“It’s middle-of-the-road Shakespeare on display here though, with jokes found in physicality more than the text”
Wilton’s Music Hall is the perfect home for this fun and frivolous production of Twelfth Night, transferring after a popular run at the Watermill Theatre. The production oozes old-fashioned charm, and, with its talented troupe of actor-musicians performing a play so preoccupied with the power of music, is an energetic joy to behold.
Sir Toby Belch is our MC in ‘The Elephant Jazz Club’, and wittily guides us through some lovely swing numbers to kick off the show. Each cast member gets to show off some of their musical and dancing talents early on, and the range of instruments on show, and the number of instruments played by each member of the ensemble is incredible. For fans of swing covers of recent hits, this is the show for you. Orsino (Jamie Satterthwaite) charges recently shipwrecked twin-in-disguise Viola (Rebecca Lee) to woo the mourning Olivia on his behalf, little knowing that Viola actually loves him, and, as the show goes on, that Olivia is more interested in the servant than the master. This comedy is less about plot and more about antics, with Belch, Aguecheek and Feste providing enough mischief conning Malvolio (played with relish by Peter Dukes) to keep this audience roaring with laughter.
The songs, interwoven throughout, are gorgeous. Suits, hats and cigarettes are on full display to build the image of a twenties jazz club, and, though not providing a clear context for the story, nor adding anything other than a pretty aesthetic, the era seems to invite audiences to kick off their shoes and have some fun.
On the whole, the ensemble work hard and give energetic and exaggerated performances. Mike Slader makes for a comically over-the-top Aguecheek, reminiscent of a greasy Crispin Glover, and Dukes’ Malvolio is stoic and uptight, making his downfall (in all its drag glory) even greater to see. It’s middle-of-the-road Shakespeare on display here though, with jokes found in physicality more than the text, and most players’ delivery feels a little too theatrical and forced at times. A touch more variety in delivery, or belief in what is being said, may help the meaning to shine through clearer.
Lusciously lit in this beautiful space makes this production a hit though, and the audience were whooping and cheering raucously as the ensemble took their bows. Cracking comedy and tunes you can’t help tap your feet to are the order of the day, and this production delivers on all fronts.
The Blue Elephant announces a new season of collaborations with exciting emerging artists, bringing urgent, thought-provoking and intriguing work to the black-box fringe venue in Camberwell.
The Blue Elephant continues to support work at all stages of development and the season includes scratch nights and work-in-progress showings as well as Haste Theatre’s Oyster Boy and Resuscitate’s Rounds. Both these shows have had successful past productions but are now premiering ‘revamped’ and further developed versions at the Blue Elephant in March.
Other highlights include When the Dove Returns, by recent East 15 graduates Backpack Theatre, and Female Intuition, two nights of new writing written and directed by women.
The season closes with a new production of Twelfth Night by Original Impact Theatre, reimagining the play for new audiences.
Co-Artistic Director, Niamh de Valera, says:
“We’re delighted to share this season with you and are looking forward to audiences’ reactions. We feel very lucky that we’re able to continue our work supporting emerging artists and programming really special, engaging shows, as the future is always so uncertain. We do have to raise a lot of money to stay open for the next year but we’re starting on a high note with a season we’re very excited about so we’re hopeful it will set the tone for the year!”
As well as its professional artistic programme, the Blue Elephant has a vibrant and far-reaching participation department, which delivers workshops in local primary and secondary schools and runs two youth theatres in the local area, reaching up to two thousand people each year.
Original Impact returns to the Blue Elephant to present a scratch night, showcasing new plays, written and directed by women.
Knock Knock by Megan Jenkins explores how we define our identity, gender politics and…ghost stories…
Voting numbers have been falling so the new Government has lowered the voting age to 16 and made it compulsory for students to learn politics. A week may be a long time in politics but in Project Britainby Alexandria Anfield, it’s also a long time in school.
There are certain things you shouldn’t say when it comes to the awkward subject of death… In Big Girls Don’t Cryby Laura Burrell, you meet the women who say them all.
Hold Still, This Won’t Hurt is a new short play about retribution, loyalty and turning tables, written by Hannah Roe, whose previous work has been performed at the Park Theatre, London and HighTide Festival 2016.
Follow the tale of Alice and Italian ice cream seller Jim, who fall in love strolling along the beach in a 1950’s whirlwind romance. However, all is not as sweet as it seems when their lives are turned upside down by the arrival of their son Sam…a very unusual boy!
Based on the title story of The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy by Tim Burton, this bittersweet tale reminds us of the fragility of life and introduces us to a host of larger-than-life characters who are sure to entertain and delight. Oyster Boy is a multi-award-winning, international production mixing physical storytelling, clown, live singing, dance and puppetry.
Haste is an international, multi-disciplinary theatre ensemble based in London. The company seek to create visually impressive theatre, which provokes question, thought, laughter and enjoyment in a diverse audience through simple means. The company has produced and toured work in the U.K, U.S.A and Italy.
Thursday 2 – Friday 3 March 8pm
£9 (£8 conc. & £7 Southwark residents)
Resuscitate Theatre
presents
Rounds
Follow six junior doctors as they balance the pressures of the ward and their personal lives.
Kal is seriously considering sedating the next patient who asks to be treated by a proper English doctor. Dom just wants to get into the shower while there’s still hot water. Felicity is living for the weekend. Lucy got her last choice ward and feels like she’s drowning. Tom’s getting good at tuning everything out and would quite like to keep it that way. Grace is just looking for someone to feed her cat while she’s on call.
They all work in the hospital down the road from you.
Resuscitate present a collection of the sometimes funny, sometimes tragic true stories from the inside of the surgical mask.
Rounds features stunning physical work from Lecoq ensemble interwoven with projection and visual theatre.
How much humanity will we sacrifice when our lives are at stake?
The survivors of a flood have been stuck on a ship for thirty days. As the damage done to their world becomes clear, they have to find a way to rebuild their lives…
This new, ambitious devised piece by Backpack Theatre combines touching observations and outrageous humour in a dynamic, physical piece that is sure to make the audience laugh, gasp and reflect.
Following their debut in 2016, with Bibs, Boats, Borders & B*stards about the refugee crisis, described as a “great first show”, “tear-jerking” and a “call for individuals to take greater responsibility”, Backpack Theatre stages a new call-to-arms piece about the long-term effects of our carelessness.
Tuesday 28 March – Saturday 1 April 8pm
Post-show Discussion: Thursday 30 March
£9.50 (£8 conc. & £7 Southwark residents)
A Truefitt Collective
presents
There is Nothing More Public Than Privacy
Two dance pieces collaboratively investigate the secret lives and intimate spaces of public loneliness. Both works have explored a gendered approach towards ‘capturing intimacy’ within virtual and live spaces. Through a process of visually documenting women in their private and ‘safe’ spaces, the work tackles questions about public loneliness.
Bubbling with energy and youthfulness, this actor-muso production of Twelfth Night is a playful take on the cross-dressing comedy.
Original Impact return to the Blue Elephant with one of Shakespeare’s most popular and enduring plays following the sell-out success of A Working Title last year.
Wednesday 26 April – Saturday 6 May 8pm
(Wednesdays to Saturdays only)
(also 4pm on Wednesday 26 April & Wednesday 3 May)
