forever

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Burning Doors - Belarus Free Theatre & Pussy Riot

I restrained from writing this as a review since the effect of the show had such an impact on my attitudes towards theatre and contemporary performance. It was so aligned to my opinions of what theatre should be about that i’ve been rendered obsolete in describing it. It seems pointless to try. 

Never before have i witnessed such compassion and commitment delivered and executed on stage, it was an education in application; a production of what i believe should be on the stage. It was a weapon as much as it was an ode to the suffering endured company members and artists. It was raw and alive with harsh truth, brutal with its relationship to the audience, in a powerful form of loving protest. All you can do is absorb their presence and purpose; this is their life and creation, something of true artist truthfulness. The admiration and respect each performer had enabled the show to achieve its full potential. Every minute detail in my eyes had its place, there was nothing strictly for entertainments sake everything was delivered with purpose style and authenticity. Personally i felt overwhelmed at the end, even the shows comedic properties were communicated incredible well to an english audience. Truly unbelievable and inspiring as the Soho theatre was used as a weapon. 

http://www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/burning-doors/

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Things I Know To Be True - Frantic Assembly

In my eyes the pace of this show is imperative to its success; like most physical theatre...

In this case, i mean the pace of the language something that was executed with precision and dexterity. The company had such a strong connection with what they were attempting to communicate; that of a families growth through time, something every audience member could somewhat relate to. This is no simple task, as the audience could easily scrutinize the authenticity of the family yet each player and their purpose was effortlessly exchanged with the audience. Being built up from smaller scenes, monologues from each family member tied the piece together. They were honest and straight forward, rather than thick and draining they allowed the audience room to breath and manage their disbelief, sustaining and receiving direct address. This was something that was seamlessly set aside from the family arguments and exchanges that spanned a number of weeks possibly years. 

Things I Know To Be True pulled on the heart strings of most, bringing many audience members to tears as the show reached its climax through reminiscent family memories and exploring the notion of ‘home’ through the lense of a naturally dysfunctional family. Beautifully easy to watch, delivered with purpose and clarity, a show the left me feeling that life was brief, sudden and unexpected. 

Finishes October 1st 2hrs 20mins including interval

http://www.lyric.co.uk/whats-on/production/things-i-know-to-be-true/

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E4′s ‘Stage school’

Stage School is the most heinous porous piece of programming ive ever seen. 20 minutes of my life that i can never get back having followed my curiosity. I cant help but think that Naturalism as we know it in television is a dying form; its been replaced with heightened naturalism based in supposed “realism” as well as modern reality tv. Fetishizing lifestyles and relationships is a trend that has formed envy programming for the thick and narrow minded, or providing some with an opportunity to “switch off”. An idea that i could understand if it wasn't for the egocentric characters that dominate these contemporary shows.

Made in Chelsea are TOWIE are the king and queen of this patronizing genre; what the fucking hell have we come to with the Stage School equivalent. I suppose in an industry filled with hot air and self proclaimed creatives brimming with an abundance of laziness and false ideals which also needs to be catered to. These sham performers can watch and equate their lives to that of E4′s Stage School monsters, looking on with blind hope, rose tinted ideas and optimism in an field 90% of people cant survive in. 

In a way i genuinely wish i could meet one of the cast, to ask and understand why they would be affiliated with a total miss interpretation of the education system in performing arts institutions. As well as addressing the lack of respect i found them all to have towards the crafts they strive to succeed in. Why also have they wasted the lives of millions and actually caused psychological grief on viewers either sub consciously or consciously in my case. The work of vanity driven idiots and money grabbing producers with little to no respect for the history of the craft or the people they are providing to. 

And at the same time, who am i to question their integrity, i suppose it is only E4, my expectations where already very low. But it begs the question where are we now? That this has an audience demand or value is strange, what does it say about us as a generation or community? This unrealistic realism is blinding generations and instilling ideals of how to be, act and live, whilst for others its some sort of comfort, it requires no challenge and watching it ironically doesn't provide comedy for very long. It can be moorish and addictive sometimes even comical, but in Stage Schools case just astringent narscasitic shite.