Here on oxford indymedia, we're encouraging people to post reviews of interesting shows, films, gigs, etc, in the Oxford area, so that the site reflects more of what's going on culturally in the region.
Here's a review of an excellent show at the ever-stimulating Pegasus Theatre.
Here's a review of an excellent show at the ever-stimulating Pegasus Theatre.
“eat your words”
Before his own death intervened in 1990, the great Polish theatre director Tadeusz Kantor developed a “theatre of death”. Oxford-based Platypus Theatre's second show in their thrilling double bill had a full-time corpse on stage, Steve Walker's Uncle Eddy sat-staring at the family dinner-table. But this was not the only echo of Kantor, as like his late work, this exploration of family dysfunction via food consumption often had several things happening at the same time, so that you wanted to pause it, rewind and focus somewhere else. But this devised piece was more than just marvellous ensemble playing. Alice Evans' monologue was unbearably poignant and Emma Webb's piece of cake-churning added another dimension. Nicky Warren and Maria Turri were a terrific double-act, and Maria Cruz' and Ana Ferreira's anarchic mischievous twins were impossible to ignore. This was experimental and physical theatre of the highest quality.
“sunday (or any day)”
Consumption of a different kind was served up in the first half of Platypus' double-bill – the consumption of art. “Sunday (or any day)” had the simple staging device of an art gallery with portraits on the walls, the subject of each painting coming to life as a flesh-and-blood actor. This allowed for a series of highly entertaining scenes which looked at the relationship of artist and subject, and of art and commerce, with great wit and brio. What value art?, we were led to ask. And what value theatre? The highest, if this local company is anything to go by.
So it's cause for celebration that the Pegasus Theatre has won a £2.7 million grant to develop its premises in Magdalen Road, a grant which will give it the home it deserves. For future performances and info: www.pegasustheatre.org.uk
The casts
"sunday (or any day)"
James Phillips______Jack
Andrew Southcott____Mr. Polly
Caroline Pender_____Lizzy
Helen Wallis________Fifi
Melissa Shorten_____Tatiana
Joshua Cooper_______Thomas
"eat your words"
Alice Evans________Sophie
Nicky Warren_______Catherine
Steve Walker_______Edward
Maria Turri________Gina
Maria Jose Cruz____Martha
Ana Ferreira_______Magdalen
Emma Webb__________Philippa
Design by “Culture Criminals” - Roger Perkins & Kay Sentance
Director – Emma Webb
Reviewer: Richard Hering
Before his own death intervened in 1990, the great Polish theatre director Tadeusz Kantor developed a “theatre of death”. Oxford-based Platypus Theatre's second show in their thrilling double bill had a full-time corpse on stage, Steve Walker's Uncle Eddy sat-staring at the family dinner-table. But this was not the only echo of Kantor, as like his late work, this exploration of family dysfunction via food consumption often had several things happening at the same time, so that you wanted to pause it, rewind and focus somewhere else. But this devised piece was more than just marvellous ensemble playing. Alice Evans' monologue was unbearably poignant and Emma Webb's piece of cake-churning added another dimension. Nicky Warren and Maria Turri were a terrific double-act, and Maria Cruz' and Ana Ferreira's anarchic mischievous twins were impossible to ignore. This was experimental and physical theatre of the highest quality.
“sunday (or any day)”
Consumption of a different kind was served up in the first half of Platypus' double-bill – the consumption of art. “Sunday (or any day)” had the simple staging device of an art gallery with portraits on the walls, the subject of each painting coming to life as a flesh-and-blood actor. This allowed for a series of highly entertaining scenes which looked at the relationship of artist and subject, and of art and commerce, with great wit and brio. What value art?, we were led to ask. And what value theatre? The highest, if this local company is anything to go by.
So it's cause for celebration that the Pegasus Theatre has won a £2.7 million grant to develop its premises in Magdalen Road, a grant which will give it the home it deserves. For future performances and info: www.pegasustheatre.org.uk
The casts
"sunday (or any day)"
James Phillips______Jack
Andrew Southcott____Mr. Polly
Caroline Pender_____Lizzy
Helen Wallis________Fifi
Melissa Shorten_____Tatiana
Joshua Cooper_______Thomas
"eat your words"
Alice Evans________Sophie
Nicky Warren_______Catherine
Steve Walker_______Edward
Maria Turri________Gina
Maria Jose Cruz____Martha
Ana Ferreira_______Magdalen
Emma Webb__________Philippa
Design by “Culture Criminals” - Roger Perkins & Kay Sentance
Director – Emma Webb
Reviewer: Richard Hering
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