Comedy Theatre

Theatre that is purely comedic and which shows the comic talents of individual comedians and comedic companies. The style supports the overturning of pompous, self-appointed authorities and individuals who are largely unaware of their folly.

Francis, the Jester of God at Anglican parish of St Francis of Assisi, West Wickham

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Mario Pirovano’s welcomes the audience to his one-man performance of Francis, the Holy Jester as a politician on the hustings. Launching the show with the promise of overturning centuries of misconceptions, he springs into the story of Francis, emphasizing that the real stories of the thirteenth century Italian saint are uniquely wonderful because they show how it is Francis the ‘holy fool’ who realises his life as friend of the poor, champion of the persecuted and heroic worker for peace and justice.

Next Time I’ll Sing To You

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Next Time I’ll Sing To You    Genre: Comedy Drama Venue:   Orange Tree Theatre, 1 Clarence Street, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 2SA     Low Down   The Orange Tree staged many of James Saunders’s plays from 1973 onwards, including a production of Next Time I’ll Sing To You in 1974, a play in which he looked … Read more

Constance

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Constance    Genre: Comedy Drama Venue: King’s Head Theatre  115 Upper St  Islington LONDON N1 1QN   Low Down   Kate Youde’s article on ‘Oscar Wilde’s Lost Play’ in The Independentin July this year outlines artistic director Adam Spreadbury-Maher’s rationale for producing Constance at the King’s Head. The play is a “major discovery” as it is “the only … Read more

The Conspirators

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The Conspirators    Genre: Comedy Drama Venue: Orange Tree Theatre, 1 Clarence Street, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2SA     Low Down   Sam Walters & The Orange Tree Theatre’s relationship with Vaclav Havel reveals a long and fruitful history, so its fitting that the artistic director stages the UK premiere ofThe Conspirators to begin the theatre’s … Read more

Wittenberg

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Wittenberg    Genre: Comedy Drama Venue: The Gate Theatre (Above the Prince Albert Pub) 11 Pembridge Road, London, W11 3HQ   Low Down   The programme verifies that the location before me represents Wittenberg, a place that changes the history of European Christiandom when in 1517 Martin Luther nails 95 theses (arguments) to the Castle Church door … Read more

Waiting for Godot, Haymarket Theatre 2009

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As an unknown theatre historian who had come to London to re-think her own place in teaching, researching and creating theatre, I am excited at the prospect of seeing the 2009 production of Waiting For Godot.  The £47 I spend on the tickets is the most I’ve ever spent on tickets.  I read the reviews and seeing the favourable reactions, I conclude that it must be a monumental interpretation of a most challenging play. I so set off to see how four notable performers deal with the central problem which the play presents for actors of not acting, of doing nothing but wait.