| I ICARUS I by Katrin Lange. Translated by Purni Morell - Unicorn Theatre, mainstage |
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★★★★ The Stage" - The joy for Cressida Brown's production is its stagecraft....This is a fine example of what the Unicorn does best: intelligent, creative and un-patronising theatre for children and young adults." ★★★★ LondonTheatre1 - "Icarus is the show to see." |
I THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF SMACK AND CRACK I by Ed Edwards |
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• Won the Lustrum Award for Greatest Festival Moments by Summerhall |
| I ★★★★★ The Stage I Yes, yes, yes. The Paines Plough Roundabout’s programme this year is exceptional, but there’s nothing better there – maybe nothing better at the whole festival – than Ed Edwards’ The Political History of Smack and Crack, a riotously entertaining and deeply moving drama-cum-documentary exploring the history of heroin use in Manchester. I ★★★★ The Independent, Lyn Gardner I Cressida Brown’s production is a peach, Edwards treats his characters with both affection and dignity, and Steele and Bell bring Many and Neil so vividly to life as they struggle to survive that there is no chance the audience will judge – we only empathise. I ★★★★ The Guardian I I ★★★★ Fest I I ★★★★ Everything Theatre I I ★★★★ The List I I ★★★★ British Theatre I I ★★★★★ EdFringe I I ★★★★★ Back Stage on the Fringe I I ★★★★ The List I I ★★★★ Whatsonstage I ★★★★ The Scotsman ★★★★ Financial Times ★★★★★ The 730 Review' |
| I TWELFTH NIGHT I by Shakespeare Guangzhou Dramatic Arts Centre and Royal Shakespeare Company |
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• Click here for article in English about it: I www.rsc.org.uk/our-work-in-china I |
| I WALKING THE TIGHTROPE: THE TENSION BETWEEN ART AND POLITICS I by Caryl Churchill, Neil LaBute, Mark Ravenhill, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Gbolahan Obisesan, April De Angelis, Sarah Solemani, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Hattie Naylor, Caryl Churchill, Ryan Craig, Omar El-Khairy, Julia Pascal, Evan Placey. Theatre Deli, transferred to House of Commons and Underbelly |
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Interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: |
| I ★★★★★ The Independent I "It felt tricky, dangerous, stimulating, discomfiting – what serious theatre is for, in other words" I ★★★★★ The Metropolist I "Walking The Tightrope is an incredibly important production. As crocodiles gather below and landmines wait ahead, the tightrope between arts and politics is becoming increasingly dangerous – it bellies the need for artists to become philosophers. Thankfully Offstage Theatre has risen to the challenge." I ★★★★ Huffington Post I "Bravo to producer Cressida Brown, her group Offstage Theatre and collaborates Theatre Uncut for bringing Walking The Tightrope to the stage. It truly entertains while challenging, and that is no mean feat!" I ★★★★ Everything Theatre I "The twelve works are incredibly varied in their subject matter, interpretation and comment on the issue. Often light hearted and illuminating, sometimes cryptic and incisive, the writers infuse their own take on the commission, bouncing the audience through the unrelated scenes, charging the production with provocative energy." I ★★★★ The Scotsman I I ★★★★ Time Out I I ★★★★★ British Theatre Guide I I ★★★★★ edfringe review I I ★★★★ Theatre Bubble I |
| I SCREENS I by Stephen Loughton - Theatre503 |
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★★★★ The Stage "Strong performances, slick staging and a unpredictable script elevate this timely drama about identity" ★★★★ Carole Woddis "Writer Laughton and director Brown who produced the politically charged Walking the Tightrope...deserve to be seen much more. An important milestone. “ ★★★★ Whatsonstage “There is nothing but solid performances from this cast of five… they are at the heart of this thought-provoking, eye-opening play that tells a story often not heard, that needs to be told.” ★★★★ Everything Theatre “It isn’t just the script and acting that made Screens such great viewing. The staging, lighting and directing all stand out” ★★★★ Reviews Hub “Screens fights shy of wrapping up complex emotions with a neat and tidy bow”★★★★ London Theatre 1 "It’s certainly a provocative production, and one that rightly dispenses with offering universal solutions to the issues raised. There’s much food for thought in this uncompromisingly forthright and vigorous play.” ★★★★★ LGBTQ Arts "This play is important" |
| I THE WORDS ARE COMING NOW I by April De Angelis, Richard Bean, Chris Bush Dipika Guha, Fergus Church, Amy Evans, Kevin Forde, Patrick Russell, Elise Van Lil and Deidan Williams |
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Theatre503, responses to the #metoo movement |
| I ★★★★ Guardian I “The Words Are Coming Now is a vital project and is admirable in blazing a trail and talking about these thorny, urgent issues. It’s a step towards restoring peripheral vision, in an industry that is finally acknowledging a collective blindness.” I ★★★★ The Stage I “Thought-provoking and nuanced anthology that serves as a strong showcase of politically-engaged new writing from playwrights” |
| I AMPHIBIANS I by Steve Waters Staged in a derelict pool previously hidden under Bridewell Theatre’s stage |
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• Awards: Time Out Critic's Choice, Nominated for 6 OffWestEnd Theatre awards. • Additional preview and feature coverage: The Independent, The Spectator, The Guardian, BBC London Radio, British Airways inflight magazine, The Daily Telegraph, The Observer, The Times, British Theatre Guide, The Evening Standard, The Financial Times, The Stage • “For once a production has earned the description ‘site-specific’…Cressida Brown’s direction makes it extraordinary: both detailed and fluid…it’s total immersion.” Susannah Clapp, The Observer • “Director Cressida Brown explodes Amphibians into a sparkling set of fragmented conundrums.” Matt Trueman, Culture Wars ★★★★★ “Cressida Brown’s superb new show…a fascinating and compelling insight into the raw win-or-pose realities of life as an elite swimmer.” The Arbiturian “Amphibians is an artistic pleasure with its mix of popular storytelling, good acting and fine directorial vision.” British Theatre Guide
“It looks amazing,..Cressida Brown directs moments of ungainly vulnerability, dissecting the limitations of her actors with choreographed physical exertion.” GroupOn |
| I TOP TRUMPS I by Hassan Abdulrazzak, Lily Bevan, Helen Banner, Tearrance Chisholm, Caryl Churchill, Kokil Issac, Lorna French, Amanda Lane,Ryan Watson, Roy Williams |
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Plays about Trump’s inauguration |
★★★★ Guardian ★★★★ The Times ★★★★Arts Desk |
| I CAUGHT I by Christopher Chen UK Premiere, Arcola Theatre |
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Feature in American Theatre Magazine: I www.americantheatre.org I |
| ★★★★ Huffington post “This deeply clever work was stunning, and very funny. The room roared with laughter while being challenged to consider their own preconceptions, never really knowing what was coming next…trust me this play is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend an hour and a half with your clothes on.” ★★★★ Culture Whisper "Cressida Brown‘s direction is subtle and heavy-handed at all the right moments – in itself a game on the way we engage with a piece of drama or dialogue." ★★★★ LondonTheatre1 |
| I SEPTIMUS BEAN AND HIS AMAZING MACHINE I by Adam Peck |
| Unicorn Theatre |
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Nominated for Offie (Best Production, Under 7s) British Theatre Guide “Cressida Brown’s lively production is so perfect…delightfully simple and simply delightful”. |
| I RE:HOME I devised by Offstage Theatre Yard Theatre |
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Nominated for two Offies: Best Production and Best Acting Ensemble Winner of the Old Vic’s Artist of Choice Award ★★★★★ London Theatre 1 "The show is a haunting portrait of a time, a place and a community that’s gone forever; many of the interviewees mention ghosts, and you can really feel their presence. Re:Home is at time moving, at others gripping, and often very funny, perfectly capturing the personality and spirit of the people without whom it could never have been made. Offstage Theatre’s website states that the show is ‘giving a voice to a community that no longer exists’. It’s a voice that deserves to be heard." |
| I MACBETH I by Shakespeare |
| Bard En Seine Festival in Rene Vivani Square, Paris |
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Watch interview on France 24's Culture show Encore with Cressida Brown here: I France24 interview I |
| I PHAEDRE I by Jean Racine |
| Staged promenade in the ruins of Craigmillar Castle |
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★★★★★ Three Weeks, shortlisted for an Editor Award "A classic tale of forbidden love set in the ruins of a 15th century castle, Phaedre is more than just theatre – it's an experience, and an inspired one at that." ★★★★ The Scotsman Recommended Show "Welcome to tragedy...sublime" ★★★★The Stage "All the archetypal appeal of the Greeks, epic humanness of Shakespeare and enough Gallic melodrama to fill a dozen castles." ★★★★ Fest "Phaedre is a multi-sensory experience that leaves no part of our body unconscious in the unravelling story of forbidden and fatal love."★★★★Edinburgh Evening News "Brown makes great use of a number of imposing, and slightly spooky, locations within the ruin. As they line the staircases between scenes the female chorus add to the play's tension with their haunting songs and chants.” |
| I HOME I by Gbolahan Obisesan |
| Staged in St Catherine’s Tower, Beaumont Estate, East London |
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Features in New York Times. Channel 4 TV news, BBC TV news, ITV TV news, Evening Standard, The Times, The Guardian. |
| Watch prime time new feature on Channel 4 TV news: I https://vimeo.com/14393109 I |
| ★★★★★ WhatOnStage “Offstage pulled off a coup de theatre, creating a piece at once human, gripping, touching…the writing, direction and acting were impeccably sensitive and nuanced.” ★★★★ Time Out "An infectiously defiant spirit...linguistically versatile and politically charged...heartening" ★★★★ Evening Standard “An enterprising young theatre company” |
| I SENTENCED I by Matt Hartley Union Theatre |
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“Sensitively directed by Cressida Brown.” ★★★★ TimeOut - Critic’s Choice |