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Post by joem on Feb 22, 2022 14:07:59 GMT
Plays about football just about out-strip the number of major finals England have ever played in, I can think of three (plays that is) and, oddly, two have "Red" in their name, Patrick Marber's "The Red Lion" and this new play from Tyrell Williams which has just premiered at the Bush.
Three 16 year old friends Omz, Joey and Bilal kick about at the Red Pitch in their area of south London and dream of the trials to join a premier league team. During their games and in the process we learn of their individual problems with families, schooling and the future. Behind all this the spectre of development which threatens their beloved football pitch.
The rivalries and tension as to who, if any of them, might make it never outweigh the strong bonds of friendship between the three lads in this coming of age play which is sympathetically directed, well staged and very well acted by the three-strong cast of Kedar Williams-Stirling (Bilal), Emeka Sesay (Joey) and Francis Lovehall (Omz).
Funnily enough though, no-one seems to see the irony in the premise to the play; the lament against gentrification through the innocent eyes of three boys who hope to avail themselves of the ultimate modern route to gentrification - becoming a premiership footballer!
Constructive non-play criticism: I do love the Bush, its atmosphere (nice bar lined with theatre books) and what it's doing within its community BUT can we be a bit less pedantic about entry into the theatre? It's messy enough as it is, with different entries into the auditorium some of which involve standing outside in the cold, given it is roomy and spacious you really do not need to force people to go walk outside and all around the building to come in through another door when your seat is about five metres from the door you used to get in. Just a thought.
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Post by zahidf on Feb 22, 2022 14:10:20 GMT
Plays about football just about out-strip the number of major finals England have ever played in, I can think of three (plays that is) and, oddly, two have "Red" in their name, Patrick Marber's "The Red Lion" and this new play from Tyrell Williams which has just premiered at the Bush. Three 16 year old friends Omz, Joey and Bilal kick about at the Red Pitch in their area of south London and dream of the trials to join a premier league team. During their games and in the process we learn of their individual problems with families, schooling and the future. Behind all this the spectre of development which threatens their beloved football pitch. The rivalries and tension as to who, if any of them, might make it never outweigh the strong bonds of friendship between the three lads in this coming of age play which is sympathetically directed, well staged and very well acted by the three-strong cast of Kedar Williams-Stirling (Bilal), Emeka Sesay (Joey) and Francis Lovehall (Omz). Funnily enough though, no-one seems to see the irony in the premise to the play; the lament against gentrification through the innocent eyes of three boys who hope to avail themselves of the ultimate modern route to gentrification - becoming a premiership footballer! Constructive non-play criticism: I do love the Bush, its atmosphere (nice bar lined with theatre books) and what it's doing within its community BUT can we be a bit less pedantic about entry into the theatre? It's messy enough as it is, with different entries into the auditorium some of which involve standing outside in the cold, given it is roomy and spacious you really do not need to force people to go walk outside and all around the building to come in through another door when your seat is about five metres from the door you used to get in. Just a thought. I like the Bush but they have been very pedantic about one way systems e.t.c post pandemic |
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Post by cavocado on Feb 22, 2022 15:40:04 GMT
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 22, 2022 15:50:01 GMT
United on a Wednesday Night was the play that saved the world-famous Crucible Theatre from financial collapse.
There's also the delayed First Touch opening at Nottingham Playhouse in a few months.
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Post by joem on Feb 22, 2022 15:59:59 GMT
United on a Wednesday Night was the play that saved the world-famous Crucible Theatre from financial collapse. There's also the delayed First Touch opening at Nottingham Playhouse in a few months. I missed those! "An Evening with Gary Lineker" was obviously the other one I had in mind. |
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Post by zahidf on Apr 20, 2023 10:11:06 GMT
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Post by alessia on Apr 20, 2023 10:30:39 GMT
Nice! booked :-) heard a lot of good things but missed it first time around
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Post by tmesis on Apr 20, 2023 10:51:45 GMT
Regarding other plays about football, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Jumpers for Goal posts by Tom Wells. This was actually on at The Bush a number of years ago and is one of the very best things I've seen there.
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Post by capybara on Sept 13, 2023 8:51:48 GMT
Thought this was brilliant and would recommend it to anyone.
Fair play to the Bush for bringing it back. It’s doing such a good job at telling stories from different communities at the moment.
Red Pitch is actually very funny, as well as touching.
Four stars.
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Post by barelyathletic on Sept 13, 2023 10:31:08 GMT
Regarding other plays about football, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Jumpers for Goal posts by Tom Wells. This was actually on at The Bush a number of years ago and is one of the very best things I've seen there. It is one of my favourite plays ever. It would make a brilliant small scale British film and the play should be a set text for every school. (in my humble opinion) |
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Post by zahidf on Sept 13, 2023 14:22:57 GMT
£15.00 Rush tickets on todaytix
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Post by max on Sept 13, 2023 14:45:11 GMT
Thanks for that info zahidf , it was looking like one I was going to miss otherwise due to cost. Having gone to TodayTix I've just seen that for a very few performances they also have some reduced priced seats (again £15) bookable in advance. |
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Post by barelyathletic on Sept 13, 2023 16:38:13 GMT
£15.00 Rush tickets on todaytix Thank you. Grabbed one for the 23. Fantastic reviews both times. Looking forward to it. |
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Post by imstillhere on Sept 13, 2023 16:56:44 GMT
Could this transfer? I'm surprised the NT didn't snap it up!
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Post by zahidf on Sept 13, 2023 18:30:32 GMT
Thanks for that info zahidf , it was looking like one I was going to miss otherwise due to cost. Having gone to TodayTix I've just seen that for a very few performances they also have some reduced priced seats (again £15) bookable in advance. No probs. Got one for next week |
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Post by showgirl on Sept 14, 2023 3:16:36 GMT
Not saying this wasn't fine and clearly it depends on personal taste and what can actually be revived, but imo there are better and more successful recent Bush productions which could have been chosen, especially, for example, Paradise Now and The P Word.
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Post by zahidf on Sept 14, 2023 6:57:17 GMT
Not saying this wasn't fine and clearly it depends on personal taste and what can actually be revived, but imo there are better and more successful recent Bush productions which could have been chosen, especially, for example, Paradise Now and The P Word. It won a 'best new play' award, which is probably why it came back! |
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Post by joem on Sept 15, 2023 22:39:35 GMT
Regarding other plays about football, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Jumpers for Goal posts by Tom Wells. This was actually on at The Bush a number of years ago and is one of the very best things I've seen there. It is one of my favourite plays ever. It would make a brilliant small scale British film and the play should be a set text for every school. (in my humble opinion) As someone who still plays Jumpers for Goalposts regularly, I concur. |
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Post by wiggymess on Sept 16, 2023 11:10:32 GMT
Both performances cancelled today. Will be tough to rebook another date - looks to be almost sold out
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Sept 16, 2023 16:47:42 GMT
looks to be almost sold out i went yesterday (luckily!) but there were a fair few empty seats around. I wonder if it's no shows? |
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Post by showgirl on Sept 16, 2023 18:05:36 GMT
Not saying this wasn't fine and clearly it depends on personal taste and what can actually be revived, but imo there are better and more successful recent Bush productions which could have been chosen, especially, for example, Paradise Now and The P Word. It won a 'best new play' award, which is probably why it came back! Maybe, but the cynic in me thinks that the fact that it must be relatively cheap to stage (small cast and almost no set) could well explain some or most of its return. |
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Post by wiggymess on Sept 19, 2023 10:29:08 GMT
It won a 'best new play' award, which is probably why it came back! Maybe, but the cynic in me thinks that the fact that it must be relatively cheap to stage (small cast and almost no set) could well explain some or most of its return. Sales would suggest otherwise - it's pretty much completely sold out. It was, and remains, a very popular play and one that brings in new and non-regular theatre audiences which is a fantastic achievement. It's acclaim during its first run and subsequent litany of nominations and awards have helped with its reputation. Fantastic play, I'm overjoyed it's back & will have seen it 3 times by the time the run ends  |
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Post by Steve on Sept 20, 2023 16:25:01 GMT
Saw the matinee, and basically agree with everything everyone has said above, especially Joe. Some spoilers follow. . . Like "Dear England," it's not really about football but relating. It's a fantastic, absorbing kinetic play about friendship, hopes and dreams, and the inevitability of change, with a London specific lingo that non natives might struggle to follow. But be patient, and like with Shakespeare, I'm sure you'll tune in. The cast are universally excellent. For me, as Omz, the most outside of these outsiders, the most volatile of the friends, Francis Lovehall is giving one of the most dynamic, credible, moving and funny performances I have ever seen. He is phenomenal. 4 and a half stars from me. |
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Post by tmesis on Sept 23, 2023 18:03:32 GMT
I absolutely loved this. What an amazing, funny, touching, fabulously well acted play this is. The cast are so talented. Superb atmosphere at today’s matinee. The audience were hanging on every word and lapping it up. You could actually feel the love for the characters.
Total standing ovation at the end and, for once, completely deserved.
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Post by barelyathletic on Sept 25, 2023 10:41:07 GMT
Absolutely agree with tmesis. What a fantastic way to spend a Saturday afternoon. A really funny, moving drama. brilliantly done. A play overflowing with love and real friendship. Totally engaging theatre. And what a lovely way to start with the actor playing Omz kicking the ball around with a young lad from the front row. Those three boys were amazing.I was moist eyed by the end of it and it's definitely in my top ten of the year. Five stars.
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Post by alessia on Sept 25, 2023 14:57:57 GMT
I went on Saturday evening and though I felt that the three young men were excellent and SO natural, I did struggle to understand quite a bit of the dialogue, probably because it was intended to be delivered in a very natural way, like three boys chatting at the pitch, and not being a native speaker it's always harder for me whether it's Shakespeare or slang. Anyhow I did enjoy it, not as much as say, the P Word but it was good and glad I went. Perhaps if I'd had a better seat, closer to the front, I'd have enjoyed it a lot more but it was one of random ones and this time they put me in a corner this time.
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Post by andbingowashisname on Sept 29, 2023 11:54:45 GMT
So many garlands for this play meant that I had high expectations going in, and yet if anything I think it’s even better than I ever hoped it might be. It’s up there with the best 90 minutes I have spent in a theatre in the last decade or so. I hope the National puts it in the Dorfman so that it can continue to wow more people for even longer. Direction, performances, design, everything is first class. Vital, moving, funny, smart and insightful; a total joy.
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Post by capybara on Dec 6, 2023 10:10:05 GMT
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Post by zahidf on Dec 6, 2023 10:20:06 GMT
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Post by barelyathletic on Dec 6, 2023 10:26:47 GMT
Very happy to see it transfer. My play of the year. |
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