Category: National Theatre

  I saw this production in London, in early January, 2013. THE EFFECT by Lucy Prebble is a co-production between the National Theatre (NT) and Headlong. This play is the follow-on of the partnership between Ms Prebble and the director Rupert Goold of the Headlong company, that created and presented ENRON, firstly at the Chichester Festival and then on transfer to the Royal Court Jerwood Downstairs Theatre and, subsequently,to the Noel Coward Theatre, in the West End, in 2009. I saw ENRON, in the ill-fated production on Broadway, in 2010. Depression is the flaw in love. To be creatures who…

National Theatre presents ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS – a new play by Richard Bean based on THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS by Carlo Goldoni with songs by Grant Olding, by arrangement with the Theatre Royal Haymarket Company, London. I saw this production in London in early January, 2013.I had also seen the broadcast of this production from the Lyttelton Theatre at the National at the Chauvel Cinema, Paddington, last year.So, twice!! (Different casts). ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS by Richard Bean is an adaptation of Carlo Goldoni’s THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS which was a reworking of an old Commedia Dell’Arte scenario:…

In the program notes Tom Stoppard writes: “Andre Previn and I met in 1974 while he was principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. One day not long afterwards he said that if ever I wanted to write something which needed a symphony orchestra, well, he had one. We agreed early on that we should try to go beyond a mere recitation for the concert platform, and also that we were not writing a piece for singers. In short, it was going to be a real play, to be performed in conjunction with, and bound up with, a symphony orchestra.”…

  The National Theatre presents THE POWER OF YES by David Hare in the Lyttelton Auditorium of the National Theatre, London. “In retrospect it is fair to say that the idea that banks could manage risk was a total illusion?” “Capitalism works when greed and fear are in the correct balance. This time they got out of balance. Too much greed, not enough fear.” “It’s like a ship which you’re being told is in apple-pie order, the decks are cleaned, the metal is burnished, the only thing nobody mentions, it’s being driven at full speed towards an iceberg.” On September…

NATIONAL THEATRE in association with HANDSPRING PUPPET COMPANY presents WAR HORSE based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo. Adapted by Nick Stafford. At the New London Theatre, Drury Lane, London. WAR HORSE was first presented at the National Theatre, Southbank, in the Olivier Theatre in October in 2007. Revived in September 2008.Opened at the New London Theatre in March 2009. When I was purchasing my tickets for the performance I saw in January, 2010, the man in front of me was purchasing a “family” booking for September, 2010!!!!! This Production has what those in the business call “legs”. I will…

    The National Theatre presents NATION based on a novel by Terry Pratchett adapted by Mark Ravenhill in the Olivier Theatre. Over the past few years the National Theatre has had a program that has invested in the development of plays for young audiences and especially for the festive season of Christmas. Among them: HIS DARK MATERIALS, based on the Phillip Pullman trilogy of novels; WAR HORSE, based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo and now NATION based on the novel by Terry Pratchett. This adaptation was given to Mark Ravenhill. An interesting choice, as we know his work…