London Connect

This week there’s the rare chance to see some of French director/choreographer/puppeteer Giséle Vienne’s work. Her collaboration with Dennis Cooper and Peter Rehberg, 'Jerk', is on at the South London Gallery from the 1st to the 3rd. It has been memorably described by theatremaker extraordinaire Chris Goode as 'a lot of puppets fist-fucking each other and the sound effects are pretty funny, and then there's a lot of stabbing and the sound effects aren't so funny after that.'

Over at the Arcola, the enormously prolific Dan Goldman presents the London premiere of David Grieg’s play ‘Doctor Korczak’s Example’, which opens this week. Meanwhile I’ll also be heading off to the Arcola for my second Medea-inspired drama in as many weeks in the form of Zecora Ura and The Urban Dolls Project’s 'A Lament for Medea'.   

Next week, these are joined by Adventures in Movement – a long and packed programme of new and scratch works from emerging physical theatre and dance makers. Looking at the programme, it looks as if fans of the genre could wind up spending the next fortnight solidly in Dalston.

Since the purpose of this blog is ostensibly to flag up more out-of-the-way shows, and also to try to give a bit of coverage to pieces whose short runs mean that they tend not to get reviewed, it’s worth noting the Royal Court’s season of such works in the latest of their excellent Rough Cuts season. Likely highlights include new pieces by Anthony Neilson and Mike Bartlett, as well as some explorations of urgent political topics. 

It is also worth noting that this Wednesday (1st July) the latest edition of Improbable Theatre’s Devoted and Disgruntled events takes place at Shunt.  If you’ve never been to one before, I highly recommend it.  D&D is a monthly meeting for theatre-makers and enthusiasts to discuss issues around making theatre – if you’ve got a question you want to discuss, you can write it down and like (and unlike) minded souls will gather round and debate. Or, you can flit between conversations, seeing what other people are saying. It’s challenging, sociable and most importantly, free.

Once in Shunt, you could also take in this week’s show 'Three Courses Served Cold' from Hannah Ringham – perhaps best known as the other half of Tim Crouch’s much-loved show 'England'.

Elsewhere, on Sunday (5th) the latest play in Arch 468’s excellently ambitious ‘Prospects’ season – in which they give every script they’ve been sent a rehearsed reading – offers the chance to see a brand new absurdism in the form of 'D-Composing' by Stuart Pursell. Tickets are free and can be obtained by emailing boxoffice@arch468.com

'Zanna, Don't'

Meanwhile, the two shows I reviewed for this week’s magazine were both great, in my opinion. I appear to be in a minority of one regarding 'Medea/Medea', but if nothing else, it was nice to be able to recommend for Critic’s Choice both a slow-moving piece of obscure European arthouse postdrama and the sparky, funny, uplifting gay musical 'Zanna Don’t' in the same issue. If nothing else, it ought to confuse the hell out of anyone trying to pin down my tastes.