Macbeth False Memory by Deborah Levy, ATC at the Lyric Studio, 29 April 2000

In truth I remember little about this play/production at the Lyric Studio, other than the fact that it was one of those plays with lots of video projection.

Mostly such plays leave us cold, which I think this one did, although sometimes, when done well, the mixture of live performance and video effects can be stunning, such as Bluets, which we saw last year (as I write in 2025):

But I digress.

David Leddy in Total Theatre Magazine didn’t like it.

It didn’t go down well in the Standard either.

But the piece does address…

“the transitional millennial crisis of identity and integrity, fuelled by postmodern uncertainties and deconstructions.”

…according to this academic piece, downloadable from ResearchGate if you, like me, have a free account there.

According to Janie’s diary, the piece was a merciful 80 minutes long and we went on to dine at a place called The Springbok Cafe on Devonshire Road in Chiswick- very appropriate given that Deborah Levy is of South African origin! Strangely, I remember the meal more than the play.

Here is a wonderful review of that eatery from The Independent. Trigger warning – fans of Southern African wildlife should not click here.

Heads up – no postmodern uncertainties and deconstructions here.

Out Cry by Tennessee Williams, Lyric Hammersmith, 16 May 1997

This Cheek By Jowl production started at the Everyman in Cheltenham and Northcott Exeter before switching to the Lyric Hammersmith. Janie and I rated this one very good. We must have been very keen to see it as we went to the penultimate performance on a Friday evening (on a weekend when we also went to The Orange Tree on the Saturday), which even for us was a bit excessive.

We are especially partial to Tennessee Williams; while this play is not “major Williams” it was still a gripping theatrical event for us.

Paul Taylor in The Independent was impressed.

Taylor Indy Out CryTaylor Indy Out Cry 25 Apr 1997, Fri The Independent (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Charles Spencer in the Telegraph, on the other hand, hated it.

Spencer Telegraph Out CrySpencer Telegraph Out Cry 29 Apr 1997, Tue The Daily Telegraph (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Michael Billington in The Guardian was equivocal about it.

Billington Guardian Out CryBillington Guardian Out Cry 30 Apr 1997, Wed The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

It certainly went down well in the West Country before it came to London.

Herald Express Out CryHerald Express Out Cry 03 Apr 1997, Thu Herald Express (Torquay, Devon, England) Newspapers.com