London Tales - Lost Theatre

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Posted 2015-01-15 by London Schweppes ⇒ follow

Fri 09 Jan 2015 - Sat 14 Feb 2015

Directed by Moji Kareem, London Tales, promised to be a vibrant story of the invisible connections between those who live in this fast paces city, full of opportunity and dreams. When I first walked into Lost Theatre, a short walk from Stockwell station in London, I hadn't quite pictured the production to be so youthful, yet interesting in terms of the ideas and thoughts the writers desired to portray.

There was depth to the ideas; a questioning intellect, inquisitive with a curiosity to know the individuals we encounter on a daily basis; about their lives, hardships, joys and the journeys of self that they undergo as they lived amongst us as one of us, in this vast city we call home. It tried to illustrate that whilst there was so much colour, beauty and vibrancy within each of us, most of us wouldn't 'bat an eyelid' in acknowledgement of the condition of another human being; another extension of ourselves.

Whilst there was therefore quality and potential in the themes of the play, the delivery and script did not do full justice to it. The play could have flowed a lot smoother, perhaps incorporating more depth to each mini story that was elucidated; after all the whole play finished in less than an hour, so there was some room for this. In saying that however, I would not want to undermine the interesting way each sub story was juxtaposed; like a pastiche on an empty canvas, the canvas being London, and the recurring motif being the tube journey in London.

The use of music, lighting, sets and movement of the dozen or so actors was commendable, owing to the work of Chris Yarnell (movement director), Samuel Miller (sound and light designer), Eimhin Walker (set design), Ronan Morrow (costume design), and Natasha Chandra (Stage Manager). The stage setting was versatile and innovative, and the music and dance funky and young. The actors themselves varied in levels and experience, but were all equally radiating enthusiasm.

Also playing 13th - 17th January at Lost theatre on Wandsworth road and 14th February in Rich Mix on Bethnal Green road in London; there is still time to catch the next one!