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Bear with me: Sun Bear @ParkTheatre

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If The Light House is an uplifting tale of survival, Sarah Richardson’s Sun Bear gives a contrasting take on this. Sarah plays Katy. We’re introduced to Katy as she runs through a list of pet office peeves with her endlessly perky coworkers, particularly about coworkers stealing her pens. It’s a hilarious opening monologue that would have you wishing you had her as a coworker to help relieve you from the boredom of petty office politics.  But something is not quite right in the perfect petty office, where people work together well. And that is her. And despite her protesting that she is fine, the pet peeves and the outbursts are becoming more frequent. As the piece progresses, maybe the problem lies in a past relationship, where Katy had to be home by a particular hour, not stay out late with office colleagues and not be drunk enough not to answer his calls. Perhaps the perky office colleagues are trying to help, and perhaps Katy is trying to reach out for help. It has simple staging

Opera: La Traviata goes East Londonistan...

La Traviata which is playing Upstairs at the Gatehouse is a surprising treat. One of the most loved and most performed operas with its beautiful music and fully developed characters, in the Gatehouse's intimate space becomes an intensely emotional affair that has the audience alternating between sobbing and cheering.

This is the same company that presented the economic production of Troy Boy last year. Again by Kit Hesketh-Harvey, this new translation and adaptation moves the action into the heart of cosmopolitan East London. Well the part where there are dodgy burlesque clubs and marriages that still need to preserve reputations.

Moving and updating the actions opens up a whole range of  possibilities. Sempre Libera now includes a lap dance on one lucky audience member. Since Anna Jeruc-Kopec who plays Violetta has a great set of legs to match her set of lungs, it came as no surprise when she started to get a good mauling by the audience... They can be funny like that in Highgate.


In addition to Jeruc-Kopec,  the cast includes the usual insanely talented young singers. Some have won prizes and others have worked for various other opera companies. Part of the fun going to these productions is spotting who might be a potential star. Time will no doubt tell.

In this modern adaptation, I was surprised she didn't leave Alfredo (or Al as he is here) by changing her Facebook relationship status and checking back into the La Traviata club on Foursquare, but minor anachronisms aside, the piece can stand on its own while preserving all that is great about Verdi's music.  

The staging is kept simple and so the piece relies on the passion and performances of this young and energetic cast right in front of you to hit the spot. And they do.

Following the run at Highgate, it is touring Southern England before returning to London at The Scoop in June. Well worth a trip on the Northern Line to the pub on the hill. Don't miss it. It runs through to March.

Photo: Anna Jeruc-Kopec (Violetta) at centre. Photo credit: Polly Hancock

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