Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
Page 41
Page 42
Page 43
Page 44
28THERIVERSUMMER2014CULTUREKINGLEARbyWilliamShakespeareDirectorBernieCByrnesUnderneaththearchesatWaterloostationthisplaceishardtofndsodontexpecttogetoatrainat725andstillgettoyourseatontimeortheshow.Giveyourselanextra20minuteswhichwontbewastediyoudogetluckyandfndthewayfrsttimeyoucanalwaysenjoyanextradrinkinthebar.WaterlooRoadjustbytheMcDonaldsandoppositetheSainsburysLocalasyouwalktowardstheOldVicthereisasinglesignonthewallabrownplateandarrowreadingNetworkTheatre.ThisplaceissoelusiveitssurrealandremindsmeotheelectricsignthatHarryHallerSteppenwolfndsMAGICTHEATRE.ENTRANCENOTFOREVERYBODY.FORMADMENONLYabovealockeddoor.Butperseverethisisalovelyrealtheatreandisworthseekingout.Onceyouhaveoundthesignandpassedtheotherobstaclesandmadeitthereyouwilldiscoverathrivinghealthycreativecommunitythatiswarmandwelcoming.IwastheretoseeaverydierentinterpretationoKingLearbrutallycutdownromtheoriginaltexttodeliveramoredirectpunch.TherewereechoesotheSamMendesversionrunningsimultaneouslyattheNationalTheatreinthatthecontextoplaywasmoremodernpoliticalthanoldworldkingdoms.Thepowerplaystruggleswerealltheretheloyaltiesanddisloyaltiesthedramaandthetrauma.Directdramaticandalwaysengagingthiswasanexceptionallygoodnightandgreatvalueormoney.EnjoyingaglassowineattheintervalwiththeplaysdirectorBernieByrnesanddiscussingthethemesandheruniqueapproachwasanaddedbonus.NETWORKTHEATRE246ALowerRoadWaterlooSE18SFanewplaybyReggieAdamscalledAnInterviewwithGaddaf3rdto29thJuneaswellasWhistleblowertheStoryoEdwardSnowdenbyRichardRoques7thJulyto3rdAugust.Edgynewandpoliticallyrisqueideaswritingandperormance.Doyoureallyneedtogoandseeyetanotherversionoanoldavouritedramaagainwithshow-bizroyaltybaskinginadulationwhentherearethingslikethistoseeDontoverlooktheticketpricetoomostnightsseatsstartrom17eachthoughlookoutorspecialnightsineachproductiontheydocalledPaywhatyoucannightwhichspeaksoritsel.Thesekindsotheatresaresmallandintimatewithticketpricestomatchmakinganeveningoutnomoreexpensivethanspendingacoupleohoursinthepubwithriendsratherthanthecostoashortholiday.OrhavealookatNetworkTheatreLowerRoadunderWaterlooStationplayingLookingorNormalbyJaneAndersonanddirectedbyRebeccaMasonthismonthJunewhichpromisestobeanotheredgydramathistimeabouttheeectsoonemanssexualidentitycrisisonhisamily.NetworkTheatrecelebratesits75thAnniversarylaterthisyeartracingitsoriginsbacktotheSouthernRailwayDramaticSocietywhosefrstproductionwasADamselinDistressbyIanHayandPGWodehouseallthattimeago.Tocommemoratethisyoucanexpecttoseetheclockwoundbackthisautumnandthisplayrevisitedoroldtimessake.ProbablyoneothemostsuccessulOWestEndtheatresistheMenierChocolateFactorythatnotonlyboastsafnerestaurantandbaraspartothewholeeveningsentertainmentbutalsotworecentOlivierAwardsthisyearBestMusicalRevivalandBestSoundDesignorMerrilyWeRollAlong.Admittedlytheticketpricesarecreepingupbythisstagetothedizzyingheightso29.50butwhenyouthinkthatoranextra8youcangettheMealDealitstillisagreatallinpriceoranightout.Iyouenjoytheatreandnotjuststar-gazingthenyouwillenjoythisexperiencejustasmuchitisanadventureintothecreativescenethatputsyouclosertotheactionotenwithinarmsreachothecastandrubbingshoulderswiththewritersanddirectorsattheinterval.ItmaynotbeasglamourousastheWestEndexperiencebutitiscertainlyeverybitasentertainingandthoughtprovokinglikeagreatnightoutwithveryinterestingriends.NetworkTheatreiscelebratingits75thanniversaryin2014