Out and About

Theatrically it was a fairly slow week for me, with a visit to only two theatres - Above The Stag and the Old Red Lion but each for very different reasons. The ATS was celebrating its second year at the Vauxhall venue with an informal cabaret and drinks party. Artistic Director Peter Bull was in fine form, dropping hints about the forthcoming year and thanking members for their continued support. The last year at ATS had thrown up some great plays including Encounter, Fanny & Stella and the acclaimed The Sum Of Us. The future year at the venue looks interesting including the usual mix of bawdy comedy and thoughtful drama including a new piece staring Andy Bell. There's not much out there about this self-penned piece from the Erasure front-man but as a big fan of the group, I can't wait to see what it's all about. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to Tinderella! Cinders Slips It In - this year's offering from Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper for the ATS's now legendary adult pantomime.

Midweek, I popped over to the Old Red Lion, where Artistic Director Stewart Pringle had very kindly invited me to see Sparks, a new play by Simon Longman that had received good notices. An affecting play, it touched on the nature of family ties and how a trauma in our early years may affect the way we develop as adults. Longman's writing, consisting of many rambling, amusing monologues left me slightly unmoved personally but you couldn't fault commitment from either actor - Sally Hodgkiss and Sofie Steer - particularly as they were alternating roles throughout the run.  I may have had difficulties with Longman's dramatic style but the piece is definitely worth a trip to the ORL.