Playing away
There were fewer than usual visits by foreign theatre companies during the local theatre season that has just ended, but the quality of the visitors was extremely high.Top of the pile just has to be the one-man-show Shakespeare's Villains by the...
There were fewer than usual visits by foreign theatre companies during the local theatre season that has just ended, but the quality of the visitors was extremely high.
Top of the pile just has to be the one-man-show Shakespeare's Villains by the distinguished English actor/director/playwright Steven Berkoff. He was brought to The Manoel Theatre by the British Council and for three nights he packed the theatre to capacity. Sadly, the British Council is unlikely to repeat this triumph, since we understand that it is to shift its focus away from the arts in favour of education projects. And, much as we shall all miss their considerable contribution to the local arts scene, they could not have signed off with a better season.
Apart from Mr Berkoff, the BC were also responsible for bringing over the highly original stand-up comedy team Punk Science, to the theatre-in-the-round at St James, last October. Then in December they gave us the equally innovative Japanese performance artist Kazuko Hohki, also at St James. At the end of March the BC presented Irish actor Aiden Dooley, who scored a personal triumph with another one-man-show, Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer.
20070706-showtime--theatre2.jpgDuring October we experienced another welcome visit from the Birmingham Stage Company. This time they brought over their much-acclaimed play for children George's Marvellous Medicine. This featured a savagely funny performance in drag by the BSC's founder and artistic director Neal Foster as George's grumpy old granny. By hosting this production The Manoel Theatre were underlining their stated intention to attract younger audiences to the theatre.
There have also been a number of high-profile visits by prominent overseas ballet companies this season, beginning last December with a visit of the Prague National Theatre to The Manoel Theatre. The latter was also the venue of a performance by the highly acclaimed Danish Royal Ballet in April, who gave a stunning account of themselves before a full house.
The Bolshoi Ballet Company from Moscow is arguably one of the world's finest ballet companies. They also visited us this season and gave five performances of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake at the Mediterranean Conference Centre during April.
So, although short on quantity, it would be difficult to fault the quality of last season's visitors. The only caveat is the demise of the British Council as a source of events... they will be sorely missed.
Top of the pile just has to be the one-man-show Shakespeare's Villains by the distinguished English actor/director/playwright Steven Berkoff. He was brought to The Manoel Theatre by the British Council and for three nights he packed the theatre to capacity. Sadly, the British Council is unlikely to repeat this triumph, since we understand that it is to shift its focus away from the arts in favour of education projects. And, much as we shall all miss their considerable contribution to the local arts scene, they could not have signed off with a better season.
Apart from Mr Berkoff, the BC were also responsible for bringing over the highly original stand-up comedy team Punk Science, to the theatre-in-the-round at St James, last October. Then in December they gave us the equally innovative Japanese performance artist Kazuko Hohki, also at St James. At the end of March the BC presented Irish actor Aiden Dooley, who scored a personal triumph with another one-man-show, Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer.
20070706-showtime--theatre2.jpgDuring October we experienced another welcome visit from the Birmingham Stage Company. This time they brought over their much-acclaimed play for children George's Marvellous Medicine. This featured a savagely funny performance in drag by the BSC's founder and artistic director Neal Foster as George's grumpy old granny. By hosting this production The Manoel Theatre were underlining their stated intention to attract younger audiences to the theatre.
There have also been a number of high-profile visits by prominent overseas ballet companies this season, beginning last December with a visit of the Prague National Theatre to The Manoel Theatre. The latter was also the venue of a performance by the highly acclaimed Danish Royal Ballet in April, who gave a stunning account of themselves before a full house.
The Bolshoi Ballet Company from Moscow is arguably one of the world's finest ballet companies. They also visited us this season and gave five performances of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake at the Mediterranean Conference Centre during April.
So, although short on quantity, it would be difficult to fault the quality of last season's visitors. The only caveat is the demise of the British Council as a source of events... they will be sorely missed.