Review

It is great to see a female character in a children’s production who challenges the formulaic princess narrative. Children and adults alike are captivated by this performance which combines aerial acrobatics, live music and storytelling.

Meet the writers behind Female Arts 'Rebellious Acts' production this Saturday 14th May at South Street Arts Centre. Introducing Hannah Roe, the writer of 'St George's Day'.

Meet the writers behind Female Arts 'Rebellious Acts' production this Saturday 14th May. Introducing Ness Lyons, the writer of 'I Smile Politely'.

Free writing workshops on Saturday 14th May from Female Arts magazine at South Street Arts Centre, Reading Berkshire

No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand.
Bertolt Brecht

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In many cultures there are tales of how the Divine have visited mankind in disguise, to see if they are found worthy. With this in mind The Good Person of Szechwan, written by Bertholt Brecht, is a parable that uses the familiar trappings of common folklore as a jumping off point for asking complex moral questions which ultimately have no answer. So how does one tackle such potentially heady material?

In a version adapted by Venetia Twigg and directed by Alice Sillett, female-led Theatrical Niche  have made Szechwan their own. Utilising puppetry, object work, physical theatre and live music, they have honoured the spirit of the original text, while making it accessible to audiences of all ages.

Possessing the rich, black humour of a Joe Orton play, Blink.Theatre's Mr Kolpert leaves an indelible mark on the imagination. Directed by Lotte Ruth Johnson, the play can be described as a farcial version of Abigail's Party, with two couples involved in all sorts of antics – all stemming from a 'joke' about a dead body (the eponymous Mr Kolpert) in a trunk in the middle of the room.

While Blink.Theatre has female directors overseeing the double bill playing at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre at the moment, the two plays couldn't be more different in tone from each other. Chaser, the first play (written by by Howard Thompson and directed by Sinead O'Callaghan) can be described as a cross between Frank Marcus' The Window and William Wharton's Birdy.

Saucy Jack & The Space Vixens. What's that you say? What is it? One way of putting it is The Rocky Horror Show set in space. To its devotees, it is a guaranteed good night out, merging glitter and innuendos aplenty with disco-inspired tunes.

Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderful
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love
Stevie Wonder, Isn't She Lovely (song about his newborn daughter).

Outside of Schiller and Goethe, German playwrights (from pre-20th century) don't tend to receive as much coverage on the UK stage as they could do. Bearing this in mind, theatre company Ottisdotter have taken the inspired step of producing the 18th century tragedy by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing,  Emilia Galotti.