Tag: Sarah Bird

Race by David Mamet, Hampstead Theatre, 31 May 2013

Not David Mamet’s best play, but even modest Mamet on the subject of Race provides plenty tension and interesting drama. We needed to suspend belief a little too much on this one – as is the way with lesser Mamet.

Click here for Hampstead Theatre’s resource on this play/production.

Below is a backstage vid for this production:

The critics were less forgiving than we were for this short play – click here for a link to a search term that finds the reviews.

Still, excellent cast, well directed by Terry Johnson. It was an enjoyable evening at the theatre.

Di And Viv And Rose by Amelia Bullmore, Hampstead Theatre, 18 January 2013

Janie and I really enjoyed this play/production.

We missed it when it was first performed downstairs; not sure why as the subject matter will have appealed. Perhaps it coincided with one of our holidays and/or a heavily booked period.

Anyway, the Hampstead knew a hit when it saw one and transferred the piece upstairs (and subsequently beyond).

Here is a link to the Hampstead resource for the version we saw.

All three performers, Anna Maxwell Martin, Gina McKee & Tamzin Outhwaite, were truly excellent. Extremely well directed and produced too.

Excellent reviews, deservedly so, can be found through this search term – click here.

Only Tamzin Outhwaite from the cast transferred to the West End with it. Here is the trailer for the transfer:

Well done Hampstead – this was a real goodie.

Mrs Klein by Nicholas Wright, Almeida Theatre, 24 October 2009

We both really enjoyed this play/production about he psychoanalyst Melanie Klein.

I had seen the original production of this play at The Cottesloe back in 1988 and really liked it.

Janie and I are keen Almeida-istas;  I guessed that this would be yet another really good Almeida production and that the play would be to Janie’s taste. Add to that a superb cast – Clare Higgins and Nicola Walker are two of our favourites, plus Thea Sharrock (formerly at The Gate) directing…

…what could go wrong? Nothing. This was a great production and Janie did really like it.

As usual, there is an excellent Almeida resource about the play/production – click here – with information, pictures and reviews.

The reviews were nearly all very good and the very good ones are accessible in full from the above resource.