Tag Archives: Theatre Peckham

Rapunzel

★★★

Theatre Peckham

RAPUNZEL at Theatre Peckham

★★★

“As a vehicle for the youth theatre to show their chops, Rapunzel is a very charming production”

Theatre Peckham sits just a stone’s throw from the thoroughfare of Rye Lane, with its bustling array of salt fish sellers, street-preachers and salon owners. Their Christmas show this year, Rapunzel, seeks to bring that vibrant atmosphere to life in an original take on the fairytale.

Under the direction of Suzann McLean, also artistic director of the theatre, Rapunzel is a world famous hair-dresser at vibrantly pink and glitzy Peckham salon Barnet Magic – but things were not always so. When she was just a baby her mother’s jealous cousin Cassie secretly kidnapped her, to use as ransom for an inheritance Cassie was denied. Locked in a tower for 18 years, Rapunzel is none the wiser as Cassie profits from her niece’s hairstyling prowess and continues to disadvantage Rapunzel’s mother Maddy.

It’s an overly long and convoluted plot with jumps in time necessitated by the involvement of a large youth company, outnumbering the adult cast more than three to one. One or two of the young cast surely have a future on the stage, full of energy and goofy charm and clearly having the time of their lives. Jazz Deer-Olafa’s choreography is engaging yet simple enough for everyone to be involved. There are even opportunities for some of the most unassuming cast members to have their moment in the spotlight and it is heartening to see the passion that has gone into the work of the show.

The adult performers are a bit of a mixed bag. Scarlet Gabriel as Maddy and Kellah-M Spring as Rapunzel come across as rather flat and low energy. At the other end of the scale, Jade Leanne Benjamin as the evil Cassie is over the top, particularly in the way she constantly adjusts her various wigs. Montel Douglas provides some light relief as both a distracted detective and Rapunzel’s saviour, Dignity Jones. But Marcus Ayton as Mama Bea is standout with his lilting Caribbean accent and aphorisms on point.

Original musical numbers by composer Jordan Xavier and lyricist Geoff Aymer do well to use elements of pop, R&B and afro-beats to reflect and appeal to the largely local audience. The lead performers seem to have a hard time hearing themselves over the music and there are some weak refrains that are repeated ad nauseum. It also feels like there is a missed opportunity in bringing out the ‘rap’ in Rapunzel more strongly.

As a vehicle for the youth theatre to show their chops, Rapunzel is a very charming production. It has community appeal in its hyper local setting and plot of triumph over adversity. Viewed through this lens, there’s plenty to come away from the show smiling about.


RAPUNZEL at Theatre Peckham

Reviewed on 6th December 2023

by Amber Woodward

Photography by Lidia Crisafulli

 

 

 

Some recent reviews:

Potted Panto | ★★★★★ | Wilton’s Music Hall | December 2023
Garry Starr Performs Everything | ★★★½ | Southwark Playhouse Borough | December 2023
Solstice | ★★★★ | Battersea Arts Centre | December 2023
It’s A Wonderful Life | ★★★★★ | Reading Rep Theatre | December 2023
The Time Machine – A Comedy | ★★★★ | Park Theatre | December 2023
Mother Goose | ★★★★ | Cambridge Arts Theatre | December 2023
A Very Very Bad Cinderella | ★★★★★ | The Other Palace | December 2023

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Extremism

Extremism

★★★★

Theatre Peckham

Extremism

Extremism

Theatre Peckham

Reviewed – 7th November 2019

★★★★

 

“Suzann McLean brings out the youthful energy of this talented group with great control, achieving a fluidity of movement and pace as the mood intensifies”

 

As we enter Theatre Peckham, we walk straight into the clamour of chatter and laughter found in every school before the bell goes. And it is from there that ‘Extremism’ unfolds. Brought to the attention of Miss Tomlinson, Jamal has been taken away by the Government authorities. Left teacher-less in the classroom, his fellow classmates try to understand what has happened – questioning, defending, arguing and accusing. ‘Prevent’ is a Government programme which aims to train and inform people in positions of trust, such as teachers, to be aware of signs of bullying, abuse and radicalisation. Known for his head-on political and social plays, from racism to the banking crisis, Anders Lustgarten takes this as his starting point and creates a frank interchange of opinions and ideas between the students to spark discussion and debate about social issues faced by young people today.

This cast of emerging actors surprise and inspire, each role illustrating the various insecurities, influences and attitudes absorbed from parents, peers and social media. From time to time the ‘Lord of the Flies’ scenario comes to mind, even down to the sympathetic, picked-on Piggy equivalent – Evan, played by Julien Pitchell. Then there is Olive (Na’eemah N’diaye) translating for her brother Samuel (Tyrell Weekes-Harper) who speaks in Klingon, too vulnerable to communicate directly. Kirsty (Hollie Regan) worries nervously about feeling safe in contrast to Nansi Love’s recalcitrant Rachel. Asha Hassan as Suhayla shows quiet strength from the outset while Marlo Rye’s Darren gradually uncovers the effects of his father’s narrow mindset. Denneil Dunbar is the witty and informed Chris, Kingsley Sowole plays Jordan, sincere, closest to Jamal and put under uncomfortable scrutiny and Nadezhda Stoycheva’ is a feisty, challenging Melina. Together they contrast and complement.

Director, Suzann McLean brings out the youthful energy of this talented group with great control, achieving a fluidity of movement and pace as the mood intensifies. Emma Wee’s set cleverly makes the classroom overflow into the audience (or vice versa) although, performing in the round, we sometimes miss the occasional line. As a provocative comment, there is plenty of material. As a drama it also makes a strong impact, using a classic build-up of tension with a twist at the end to underline the message.

Theatre Peckham exudes a very special atmosphere of community, friendship and integration, exemplary in their production of ‘Extremism’. A dynamic piece of theatre, Anders Lustgarten’s skilful writing engages us closely with ten distinctive characters whose views, emotions and fears build succinctly to an impassioned climax. And all in under an hour.

 

Reviewed by Joanna Hetherington

Photography by  Raymond Field

 


Extremism

Theatre Peckham

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:
Robin Hood: The Arrow Of Destiny | ★★★★★ | December 2018

 

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