Tag Archives: Richard Eyre

The Cherry Orchard

Arcola Theatre, London (****)

© Robert Workman, Sian Thomas (Mme Ranevsky), Jude Akuwudike (Lopakhin)

© Robert Workman, Sian Thomas (Mme Ranevsky), Jude Akuwudike (Lopakhin)

Terrific Revolution season, Mehmet Ergen has put together at the Arcola. Along with Gorki’s The Lower Depths, a howl of distress from the underbelly of society now sits Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, whilst Oladipo Agboluaje’s New Nigerians brings us up to date, almost, in the Studio with his African voice. Continue reading

Little Eyolf

Almeida Theatre, London (****)

© Hugo Glendinning

© Hugo Glendinning

Richard Eyre, the National Theatre’s former supremo is making himself something of a specialist when it comes to Ibsen. Having adapted and directed Hedda Gabler and Ghosts to loud acclaim, now he’s taken on Ibsen’s less familiar Little Eyolf. What emerges is a taut chamber portrait of marriage and guilt – a template for later studies of marital warfare from Strindberg to Albee. Continue reading

Mr Foote’s Other Leg

Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London (*****)

© Nobby Clark

© Nobby Clark

Ah, the magic of theatre! A frequently over-used, derided phrase, for once, it really applies to this delicious, fun-giving Hampstead transfer with Simon Russell Beale, Joseph Millson and Dervla Kirwan in the leading roles. Continue reading