Hampstead Theatre — Attraction in London

Front of House staff helpful.

Show: Blackout Songs, excellent play and performance. A bit confusing initially but understandble. Two excellent actors Her and Him. Script book available. Would see again. Excellent.

Card only venue.

Attended Stumped A two hander Andrew Lancel and Stephen Tompkinson, very good.

The Downstairs Theatre is Downstairs Seats about 100 and smaller stage.

Attended. Octopolis A two or three handed play Jemma Redgrave and Ewan Miller and "Frances". The play was different from my expectations, in a better way. Very well acted with the cast also providing directional notes to move and explain the play. And a tribute to David Bowie.

The Lightest Element, main house, excellent ensemble cast, about the astronomer Cecilia Payne Gaposchkia, who discovered what stars are made off.

Attended Bellringers, downstairs, a very good two hand play amongst other things looking at faith, fable and friendship, as two young friends await the passing thunderstorm, so as to toll the church bells. Very good.

Attended. An Interrogation, downstairs, a surprisingly good play. Would see again. The ending, not expected.

Attended. Apex Predator, main house, a modern retelling of vampires. Excellent cast, stage dressing. Worth seeing again.

Attended. The Habits, downstairs, a story of family loss, relationships and employment and business issues, exposed, left behind and healed through dungeons and dragons. Would stand up to more than one viewing.

Attended Personal Values, an excellent play by a new writer. The story has, sadness, humour and twists. I didn't expect the ending. The staging is excellent one can feel themselves in a hoarded...

At the beginning of 1973 the West Indies began their ascent to the peak of cricketing brilliance as two Black ne'er-do-wells Shakie, a cricket fan and his mate, Stumpie, speaking half Lunnon and half a sort of Jamaican slump and talk in a room, bantering with the youngster's older conquest, Jackie, now a social worker. Hints of Michael X, not Malcolm X, in their overambition in quite small-scale deals, misogyny and their Lothario complex increasingly predominates in a symbolic study that I surmise speaks of a generation yet fails to convince. The dazzling strokes of Sobers, the cricket success of the Windies doesn't add anything just reinforces the pitiful lack of realism of these would be pan-Africanists. Their bragadoccio has consequences as the play slouches to its end leaving us to wonder what it's all about, (Stumpie?) Nice sets, costumes and Natalie Simpson is brittle and smart, a fine female lead. The rest, amounts to little I'm afraid and the young men come across as only gauche, slightly irritating rather than a future menace. A missed opportunity: 4.6 out of 5? Not remotely close as the slightly halting ovation as the end suggested: it's males carry no threat and the tone doesn't convince. And what does it...

17/4 blackout songs absolutely outstanding performance, BUT Dissable wc didn't have any Handsoap so we told them @ reception bfr it started. On our Exit we visit wc again but no Handsoap STILL?! After 1.5 hours no change! This is basic hygiene... It's shame as this put cloud on our visit today. Also broken pieces of heater are still in the floor after 2months! = is anybody cleaning the floors? We wondered...

4/2/23 Incredible play, I was gluded 2my seat from start 2 finish texting every I know 2 book this. Fantastic performance from all but especially 2xfemale characters. Chemistry BTW them was sparking thru out. Set was very smartly done with sudden changes when needed. Big downfall was Super-loud-rock music blasting 4 couple minutes very often, it was do loud, that couple ppl jump & we were covering our ears 2 lower pain fr this. WHY?! IT IS THERE?! SUPER ANNOYING NON SENCE.

venue: staff much more friendly on entrance, not like last year when we entered & security was yelling at us "wheres Yr mask?" & pushing us & touching us?! That was very bad experience. Fire Exit BLOCKED WITH RUBISH?! Dissable wc with broken heating & fallen pieces on the floor =...