SmallWar- The Drum, Plymouth Theatre Royal

Valentijn Dhaenens is a master of his craft. This touching, poignant performance was intriguing, beguiling and truly heartfelt. I thoroughly enjoyed the intertextuality, the use of song and innovative media, and the use of interesting techniques throughout.

Though possibly considered a monologue, this performance used gentle argument to understand the human behaviour in war. The heady excitement of young men preparing to do battle, the terror and horror of the trenches, and the sickening reality of injuries and death.

Cats- The Lyric, Theatre Royal Plymouth

This is the story of jellicle cats, who attend the jellicle ball, for their leader to choose which cat will travel to the Heaviside Layer to be reborn into a new life.

That is according to http://www.catsthemusical.com/the-show/synopsis/. I had to look it up because I had absolutely no idea what was going on. There appeared to be absolutely no storyline at all! There were a number of cats who did not enunciate properly and their parts of the story were therefore lost on my completely.

Surprise additions to a dying ANLO

 

 

The Theatre Royal Plymouth have announced several more performances before ANLO's Swan Song.

This includes Othelo, a Birmingham Royal Ballet production, and Edward Scissorhands.

This means that the ANLO scheme will be continuing through into November, rather than ending, as anticipated in September- which is great news for young theatre-goers in the area!

Images not my own.

One Man Two Guvnors- The Lyric, Theatre Royal

What a rib-tickling performance. The show began even before the audience had taken their seats, and kept them chortling the whole way through. It was entirely farcical and ridiculous, but an absolute joy to watch. My cheeks ached from laughing by the interval, and were positively painful by the end!

MTV Crashes Plymouth- Centenary Celebrations

Plymouth Hoe was stormed by more than 20,000 people yesterday evening, as MTV well and truly crashed Plymouth. The beautiful setting was rather at odds with such a noisy event, but the performers and patrons seemed to really enjoy themselves.

Friday Fiver available on highly recommended show

I watched 20th Century Boy last night and would highly recommend the show (see my post on the show).

Plymouth Theatre Royal's Friday Fiver scheme includes this show, and it's available tonight! Grab your cheap tickets now!

20th Century Boy- The Lyric, Theatre Royal

I wasn't aware that I knew so many of T-Rex's tunes! I was absolutely blown away by this performance, the music, staging, acting and general pizzazz.

20th Century Boy looks at the life and career of Marc Bolan, lead singer of T-Rex, through the eyes

Love and Information- The Drum- Theatre Royal

Having previously been to see a People's Company production, and having not particularly enjoyed the experience, I was slightly retiscent to attend this performance. However, I was happy to give the company another chance, as I felt that the stage production was more of  a problem than the acting itself in the previous show.

I was very impressed with this performance. It was intriguing snapshots into various scenes, each a stand-alone microcosm, but each significant to each other in tenuous ways. It was cleverly put

A Night Less Ordinary is Closing!

This is the sad demise of the ANLO Scheme run by the Plymouth Theatre Royal. None of the shows in the new season will be eligible for the ANLO Scheme.

This is a real shame. The ANLO scheme encouraged young people to become engaged with the theatre, and to see a variety of shows. Without young people being drawn to the theatre, it is unlikely