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Audience Development
Audience Development & Play Readings
Play readings within theatre companies are a vital part of successfully producing plays. They often signal the beginning of the creative process, with the first assembly of the cast and the artistic director laying down the foundations of the interpretation of the play.
Black Lives Featured First Nations
Namatjira at the Southbank Centre, London
This play, which tells the story of Albert Namatjira, the first indigenous Australian painter to win international acclaim, premiered in Alice Springs in late 2009 and has since toured Australia. Now, this fascinating story comes to London. At the Southbank Centre
Children's Theatre
Told by an Idiot’s Get Happy at the Barbican
Our reviewer Josey takes eight-year-old Henry to Told By An Idiot’s latest production, a collaborative adventure-cum-panto-cum-circus show, with a giant ...
Children's Theatre
Circtacular at The Drum Theatre Dandenong
Look at how much the children are enjoying what they're doing. They delight in what they're doing...in doing their best. They're not following what someone said, they know what they're doing. They own what they're doing! Even the mistakes were beautiful mistakes. They are glorious. They are proactive.
Featured Into Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s Tempest On The Gold Coast
I have just viewed a great production of Shakespeare’s Tempest. I don’t say that lightly since the last time I ...
Children's Theatre
The Jungle Book at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre
Our reviewer takes Alannah (aged ten) and James (five) to a new version of The Jungle Book, with wonderful wild animals and a pretty convincing jungle above a pub. At the Lion and Unicorn Theatre.
Children's Theatre
The Gruffalo at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue
Julia Donaldson's story about a little mouse on an epic journey returns to the West End stage, with lively performances all around. Eight-year-old Henry helps our reviewer dish out the stars for this recommended Christmas treat for young families.
Black Lives First Nations
Masi Maidens at the Bargehouse
Theatre historian Josey De Rossi, who has studied the effects of European cultural imperialism on indigenous art forms, guides us through some of the themes raised by this unusual cross-arts project. At the Bargehouse.
Comedy and comics Commedia dell'arte
Francis, the Jester of God at Anglican parish of St Francis of Assisi, West Wickham
Mario Pirovano’s welcomes the audience to his one-man performance of Francis, the Holy Jester as a politician on the hustings. Launching the show with the promise of overturning centuries of misconceptions, he springs into the story of Francis, emphasizing that the real stories of the thirteenth century Italian saint are uniquely wonderful because they show how it is Francis the ‘holy fool’ who realises his life as friend of the poor, champion of the persecuted and heroic worker for peace and justice.
Theatre of Realism
Billy the Girl
Katie Hims' Billy the Girl presents superbly drawn characters, faced with the paradox of living ordinary lives through times of big change. Direction, design and sensitive portrayals of difficult characters combine in a moving story of about starting again.
