The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

East at the King’s Head Theatre

East at the King’s Head Theatre | Theatre review
12 January 2018
Jake Cudsi
Avatar
Jake Cudsi
12 January 2018

This rendition of Steven Berkoff’s East is a raucous vernacular comedy laced with melancholy and despair, fittingly returned to its original home on Upper street by the Atticist theatre company, winners of the 2016 Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award.

East debuted at the King’s Head theatre in 1975, and while life has changed in immeasurable ways, the pains and suffering of our five-strong cast can resonate just as deeply today. The play ostensibly centres on the young duo Mike (James Craze) and Les (Jack Condon), and to a lesser extent Sylv (Boadicea Ricketts). Messrs Mike and Les are the kings of their manor and the rulers of now, but as the piece progresses they have to face up to the concept that the city is bigger than the manor, and that the now is ephemeral.

The Dad’s (Russell Barnett) bitter racism and deluded pining for the past acts as a grim warning to the young boys of where their lives could soon land. This character’s woes are somewhat pertinent to the anguish pervading many in today’s society, and there may have been room to explore a more modern angle, however, the production sticks true to Berkoff’s vision, and it does so excellently. Every actor plays their part in this intimate space; there is a tangible chemistry between our three young actors that’s particularly electrifying to observe.

The play is interwoven by numerous soliloquies, each one detailing the profound struggle the speaker is fighting, which mantles the story with a sense of regret  – regret at not having a different life, regret over the decisions that led them to this way of living and, in arguably the most powerful delivery, Sylv despairs over a woman’s role in this most unforgiving of worlds.

On seeing this production, theatregoers will laugh, they’ll gasp – an act set in a cinema will draw an emphatic chorus of disbelief – and ultimately they will leave the theatre thoroughly entertained by this foul-mouthed homage to the East End.

★★★★★

Jake Cudsi
Photo: Alex Brenner.

East is at the King’s Head Theatre from 9th January until 3rd February 2018. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels

★★★★★
Brooke Snowe
Read More

Redemption Room at Secret Theatre Online

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Rice! at Omnibus Theatre

★★★★★
Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More

24, 23, 22 at Chronic Insanity Online

★★★★★
Samuel Nicholls
Read More

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice at Southwark Playhouse Online

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Typical at Soho Theatre

★★★★★
Ella Satin
Read More

Grimm Tales for Fragile Times and Broken People

★★★★★
Emma-Jane Betts
Read More

Gatsby at Cadogan Hall: An interview with Jodie Steele and Ross William Wild

Michael Higgs
Read More

Living Record Festival: Ain’t No Female Romeo

★★★★★
Brooke Snowe
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Jake Cudsi

East

★★★★★

Dates

9th January - 3rd February 2018

Price

£15-£25

Links & directions

TwitterFacebookWebsiteMap

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • I’m Your Man (Ich bin dein Mensch)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Black Bear
    ★★★★★
    Glasgow
  • Celebrate International Women’s Day with a Bombay Sapphire Cocktails & Create masterclass
    Food & Drinks
  • Spotlight: Lauren Everet and Soup Kitchen London, striving for food security and social equality
    Food & Drinks
  • Bicep at Saatchi Gallery Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • WandaVision
    ★★★★★
    disney
  • A Cop Movie (Una película de policías)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Coming 2 America
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Eye of the Storm
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Kings of Leon – When You See Yourself
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • WandaVision
    ★★★★★
    disney
  • Coming 2 America
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Kings of Leon – When You See Yourself
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • The Dissident
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Short Vacation (Jong chak yeok)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Insidious: The Last Key | Movie review
Wild Life FM at the Unicorn Theatre | Theatre review