Debbie Gilpin

Debbie Gilpin




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Review: THE DUCHESS OF MALFI, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Review: THE DUCHESS OF MALFI, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
March 1, 2024

“Sometimes the Devil doth preach.” In a winter season that has arguably gone too light on Shakespeare, it is nonetheless fitting that the final production is a brand new version of John Webster’s bloody tragedy. Dominic Dromgoole’s production opened the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse ten years ago, and now Rachel Bagshaw is on board to direct it on its return to the replica Jacobean theatre.

Review: PLAZA SUITE, Savoy Theatre
Review: PLAZA SUITE, Savoy Theatre
January 29, 2024

Following a long-anticipated Broadway run, John Benjamin Hickey's production of Neil Simon's Plaza Suite has now made it over to the West End, where it takes over from New York-bound Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre. This version sees real life couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick work opposite one another for only the second time in their careers – and is especially apt given the play's subject matter.

Review: HEART, Brixton House
Review: HEART, Brixton House
January 26, 2024

“This is perhaps a story for all the misfits, all those who have ever felt ‘other’.” Jade Anouka’s debut play tells the story of love, heartbreak, mental health challenges, and fresh starts - it’s (mostly) a monologue, backed by music from Grace Savage, and has previously been produced by Audible Theater, with live performances in New York and Edinburgh ahead of this run.

Review: 1979, Finborough Theatre
Review: 1979, Finborough Theatre
January 5, 2024

1979 was quite a big year both politically and culturally, but Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark is perhaps one of the lesser known figures to emerge from that time – his Liberal opposite number Pierre Trudeau (or at the very least his son, Justin) is probably a more recognisable name.

Review: JAMIE CULLUM - THE PIANOMAN AT CHRISTMAS, Royal Albert Hall
Review: JAMIE CULLUM - THE PIANOMAN AT CHRISTMAS, Royal Albert Hall
December 9, 2023

It’s probably safe to assume that, for many people, December 2023 so far has not been “the most wonderful time of the year”; whether it’s miserable weather, unreliable train infrastructure, or any of the myriad other problems facing the world, the lead-up to this year’s Christmas festivities has not exactly been vintage. For one magical evening, however, Jamie Cullum managed to sweep that all aside and deliver a festive concert stuffed with pure joy.

Book Review: SHAKESPEARE – THE MAN WHO PAYS THE RENT, Judi Dench
Book Review: SHAKESPEARE – THE MAN WHO PAYS THE RENT, Judi Dench
November 8, 2023

There are plenty of Shakespeare books on the market already, it’s true – but there aren’t many out there quite like this one. Originally intended to be a series of conversations between Judi Dench and her friend & colleague Brendan O’Hea for the Globe’s archives, it became apparent that there was more than enough material to build an enlightening and entertaining book.

Review: AMADEUS LIVE, Royal Albert Hall
Review: AMADEUS LIVE, Royal Albert Hall
October 26, 2023

“There are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.” Peter Shaffer’s irreverent, yet at times poignant and thought-provoking, take on the relationship between Mozart and Salieri began life as a National Theatre production – its big screen adaptation garnered accolades following its 1984 release, and retains its popularity almost 40 years later.

Review: OPERATION EPSILON, Southwark Playhouse
Review: OPERATION EPSILON, Southwark Playhouse
September 21, 2023

Second World War stories seem to be in vogue at the moment (though did they ever really go away?), with Christopher Nolan’s juggernaut Oppenheimer emotionally draining cinema audiences across the globe, and Operation Mincemeat continuing to entertain audiences at the Fortune Theatre. Alan Brody’s Operation Epsilon follows in their footsteps, with Andy Sandberg’s production making its UK première at Southwark Playhouse’s new venue (Elephant).

Review: THE LITTLE BIG THINGS, @sohoplace
Review: THE LITTLE BIG THINGS, @sohoplace
September 14, 2023

Based on the memoir of the same name, The Little Big Things recounts the story of Henry Fraser's life-changing accident on holiday in Portugal, and how he subsequently came to embrace the person he became. The book has been adapted for the stage by Joe White, with music by Nick Butcher and lyrics by Butcher and Tom Ling; Luke Sheppard directs, and the creative team also worked closely with the Fraser family to aid in its development.

Review: PROM 69 – MOZART'S 'REQUIEM', Royal Albert Hall
Review: PROM 69 – MOZART'S 'REQUIEM', Royal Albert Hall
September 10, 2023

Mozart received the commission for this requiem under mysterious circumstances, a “messenger in black” brought the request and then refused to divulge who had sent him. The identity of the person commissioning the work was eventually revealed to be that of Count Franz von Walsegg, as he had recently lost his wife and wanted to commemorate her with a requiem - however, as Mozart didn’t start working on it until October 1791 (three months after the commission was sent), it remained unfinished upon his death in December that year. Several of Mozart’s pupils were charged with completing the composition, though the bulk of this work fell to Franz Xaver Süssmayr.

Review: PROM 68 – MAX RICHTER - RECOMPOSED, Royal Albert Hall
Review: PROM 68 – MAX RICHTER - RECOMPOSED, Royal Albert Hall
September 10, 2023

The Britten Sinfonia is unusual in the world of professional orchestras, in that they don’t have the now-traditional principal conductor as their figurehead, instead choosing to collaborate with leading exponents of the field. For this Prom, violinist Thomas Gould both played and acted as director; this harks back to the early days of orchestral performances, where the first violin tended to be the concertmaster - conductors only began to be more prevalent in the 19th century.

Review: PROM 61 – CHINEKE! PERFORMS BEETHOVEN'S FOURTH SYMPHONY, Royal Albert Hall
Review: PROM 61 – CHINEKE! PERFORMS BEETHOVEN'S FOURTH SYMPHONY, Royal Albert Hall
September 4, 2023

Founded in 2015, the Chineke! Orchestra made its Proms debut in the 2017 season and has been a regular feature of various festivals and concert series ever since; it is currently a resident orchestra at the Southbank Centre. Chineke!’s motto (“Championing change and celebrating diversity in classical music”) is reflected in both the make-up of their orchestra and the variety of compositions featured in this Prom - from Valerie Coleman all the way back to Joseph Haydn.

Review: PROM 56 – RATTLE CONDUCTS MAHLER'S NINTH, Royal Albert Hall
Review: PROM 56 – RATTLE CONDUCTS MAHLER'S NINTH, Royal Albert Hall
August 28, 2023

Last night’s performance consisted of a rendition of Francis Poulenc’s Figure humaine by the BBC Singers, as well as the London Symphony Orchestra tackling Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. A fitting pairing for something of a bittersweet evening, as it brings together words from the French Resistance and a tragic farewell from one of the foremost Romantic composers - Sir Simon Rattle conducted both pieces with aplomb.

Review: PROM 55 – GERSHWIN'S PIANO CONCERTO, Royal Albert Hall
Review: PROM 55 – GERSHWIN'S PIANO CONCERTO, Royal Albert Hall
August 28, 2023

The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s second outing at this year’s Proms celebrated the magic of movement, with varying degrees of dance in pieces by Stravinsky, Ravel, Gershwin, and a European première from Carlos Simon. Their programme took the audience back in time, beginning in the 2020s and ending in the 1910s; a century of music with a whole host of inspirations.

Review: PROM 48 – JULES BUCKLEY ORCHESTRA, Royal Albert Hall
Review: PROM 48 – JULES BUCKLEY ORCHESTRA, Royal Albert Hall
August 22, 2023

What was it about 1973? Already this year there have been events celebrating the 50th anniversaries of classic albums such as David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, and countless others – then last night at the Royal Albert Hall, the Jules Buckley Orchestra added to that list with their own tribute to Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions. The orchestra was joined throughout by multi-instrumentalist Cory Henry and Vula’s Chorale, as well as some extra special guests.

Review: PROM 44 – STRAVINSKY'S THE FIREBIRD, Royal Albert Hall
Review: PROM 44 – STRAVINSKY'S THE FIREBIRD, Royal Albert Hall
August 19, 2023

The power and majesty of the orchestra was at the heart of this Prom, with a well put-together programme that included the European première of a BBC co-commission and two early twentieth century compositions from two of Russia’s most famous musical sons. It also felt quite story-driven across the board, though significantly so in the headline piece.

Review: PROM 17 – ORFF'S CARMINA BURANA, Royal Albert Hall
Review: PROM 17 – ORFF'S CARMINA BURANA, Royal Albert Hall
July 28, 2023

After the BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ performance of Beethoven’s theatrical fifth symphony last week, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra upped the ante by taking on Carl Orff’s cantata - which features another of classical music’s most iconic introductions.

Review: PROM 14 - ELGAR'S 'ENIGMA' VARIATIONS, Royal Albert Hall
Review: PROM 14 - ELGAR'S 'ENIGMA' VARIATIONS, Royal Albert Hall
July 26, 2023

“The Enigma I will not explain – its 'dark saying' must be left unguessed... further, through and over the whole set another and larger theme 'goes', but is not played.' Prom 14 turned out to be something of an enigmatic night across the board, with the listener left to interpret or speculate about the greater meaning of the work, and transported to magical planes via Beethoven’s Piano Concert No. 3 in C minor, Noriko Koide’s Swaddling Silk and Gossamer Rain, and Elgar’s ‘Enigma’ Variations.

Review: PROM 8 – IMPRESSIONS OF SPAIN, Royal Albert Hall
Review: PROM 8 – IMPRESSIONS OF SPAIN, Royal Albert Hall
July 23, 2023

William Shakespeare famously wrote extensively about places which he had never visited, so why shouldn’t composers do the same? Of the four pieces performed in this Spain-themed Prom, only one of the composers was Spanish - the rest were French, and at least one of them (namely Claude Debussy) had to rely on accounts of Spain from native dancers, artists, and musicians, as he had never set foot in the country.

Review: PROM 7 – BEETHOVEN'S FIFTH SYMPHONY, Royal Albert Hall
Review: PROM 7 – BEETHOVEN'S FIFTH SYMPHONY, Royal Albert Hall
July 20, 2023

Works by “the old Ludwig van” – as A Clockwork Orange’s Alex would say – remain popular as part of the BBC Proms series, with this performance of his fifth symphony the second of eight Beethoven compositions on the programme this year – and this is probably the most famous of the lot. It was preceded by renditions of Sergey Rachmaninov’s Five Études-tableaux (making its Proms debut) and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto in G minor.



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