Charlie Wilks - Page 2

The National Theatre’s acclaimed production of a boy trying to find his place in a world that doesn’t understand him is back, running at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre for seven weeks, before heading out on tour in the new year. Based on the best-selling novel by Mark Haddon, Simon Stephens adaptation is a hit with all ages. Full of heart, hope, humour and honesty, this play speaks to all of us in nuanced and beautiful ways.

Sheer joy radiates on The Unicorn Theatre main stage, in Julian Clary’s on-stage adaptation of his well-loved book collection. Having seven in the collection, this play focuses on the first book - the story of The Bolds; a family just like the majority of us, who live in a nice house, have nice jobs and love a giggle. But there is one difference, they’re hyenas. Yes, you heard it right - they’ve came across from Tanzania to live a life where they don’t have to scrimp for the next meal.

If you’re looking for a brilliant night out, full of thrill, danger and humour, then this show is for you. The celebrated, Olivier award-winning circus troupe arrive in the West End, to delight audiences of all ages. Featuring your favourite type of acts and some things you may have next seen before, this eclectic mix of top talent is fun for all the family.

Tunde’s 30th birthday is on its way. But he isn’t in the mood for celebrating like he usually does, much to the dismay of his friends and family. He’s also not attending the gym, his mood his low, he’s broken up with his girlfriend of 5+ years and now, every time he has sex with someone new, he ends up being in tears. Ifeyinwa Frederick’s new play about male mental health, masculinity and vulnerability opens up conversations about who we can turn to in our darkest days. Delving deep into one man’s experience on the edge, it’s a playful, delicate and at times uncomfortable take on depression.

Bringing together the best gender-benders and cis-them offenders that the UK has to offer, The Enby Show is an electric, unique and vibrant all-star comedy night - that was performed at the Vaudeville Theatre, in London’s West End. The aim is to bin the binary by showcasing queer talent from all walks of life, and it definitely achieves this with comedy, drag, lip-syncs, high-energy dance, and so much more.

If you were to read the copy and watch the trailer assigned for this show, you’d probably assume that it was just a bunch of macho, metrosexual men singing hit songs in a fictional local pub, and to be honest, you’d be absolutely right in that assumption. Full of raucous cheer, dancing and beer-drinking, this one-hour show definitely gets the crowd going. Even on a Saturday matinee, people were up on their feet dancing and laughing along - causing a really exciting energy to fizz around the room.

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Suzan-Lori Parks confronts the audience with big themes in her thrilling and radical play, which has received its European premiere at The Bridge Theatre. The writer describes this work as something that, “rips the face off of civilisation.” And I’d agree that it certainly does. Taking an unflinching look at race in the 21st Century, from both a black and white perspective, this production is undeniably bold, but reflective of the place society finds itself in today.

In a world where people are being displaced every day, with very little news coverage on the seriousness of the situation, Kate Prince MBE imagines a fictional story of a family trying to find a place to call a new home. They live in harmony, until civil war disrupts this existence and devastates the community. They travel shores, making impossible choices in order to survive. Along the way, they lose one another, and have to find agency to find their way on their own. Sat against the backdrop of the music of legendary artist Sting, featuring vocals from other powerhouses, this electric dance piece is a story of love, loss, hope and trust.

Fresh off their debut, critically acclaimed and award-winning play, Jasmine Lee Jones brings a new solo show to Soho Theatre’s main stage. Jones both writes and performs the piece, which takes a look at a multitude of things; drama school anxiety, queer discovery, lust and sex, along with Black female acting representation in the 18th century. A lot of discussed in this 90-minute story, but very little with nuanced detail - leaving the audience unsatisfied.

Director Rebecca Taichman and playwright Paula Vogel were both drawn to Sholem Asch’s 1907 phenomenon, God of Vengeance. Their Tony-nominated, highly-acclaimed production has landed in London. A show that plays tribute a stage scandal, this is a heartfelt song to something that nearly never was.

After giving her entire life to make other people smile, legendary comedienne Myra Dubois has decided to make something all about her. In a bid to create the most attention seeking thing of all time, she stages her own funeral – ensuring that everything about her iconic energy is celebrated. Hence the show at The Garrick. It’s a non-stop hoot, looking at how we find joy in grief.

I would hesitant a guess to say that most of us know about Disney’s colossus beast, Frozen. Made famous when it debuted during Christmas 2013, it quickly became one of the company’s audience’s animated classics. Since its release we’ve had sequels, spinoffs, merchandise and now, a hit musical – which originally premiered in Denver, before opening in Broadway, and now recently landing in London’s West End. Loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s 19th Century tale, The Snow Queen, Disney’s production turns much of the original story on its head.

If you think it’s too soon for jokes surrounding Prince Andrew’s sex abuse allegations or the Meghan and Kate wedding feud, it’s probably best you don’t see this show. Because this story, inspired by the hugely popular Channel 4 favourite of the same name, holds nothing back. There are jokes from minute one to minute end, all of which tread the line of being hilarious and too much. All of them poke fun at the royals, so if you’re one of them who hold them up to a high esteem, avoid yourself the discomfort. However, if like me you do love humour that makes a large spoof of things, and does it successfully, then this is a fantastic night out.

babirye bukilwa’s …cake is an equally heartbreaking and heartwarming exploration of love of all kinds. Part of a trilogy of work from the writer, this story is the prequel to bukilwa’s acclaimed play …blackbird hour, which was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Playwriting, the Bruntwood Prize and the Alfred Fagon Award. Directed by Theatre Peckham’s Associate Director, malakaï sargeant, this 90-minute story is exceptional at every moment.

Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo is sensational in Benedict Lombe’s full-length debut currently running at The Bush Theatre. Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike, the piece is an explosive and complex exploration of identity, belonging and self-love. Moving through tumultuous Congo, post-Apartheid South Africa, and hostile Ireland and England, we watch a woman find herself, through exploring her and the world’s history.

30 years after former flames Jason and Alex last saw one another, the pair reunite at Jason’s old student house – each bringing different past life experiences to the encounter. Played by Bo Paraj and Claire Price, the duo flirt, somewhat reigniting their passion and they both attempt to rediscover what their relationship meant to them then, and now. Deborah Bruce’s play, directed by Hampstead Theatre Artistic Director Roxana Silbert, explores carefree university adventure through the lens of people who now should know better.

Alfred Fagon’s overlooked play is given a revival at the Hampstead Theatre, following its premiere at the same space in 1975. 46 years ago it was the first play by a Black British writer to be presented there. Quite a shocker back then, the play in Dawn Walton’s new production seems to aim to reignite that same provocation with audiences today. A piece about sexual politics and post-colonial legacy, the piece feels flimsy in its execution.

Amy Trigg performs in her own award-winning debut play at The Kiln Theatre. Winner of the inaugural Women’s Playwriting Prize from Paines Plough and Ellie Keel Productions, the play is a joyous and poignant look at a woman’s experience of spina bifida. Directed by Paines Plough co-artistic director Charlotte Bennett, the piece is a laugh from start to finish – whilst still at the same time contains moments of real emotional impact.

To use any other word than ‘crisis’ to describe what is happening with today’s climate is ridiculous. Temperatures rise, natural resources dwindle and human beings waste more than ever. Is our planet saveable? Can we heal mother earth, or is it better to admit defeat and divert all resources into finding another place to build a sustainable ecosystem. This is the main question grappled with in Amy Berryman’s Walden.

As the likes of classic hit favourites Wicked and The Lion King reopen round the corner, the West End also returns with a more alternative offering, in the form of Jack Holden’s Cruise – the story of a gay man in the 80s embarking on one last hedonistic purge. Diagnosed with HIV, and given only a short window to live, it’s time to party, dance, sweat, fuck and take every drug available. It’s 1988 Soho, and Michael’s supposedly last day on earth.