’ll find yourself live tweeting a petition, having a long hug with a complete stranger. Or wearing an unconvincing wig holding a banner protesting something. Along they way they chart some of their life in London and in Spain. 

The premise of Patricia Rodríguez and Mercè Ribot‘s work is to use physical theatre and improvision to create something funny and engaging. It’s sometimes silly but it’s always fascinating to watch.

Here they have turned 12 years of struggle into a celebration about what is great about life. Wherever you may be. And although the party in London may be ending, you get a sense they’ll continue the  party wherever they go.

Derailed is at Oval House Theatre as part of there Spring Season. It concludes on 3 March. Next up is This Restless State where in 2052 Europe is ravaged by a continental war and a referendum. The season concludes with Coconut, a comedy that challenges assumptions about Islam with a modern Muslim woman looking for love. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photos by Ben MacIntosh

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