Nut at the National

NUT 

THREE STARS

NUT, now on at the award-winning Shed stage, is a tough one to crack. Making her debut for the National Theatre, the play has been written and directed by debbie tucker green - who seems to dislike capital letters. 
It is about depression and self harm and centres on Elayne, played beautifully by Nadine Marshall.
As the 70-minute play progresses, we see how she craves isolation - evident in her refusal to replace batteries for the doorbell - the results of her self-harming and the relationships she has with her few friends and family.
To begin with Elayne is sitting amongst a pile of lists, and making one about her funeral arrangements - she's not dying but she is clearly depressed. 
This constant portrayal of doom is irritating her friend Aimee, played by Sophie Stanton, who winds her up about how she would organise Elayne's funeral and how many people would come to her own.
As a result the two spend much of the first scene bickering about the arrangements to these non events whilst trying to outdo each other on whose funeral is going to be the most well attended.
The sub plot concerns Elayne's sister - known only as Ex-Wife and her former husband - known only as Ex Husband who enjoy a heated argument about who has the closer relationship with their 11-year-old daughter.
Indeed Sharlene Whyte and Gershwyn Eustache Jr's powerful, humorous and poignant performance really lights up the stage in an otherwise gloomy atmosphere.
Although there is some ambiguity about this play - for example, it is not clear where it is set or whether the boy who comes on is Elayne's son, or if he is dead or alive - what is clear is the huge sadness that hangs over the proceedings. 
It may depress you but it is a production which is both poetic and well acted.

nut runs until Thursday, December 5
Tickets cost from £12. Call the box office on 020 7452 3244.

Twelfth Night at the Rose Theatre, Bankside



FOUR STARS

Tim Welham as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Venetia Maitland as Maria and Richard Fish as Sir Toby Belch

Esther-Grace Button as Viola

TWELFTH Night is one of Shakespeare's best loved plays and a new adaptation by theatre group Permanently Bard has brought it beautifully to life at the Rose Theatre in Park Street.
Pared down to a mere one hour 45 minutes, it races along with much jolity, slapstick and all the Shakespeare ingredients of mistaken identities.
When Sebastian and his twin sister Viola are shipwrecked both are rescued independently and believe the other to be dead.
Viola puts on a man's garb, calls herself Cesario and goes to work for Count Orsino, who is in love with the lady Olivia. She will have none of him as she is mourning for her brother.
However, things change when Olivia meets Cesario and falls in love with him. Matters are complicated further when Sebastian turns up with his friend Antonio and is mistaken for Cesario and vice versa.
Meanwhile, a sub plot takes place involving Olivia's uncle, the aptly named Sir Toby Belch and his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Olivia's maid Maria wreaking emotional and psychological havoc on Olivia's steward Malvolio.
Although the cutting of a good chunk of the text has caused some of the intricacies of the plots and the finer details to be lost, it is the strength of the acting that carries this through and makes it a great production.
Indeed, all the actors have a real energy and seem very much at home on the Rose's tiny stage but make good use of the wider archaelogical site in which it lies - the scene in which Malvolio is in jail is particularly striking as he is seen languishing in a dank and damp recess at the back of the site.
But it is Richard Fish as Sir Toby Belch who steals the show. He perfectly conveys the nastiness of the character in his bullying of Malvolio but shows also his softer side when trying to woo Maria.
And he has pretending to be a drunken slob down to a T.
This is a fabulous production - spirited and fun. Just as it should be.

Twelfth Night is on at the Rose Theatre, Park Street until Saturday, November 30. Tickets cost £12. Call the box office on 020 7261 9565. 

Simple Minds

WHEN Jim Kerr was eight years old he met Charlie Burchill at school in Glasgow. It was to be a pivotal moment in his life. The two became inseparable and went on to form one of the most successful pop bands in history - Simple Minds.

However although they started out in 1977 it wasn't until the 1980s that they gained commercial success with a string of hits that included Don't You (Forget About Me).

With more than 30 years in the business under their belts they've had an astonishing career - releasing more than 30 singles, countless albums – six of which have gone to number 1 in the UK - sold millions of albums across the world and won numerous awards.

And despite their fare share of staff comings and goings over the intervening years, and the inevitable minor disagreements that comes with any relationship, the pair have weathered the storms sticking together to gain a reputation as not only one of the most hardworking bands in the business but as a group of musicians who have been responsible for some of the most innovative and enduring anthems in rock music.

To celebrate, this year has seen the band launch a greatest hits album, Celebrate – The Greatest Hits +, and embark on a world tour which includes a trip to Greenwich's O2 arena at the end of this month.

"It's been a great year for us," Jim tells me. "In particular we're really excited about the album as it includes two new tracks, which we are very proud of.

“The tour is going great too so life is pretty good.”

The 54-year-old was speaking ahead of the Greenwich date on November 30 which he says will be "extremely special" - not least because 80s band Ultravox will be making a guest appearance.

"I love touring and doing live shows and we will be visiting four UK stadiums including the O2 as part of this latest one which we are really looking forward to.

"The O2 is a fantastic venue and we love playing there - and for this gig not only will we be playing as many of the hits as we can, the two new songs and a few surprises, but we've also got Ultravox with us so it will be amazing.”

For most musicians, life on the road can be exhausting and lonely but not so for Jim or the band – indeed he says it’s just the opposite, proof of which can be seen by looking at their extensive tour history.

"A lot of people tour but don’t really like it,” he says. “They miss home. However, for us, although we have a life outside, this is what we wanted to do right back from when we were kids and we are still passionate about it and love it.

“We embrace it. In fact I would even go so far as to say we were born to do this – so when we are on tour we want as many people to hear us as possible which is why we play clubs, theatres, festivals and stadiums.

“They are all totally different and I enjoy them all. It’s uplifting. But whether it’s performing to 100 people or 10,000, we want to give our best and all these years later that’s still the case.

"I still get a real kick out of it," he adds cheerfully. "In fact I'm a bit of a nomad, in that I have spent most of my life travelling all around the world but it suits me – it’s who I am.”

And although he says Scotland and in particular Glasgow, where he was born and brought up still has a special place in his heart, these days it’s all about the open road.

"I'm at my happiest discovering new places and not being tied down to one particular part of the world,” he says.

"And I’m sure this restlessness and nomadic spirit has influenced the music over the years – it’s certainly reflected in some of the earlier albums like Empires And Dance.”

As well as the tour, writing new material and releasing the greatest hits album, Jim has also set up a Simple Minds YouTube channel.

"Social media is great and I've really embraced it," he chuckles. "Because we are on the road so much it's a great new way to reach out to our fans. It’s fantastic as we can upload footage of our gigs and show people what we are up to.

“It’s all about forging a new relationship with the fans all over the world and it’s great to be able to have that kind of platform.

“Facebook is also a big part of our lives and I’ve done a blog diary for 10 years now which is on our website.

“The writing is a bit nonsensical – it’s about how it’s going or not going in the studio and snap shots of what we are doing on the road.

“But it’s a great thing to do and I really enjoy it.”

Despite all this activity, the reputation for being one of the hardest working bands doesn't sit easily with him.

"I don't know if we can live up to that cliché,” he laughs. “We do a lot and are passionate about performing live, but while remaining active is crucial, our desire to keep improving is every bit as important and make sure our audience has the best time at our gigs.

"I love the fact we are still here though, still have people who listen to our music and want to come and see us. It's very satisfying," he adds warmly.

But it’s his relationship with Charlie which he says has been the best and most important part of being in the band.

"I have been very lucky. We’ve played and collaborated with some amazing people over the years – Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, U2 and Peter Gabriel are just a few and all of them are our idols.

“We could never have forseen how things would turn out when we started. I have to pinch myself every day to remind myself how lucky we are!

“But my biggest reward is Charlie – he’s my best pal. We are still great friends, have a laugh together and mostly we see things the same way – it’s just fantastic.”

Simple Minds will be playing at the O2 in Greenwich on Saturday, November 30. Call the box office on 0844 856 0202.

The Spanish Tragedy

 

FOUR STARS

THE Spanish Tragedy might as well have been called People Pie given the amount of dead by the end of proceedings.

Written by Thomas Kyd it is thought to have influenced Shakespeare's play Hamlet among others.

It has been given a fresh outing by Lazarus Theatre Company at the Blue Elephant Theatre in Camberwell and it certainly packs a punch.

Essentially it is the story of how Andrea, slain in battle in a war between Spain and Portugal, wreaks revenge on all and sundry with the help of the spirit Revenge.

But as ever with these revenge tragedies it is slightly more complicated than that and at times during this particular production, which was pared down somewhat, it was rather confusing.

The action starts after a battle which has seen the Portuguese defeated and the Viceroy's son Balthazar captured by the Spanish.

The Spanish King gives the spoils of war to his nephew Lorenzo and Andrea's best friend Horatio and puts Balthazar in the charge of the scheming Lorenzo.

Meanwhile Andrea's widow Bel-imperia falls for Horatio who in turn is killed by Balthazar aided by Lorenzo. There then follows a series of betrayals, liaisons and deaths until there really is no one left.

The production succeeds on many levels though I wasn't sure about the women sewing a curtain at the back of the stage. But the cast, large in number, all got to have their moment and there were a number of standout performances - particularly the many death scenes.

In particular Roseanna Morris as the King of Spain reminded me of the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland with a slightly mad and wild smile fixed to her face for much of the play.

Danny Solomon as Hieronimo who carries out a series of murders to avenge the death of his son Horatio gives a fine portrayal of a father who goes mad with grief.

Felicity Sparks as Bel-Imperia and George Clarke as the Portuguese Viceroy also shone.

And if you have not made the trip to the Blue Elephant, you should. It's great and well worth the effort - and if you are resident of Camberwell postcodes of SE5 and SE17 there are a limited number of free tickets for the shows.

The Spanish Tragedy is on at the Blue Elephant Theatre, Bethwin Road until Saturday.

Visit www.blueelephanttheatre.co.uk for shows, times and prices.

The Scottsboro Boys

IN 1931 nine black teenagers boarded a train in Scottsboro, Alabama, in search of a new life. By the end of their journey, their lives – and those of every American – would be changed forever.

The boys were falsely accused of raping two white girls and were arrested, tried and found guilty.

Over the next seven years there were more trials and appeals and despite one woman recanting her story, only four of the boys were found not guilty and the rest received either prison or death sentences.

The case, which deeply divided America, had a powerful effect on American history and the American Civil Rights Movement. It is now widely regarded as a miscarriage of justice that led to the end of all-white juries in the American South and other major Supreme Court rulings including the right to proper legal representation.

But behind the headlines was the devastating story of nine young men, desperate to prove their innocence to the world.

In 2010, it provided the inspiration for a musical - The Scottsboro Boys - by award-winning composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb that was nominated for 12 Tony Awards including Best Musical before it closed on Broadway in December that year.

But now it's being revived and will receive its UK premiere at the Young Vic on Friday October 18 ahead of a two month run at the Waterloo-based theatre.

It will be directed by Susan Stroman, Tony Award-winning director and produced by Catherine Schreiber who says it’s been a labour of love to bring it to the London stage.

“I have never been more passionate about any other show,” says Catherine ahead of rehearsals. And as we chat it’s clear she’s totally serious.

“It’s just one of those stories which gets you right there,” she says. “It is the most tragic story, a total miscarriage of justice in the treatment of these young men who accused of something they didn’t do.

"However, there are so many people growing up who don’t know what happened and I wanted to change that.

“It wasn’t widely reported outside America so I'm really proud to be able to bring these boys’ story to the UK."

“I think it will resonate in different ways with a British audience and I think they will see the story more objectively."

And she says there was never any doubt as to where it should be performed.

“We always wanted to bring it to London and our number one choice was the Young Vic,”she enthuses.

“The creative team here take risks, are incredibly inventive and have a fantastic energy and they were immediately keen to do it when I approached them.

“It’s not a typical show – it’s certainly not Mary Poppins – it’s edgy, upsetting, disturbing, moving and direct but it is entertaining. The music is breathtaking, the dancing is amazing - I’ve never been so moved.

“Also the audience profile fits perfectly – young, multi-cultural, up for shows which are thought-provoking and keen to see something new and innovative which this definitely is. And of course it’s in the best part of London. It was the perfect choice.”

Taking the lead role of Clarence Norris - one of the nine teenagers - is Adebayo Bolaji, fresh from his success as Harpo in The Color Purple at Southwark's Menier Chocolate Factory.

Gently spoken but with a clear passion for his craft, the 30-year-old – whose acting credits have included James Bond film Skyfall – says there was never any doubt he wanted to be involved.

“I didn’t know very much about it before I auditioned, but having read up on it and then being offered the part of Clarence it was a complete no brainer.

“Clarence was the only one sentenced to death although he was later exonerated and pardoned.

"I want to do the character justice because this is such an important story, and still hugely relevant, so for me as a young black man it's important it's told.

"There are still issues about racism and peoples’ attitudes even now. I think the presentation of young black men in this country is somewhat towards the negative and many are ostracised, misunderstood or objectified.

"That said, I’m really lucky to have been born 30 years ago in London - had I been born in the 1900s it would have been different because of the colour of my skin."

But he insists the musical is far from doom and gloom.

“This isn't just another story about people being mistreated," he says. "Yes, it explores the legal side of the case and discusses nine black boys who were accused of something they didn’t do simply because of the way they looked.

“However, it's simply an amazing production - hard hitting and heart breaking and will make people think - but with humour, fantastic choreography and stunning music.

"Ultimately it's a human story that should be told so I’m really excited and honoured to be part of it.”

And he says he is equally pleased about performing in one of his favourite places.

"I love this part of South London because is so vibrant and it's always really buzzy especially round the theatre.

"And I love the Young Vic and some of the best plays I have ever seen have been staged here – it’s an incredible place and to be able to perform here is a dream."

The Scottsboro Boys is on at the Young Vic, The Cut, Waterloo between October 18 and December 21.

Tickets from £10. Call the box office on 020 7922 2922.