Theatre takes flight!

Say what you like about my spelling, at least when I promise something in this blog, I deliver!

Last Saturday night I cracked out the A - Z and found Picton Place not far from Bond Street tube station. I almost walked past the entrance as I was distracted by a quaint sign for Uzbekistan Airlines on the side of the building. Then I realised: I was in the right place! This was the temporary residence of Theatre Delicatessen, a great name for a great experience. Just like a fancy delicatessen in a posh, trendy neighbourhood, there was a variety of quality produce on offer. From spicy sausages to smelly cheeses.



Theatre can be a gamble - especially when audience participation is involved!

The spiciest sausage would have to have been a piece called 'Soft Armour' on the third floor in what looked like a disused laboratory (why would Uzbekistan Airlines have a laboratory on the third floor?? Maybe it's safer not to ask). This was proper audience participation and all twelve of us became torch-bearers in the plot as it rolled along in some unexpected directions. When we walked in the room, dressed in lab coats provided, there was a body on a metal table and some sort of medical specialist examining it. Members of the audience were asked to help prepare the body - even washing her feet and brushing her hair! When it's revealed that the dead woman was attacked in a dark alley late at night, suddenly all the men in the room were bailed up and taken into the adjoining room separated by a window. With all the women in the first room then asked, along with the dead woman who by now was sitting up chatting, to identify 'her' killer, the audience was very cleverly brought right into focus.

It was all done with a bit of a twinkle in the eye and was a real hoot! If the actors had taken themselves or their subject matter more seriously it could have felt a bit false or pretentious at such close quarters.

Anyway, the whole concept of a building full of theatre was brilliant and with no reserved seats, no queues, no rules about what to see when, and beer in plastic cups, it felt like a mini festival. According to their website, next on the bill is Ibsen's A Doll's House. I'll be sure to check that out as it could be an experience and a half if they take over the building in the same way.


Upstairs at the Gate House


The Drowsy Chaperone - of which I saw a semi-professional production done 'Upstairs at the Gatehouse' is a fantastic musical and this production, given some money, could easily transfer to a larger theatre. Interestingly, the show closed after just three weeks in the West End a few years ago. Perhaps it was just a case of poor marketing or stiff competition, but then I think with all the theatre references and in-jokes, the target audience for this show may be exactly the kind of vile people who don't pay for their tickets anyway. Tough sell!

Term for the day:
'Press night' is the name given to the opening night or the first night after the previews. Of course press don't always come to press night, especially to see anything outside of London. This is one of the big challenges of touring.

The Young Vic: so trendy