Tezza's Theatre Place

Ben Adams as Dad, Bea Holland as Mum and Guy Rhys as Bernard in Not Now Bernard at the Unicorn Theatre. Photography by Camilla Greenwell Want to get some peace and quiet and keep the little ones entertained for a while? Well, you can do no better than pop along to the Unicorn Theatre for their production  Not Now, Bernard . Based on David McKee’s book of the same name, this is the story of Bernard (Guy Rhys) a young boy who just wants to be noticed by his parents. Unfortunately, his Mum (Bea Holland) and Dad (Ben Adams) are too preoccupied with important things like watering plants, and watching the cricket to respond to his warnings that there is a monster in the garden that wants to eat him with anything more than a perfunctory ‘not now Bernard’. Then one day, he goes out to play in the garden and, while he doesn’t return, something larger and hairier does. Having not read the original book I wasn’t sure what to expect from this production, but as soon as I entered the aud...

https://www.londontheatre1.com/news/171908/review-room-theatre-royal-stratford-east/ Fela Lufadeju, Harrison Wilding and Witney White – Room (c) Scott Rylander One of the strongest bonds on the planet is that between a mother and her child. Very little can break that under normal circumstances but what if that mother has brought her son into the world under conditions of extreme and continual duress? Welcome to Emma Donoghue’s  Room  which is receiving its world premiere at the Theatre Royal Stratford East this month. Little Jack (Harrison Wilding) is five years old today. To him, this is a momentous day as he is now grown up and his inner voice, Big Jack (Fela Lufadeju) can’t wait to celebrate his birthday with Ma (Witney White). However, unlike other children, Jack and Ma will be celebrating in Room, the single space in which they live and Jack’s entire world. Seven years previously, Ma – then a 19-year-old girl – was abducted by Old Nick (Liam McKenna) who has impriso...

https://www.londontheatre1.com/news/168794/the-inevitable-disappearance-of-edward-j-neverwhere/ The Inevitable Disappearance of Edward J. Neverwhere  is a new piece of work that is currently at BasicSpace in Peckham. Before we start, there is one thing that needs to be made clear. We are not looking at your average tale with Edward J. Neverwhere here. Edward (William Sebag-Montefiore) is not real, he is the paper creation of a young boy who needs a friend of his own to help him cope with the awful home life he has. The boy shares everything he can with Edward, including his most prized possession and for his part, Edward promises to always be with his young friend. However, things change and as the boy changes, so does Edward, who finds that the only certainty in life is that one day it will end. Paper dominates this performance of  The Inevitable Disappearance of Edward J. Neverwhere  and on entering the performance space the audience is free to wander around and r...

http://www.lastminutetheatretickets.com/londonwestend/review-school-of-rock-the-musical/ Take a 2003 musical comedy film, add the writing of Julian Fellowes, music by  Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a talented bunch of kids and what do you get? That’s right, you  School of Rock The Musical , which has just opened at the New London Theatre. Opening with a performance from rock band ‘No Vacancy’ of their latest song the show introduces Dewey Finn (David Flynn) a man that has never grown up, nor given up the dream of being a rock star. Unfortunately, he isn’t and his attempts to push himself to the front of the group leads to him being sacked. Returning home to the apartment he shares – well has a room he doesn’t pay for – with best friend, former rocker and now substitute teacher Ned Schneebly (Oliver Jackson), Dewey is confronted by Ned’s disapproving girlfriend Patty (Preeya Kalidas) who tells him to pay up or ship out. Later that day, Dewey takes...

https://www.londontheatre1.com/news/152125/review-tonight-with-donny-stixx-at-the-bunker/ One of the great tasks of a parent or guardian is to protect their offspring from harm and danger. However, is it possible to protect them from the realities of life? And what happens when they find out that everything they have believed about themselves is fundamentally wrong on every level? The consequences of this can be seen in Philip Ridley’s play  Tonight with Donny Stixx  at South East London’s newest theatrical venue, The Bunker. As the lights go down, a figure edges his way onto the stage. Compared to the size of the performance space, he seems very small and looks nervous. He tries to speak then chickens out, then tries again and eventually Donny Stixx (Sean Michael Verey) starts to talk. The format of Donny’s show is the standard ‘Tonight With’ variety, questions from the audience and anecdotes about his life and fame, some humour, some tears, and – like all celebrities do...