Read more about the article REVIEW: War Horse, Olivier Theatre (2007)
Craig Leo ( puppeteer) Joey ( puppet) - Photo: Simon Annand

REVIEW: War Horse, Olivier Theatre (2007)

What Michael Morpurgo's novel does is to place the horse centre stage, so that episodes in the First World War are seen from an equine point of view. The curious effect is that in this "war to end all wars" you realise that on the opposing side are good men who love horses. You hate what war does because horses get hurt and killed or die of overwork and malnutrition. But how to stage a play where the central character is a horse?

Continue ReadingREVIEW: War Horse, Olivier Theatre (2007)
Read more about the article REVIEW: The Dumb Waiter, Trafalgar Studios One (2007)
Jason Isaacs as Ben and Lee Evans as Gus (Photo: Johan Persson)

REVIEW: The Dumb Waiter, Trafalgar Studios One (2007)

Revived half a century after it was written, Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter was actually first staged in Germany. It wasn’t until 1960 that it was seen in Pinter’s home country at the Hampstead Theatre where it formed a twin bill with The Room. Since then it has been regularly revived in the theatre and filmed and televised and performed internationally. Two quite amazing actors come together to play the parts of Ben and Gus, the enigmatic pair who find themselves waiting for something we can never be sure about, but which we suspect they do.

Continue ReadingREVIEW: The Dumb Waiter, Trafalgar Studios One (2007)