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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

Alone in this world: Jericho’s Rose @thehopetheatre

A loss of identity and being between two worlds lies at the heart of Jericho’s Rose. It’s Lilac Yosiphon’s account of a theatre maker who is trying to stay in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile her grandfather is in Tel Aviv suffering from Alzheimer’s. It’s currently playing at The Hope Theatre.

The last time I was at The Hope Theatre it was to catch the excellent Cockamamy, about an absent-minded Spam-hoarding grandmother. This time around it’s about a grandfather trying to remember who he was. It’s as if the venue is becoming the Dementia Theatre.

But this tale is also more abstract. Live music by Sam Elwin, sound loops and evocative projections weave a tale of confusion and isolation. Music, movement and background projections by Will Monk underscore the unsettling environment. For both grandfather and granddaughter. Both are struggling to find a place in the world. Both are in a state of flux.

This is a minimalist piece. Part of it’s intent is to repeat in trying to remember the past and the present. Memory plays tricks on both of them. And there is the mundane details both have to endure. For Jasmine, it’s having to follow the excruciating details to reapply for a visa for leave to remain in the UK. For her grandfather it’s trying to remember who he is and who she is. But repetition can be exhausting. For both the characters and the audience.

The reasons why Jasmine wants to remain in the United Kingdom to make theatre aren’t clear. Afterall she has to endure an awful lot of stress (and causal sex) to get there. Perhaps the Tel Aviv theatre scene is just really lousy.

But when things being to come together for both characters in the final minutes the piece soars. This is a fascinating meditation about wanting to be somewhere called home.

Directed by Lilac Yosiphon, Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster and Mike Cole, Jerhicho’s Rose is at the Hope Theatre until November 3.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photos by Lidia Crisafulli

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