2009 theatre highlights

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Permalink Reply by Emma MacNab on February 13, 2010 at 11:35pm

'All's well that ends well' at the National in the summer was outstanding. The whole design concept was beautiful. I think som eof those images will remain with me and inspire me for many years to come. That designer deserved a prize!

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Johnson on February 19, 2010 at 5:44pm

Although it spanned 2008/2009, and I had a very poor theatre going year in 2009, I've still got to mention David Tennant's Hamlet, which had an incredible set and was the funniest tragedy I've ever seen. His Loves Labour's Lost was pretty good too!
(But it was in 2008, so it get's disqualified. Darn)

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Permalink Reply by Beth House on February 23, 2010 at 8:31pm

Have come to this thread really late- how interesting to read everyone's favourite pieces... trying to think that far back now! Duet for One- a masterclass in acting by Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman. I saw my first Kneehigh production- Brief Encounter- but considering the expectations I had after what people had said to me previously, wasn't blown away. I liked it more than a LOT of theatre I see, but thought it was a bit long, slow and not ALL of the acting was as stunning as the rest. HOWEVER, I saw their Hansel and Gretel at BOV at Christmas- holy moly that was slick, scary, grotesque and sooo inventive. What a talented bunch. And my little one is still scared now! Did anyone see Two Gents with Vakomana Vaviri ve Zimbabwe whivch visitied Sherman in Nov? There were chinks in the armour but overall it was a hilarious "adaptation"- more of a telling really of 2 Gentlemen of Verona. 2 Zim actors tell it like it's South African protest theatre. Basically, stick it all in a trunk so you can escape quickly if the police show up, and make sure your audience don't have a chance to wander off to buy their vegetables. Fast paced and clevertastic. Also, the childrens' "show" What a Wonderful world. Mesmerising. I cried at the inventiveness and beauty. There are probably more but I can't think. Shows I wish I'd seen in 2009- War Horse, Enron and this Sue thing everyone's talking about. xx

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Permalink Reply by Adam Somerset on February 24, 2010 at 9:05am

Hi, Beth

I think I was the only person in the whole world who saw in "Brief Encounter" a delicate one act play being murdered. Even if it's Noel Coward someone has to stand up for the playwright.

As for your question who saw "Two Gents?" I did- see

http://www.theatre-wales.co.uk/reviews/reviews_details.asp?offset=2...

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Permalink Reply by Beth House on March 20, 2010 at 8:25pm

Yay! I'm so gald you liked it.. I really loved the energy and the non precious way they treated the text. Ended up spending the evening in Chapter with the company of 3 afterwards and giving them a lift home- they were so lovely as well!!

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Permalink Reply by Adam Somerset on March 22, 2010 at 12:16pm

Hi, Beth

One of the joys of small venues is the way the artists appear afterwards & mix and mingle. When one of the "Two Gents" ran along the row and said "Can you see me?" it was just classic.

Years back a Bolivian band was playing the tiny Felinfach theatre & they turned up in the pub afterwards. It turned out that somehow they had been sponsored to come to Europe & were living in Paris for a year. So there we were in the middle of a Welsh winter talking about Latin American music via pretty strained O level French. But as often it's the unexpected surprises that end up providing the best memories.

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Permalink Reply by carmen medway-stephens on May 9, 2010 at 6:08pm

I thought 'Muscle', Greg Cullen, was refreshing - just men on stage no feminist slant (even though I create feminist theatre). 'In My Mouth' a welsh college production was fantastic - site specific at its best. But I have to say my students production of the Word @ War that we took to Camden was my personal favourite. Using a totalitarian society as its base it included - Ethnic Music, dance, singing, multi media, movement and poetic prose that exposed the futility of War - it had it all and deserves to be shown to a wider audience. I know this comment is late but better late than never....

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