For theatre... online, non-professional, amateur
Quietus

Quietus

The extra-ordinary tale of Hamlet

We may all know the story of Hamlet: one of ghosts, deceit, oppressive families and revenge. But this surreal re-imagining of Shakespeare’s most iconic work delves far deeper into the inner workings of a dream, stranger than life itself. Immersing us in a new, spell-binding world, this entrancing production begs the question: what is reality to a mind that is already broken?

Our ensemble cast will take you on a heightened journey of isolation, betrayal, and paranoia. As the lines between dream and reality become blurred, so do the characters ­- many of whom have a duality to them, made physical by their own ‘dæmons’. Here Hamlet comes face to face with not only his own dæmon, but that of Ophelia’s.

Is this a dream now in the present or a scream from Hamlet’s soul for things that happened centuries ago? Mixing the modern with the gothic, the real with the surreal, this exciting and wickedly humorous extra-ordinary tale of Hamlet is sure to keep you guessing.

Runs 23rd to the 26th June at 7.45pm, daily. Tickets on sale soon via our website.

The Letter of Last Resort

The Letter of Last Resort

It all rests on one piece of paper…

Tickets are now on sale for our first indoor performance of 2021! Don’t miss the highly anticipated postponed production of The Letter of Last Resort by David Greig, which was only days away from opening last December. Runs from 16 to 19 June in the Judi Dench Playhouse. All seating will be socially distanced.

It’s late on the night after the general election. The new Prime Minister is working when she is interrupted by a request – a letter needs to be written, by her alone. It can only say one of two things, but its implications could change the face of the earth forevermore…

This captivating one-act drama, inspired by a true-life event, skillfully unpacks the debate around nuclear weapons and the complex power they hold. Written by award-winning Scottish playwright David Greig. This production was previously staged at the West End’s Jermyn Street Theatre to critical acclaim.

“Thought-provoking & witty” – Rupa Huq MP on this production in the West End.

Running Time: 50 minutes, no interval

Skylight

Skylight

Main Stage & Livestreamed


‘A fierce pas de deux of love, loss and anguish that will leave you breathless.’

This is how Variety reviewed the 2015 Broadway production of David Hare’s heart-piercing play, coming to the Abbey Theatre this month. ‘Some plays dissolve with time. David Hare’s Skylight actually seems to have got richer,’ writes The Guardian’s Michael Billington.  

A year after his wife dies Tom Sergeant visits Kyra Hollis, his erstwhile lover, in her North-West London flat. Tom is a charismatic businessman, a successful entrepreneur. She’s a teacher who, working with children at the bottom of the social ladder, has dedicated her life to the service of others. As they fall into a battle of opposing politics, they must navigate their mutual desire. You can’t help thinking that on some profound level these two were made to be together, but can the gulf between them be bridged or is the gap too great?

Director, Terry Prince says, ‘this is really a play about relationships. A wonderful mixture of the personal and the political, it appeals to the heart and the head. We see both points of view, and any political statements have to grow organically from the interactions between the characters. Hare balances the two divergent views of society represented by Kyra and Tom. They express these not as mouthpieces of a particular political viewpoint but as two people committed to life choices which are very different.’

Set in 1995 but actually looking back at Thatcher’s Britain of the 1980s, it is even more pertinent in a society based on grotesque inequality, the society we inhabit today. The successful West End revival in 2014 with Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan proved the play remains as relevant and impactful as it was at its premiere. This is one of the great intimate plays of passionate ideas and complex love – delicate, hilarious and thought provoking.

Performances take place on the Abbey Theatre Main Stage from Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 June at 8pm. All performances are also being live-streamed. To book tickets please go to www.abbeytheatre.org.uk or call the box office on 01727 857861.

Love [and Survival] in a Time of Covid

Love [and Survival] in a Time of Covid

A mini festival of the arts celebrating the human spirit through lockdown

The full festival brochure can be found here

Love [and Survival] celebrates the diverse culture and eclectic lives of our community through a range of performances, installations and workshops that draw on our different experiences of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Over 3 weeks, across 3 venues, curated by 3 women (the Tower’s new Artistic Directors), this cross arts festival combines artistic submissions from the local community as well as from Tower theatre regular artists, all of whom have responded to the question in our open call: How did you get through this last difficult year?

“It is an opportunity for our members and the local community to share their experiences, build connections, reclaim our identities, and celebrate the narratives and conversations of our lives in the wake of this year of lockdowns” – Ruth Sullivan, Tower Artistic Co-Director

The Tower Theatre Company is an independent theatre company with a strong reputation and a nearly 90 year history. Originally based in Islington, the company moved to its current home in Stoke Newington 2 years ago, converting the beautiful redbrick building on Northwold Road into a vibrant community theatre. One of the UK’s busiest non-professional companies, the Tower has about 700 members and friends, produces about 18 shows a year and boasts many notable members over the course of time, including Richard Baker, Alfred Molina, Siân Philips and Michael Gambon.

“With the Love [and Survival] festival our hope is to reach out to and include as much of the local community as possible – both as contributors and as audience – through our open call out and our pay-what-you-can ticket policy” – Simona Hughes, Tower Artistic Co-director

The 3-week festival will be filled with performances, workshops and exhibitions across 3 venues. The Tower theatre has partnered with The Arcola to perform at Arcola Outside – a brand new purpose built outdoor performance space – as part of their Today Im Wiser festival and with another brand new open air venue at the Old Church on Clissold Park. Tickets for all festival events will go on sale on 7th June.

“Collectively we have endured bereavement, loss, isolation, social disruption and financial hardship. The answer to collective trauma is collective healing. Love [and Survival] is our offering” – Angharad Ormond, Tower Artistic Co-Director

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