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Hysteria

Hats off to an unusual mix of Freud and farce

A farce, a frolic, and a Freudian slip...that's how the visiting Two Hats Theatre Company sum up this really rather serious look at the life and doubts of Sigmund Freud.

The father of psycho-analysis and modern psychiatry, Freud came to London in 1938 to escape Nazi persecution and end his days. So where, you may ask, is the farcial element to all this?

Well, just wait for Nick Marshall's appearance as surrealist painter Salvador Dali - absolutely brilliant. Then there's the disturbingly real performance of Emma Cooper, who plays Jessica, a young visitor who slips from mad obsession to trousers-down, hidden-in-the-cupboard nudity without pausing for breath. The voice of reason in all this is Roger Harding (Dr Abraham Yahuda), while holding the whole thing together is the inimitable Keith Railton, who was 'poached' from the usual Criterion company to play Freud himself.

I am not sure I understood all of the nuances but this hugely-talented cast deserve full houses every night.

Barbara Goulden, Coventry Telegraph

 

Playhouse Creatures

Strong cast does justice to play.

April de Angelis'  Playhouse Creatures is an engaging play, yet none-the-less one that is also very challenging to stage. Apart from having to establish the poignancy of what was happening historically - the emergence of female actors on the English stage after King Charles orders that Shakespeare's boy players be replaced by female actresses - any director also has to address very significant social and economic issues of the time.

To do this commands a strong and able cast, one that not only brings to the fore such realities of ageing, pregnancy and inequality, but also one able to deal with the fripperies of the female theatrical life.

James Claridge's production of Playhouse Creatures for Two Hats Theatre Company, performed in the Shakespearience auditorium, does just this.A cleverly selected cast unravels the five individual stories of each of these historically well-known performers.

These woman were constantly looked at and treated with contempt, often regarded as notorious whores against a backdrop of strict morality - and the five-strong cast handle this uncompromising script well.

As well as a complimentary musical score by Darren Scott, the staging effects were mostly perfect.

Particular mention should go to Katherine Buckingham for her charming interpretation of the ageing Mrs Betterton, and the slightly menacing, yet down-to-earth Doll (Helen Wall).

It is refreshing to see a strong Restoration play given such justice.    Sandy Holt, Stratford Herald

 

A Servant to Two Masters

...a Kaleidoscope of colourful characters.

The company of actors for this production was certainly strong as they rollercoastered through the quick-fire antics of two couples in love, two unreasonable fathers and a servant determined to double his luck, exploring the themes of greed, sex, love and money.

There was a kaleidoscope of colourful characters that clowned with equal excellence—from the unforgettable wily comic performance of Craig Shelton as Truffaldino to Esther Riggs' endearing Clarice and Katherine Buckingham's strong Beatrice.

There were also some excellent comic sets—especially the serving two meals and trunk scenes.

Ironically, although chosen as an alternative to Shakespeare—the play certainly carried similar themes as trickery, disguise and mayhem as such comedies as Twelfth Night and The Comedy of Errors. Regardless of this, director James Claridge certainly offered up an accomplished piece.   Sandy Holt, Stratford Herald

One Evening in Russia

...Unmissable!

"...the audience participation thing is brilliant...The Sneeze was a superb finale"   Creative Arts East

"I enjoyed the evening very much...the finale was unmissable!! very funny, very clever!"  Arts Live 

 

 

Kiss of the Spider Woman

A promising debut.

"...a highly watchable drama which left a shiver down the spine...deeply moving moments....Placing the audience in the prison cell with the actors brought an extra dimension of intensity..."  Leamington Courier

"...a dream come true."   Leamington Courier

"...a claustrophobic, twilight feel...A promising debut for the new theatre company."  Coventry Evening Telegraph

 

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