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A Man For All Seasons: Seagull True Story - Marylebone Theatre

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It's not often that you see a play that tells you not so much a story but gives you a sense of how it feels to be in a situation, how it feels to be silenced, how it feels to be marginalised, how the dead hand of consensus stifles your creativity. However, in Seagull True Story, created and directed by Alexander Molochnikov and based on his own experiences fleeing Russia and trying to establish himself in New York, we have a chance to look beyond the headlines and understand how the war in Ukraine impacted a a group of ordinary creatives in Russia. And how the gradual smothering of freedom and freedom of expression becomes impossible to resist, except for the brave or the suicidal. Against the backdrop of Chekhov's The Seagull, which explores love and other forms of disappointment, it presents a gripping and enthralling depiction of freedom of expression in the face of adversity. After playing earlier this year in New York, it plays a limited run at the Marylebone Theatre . Fro...

I Miss The Mountains: Fly More Than You Fall @Swkplay

Production photo

Losing a parent when you’re still figuring out who you are and your place in the world seems like a bummer of a topic for a musical. But somehow, Fly More Than You Fall tackles grief and loss with a light touch, catchy music and enthusiastic performances. While it may not offer great insight into the exploration of grief, it gives pause for thought and a few laughs on the way. After all, death doesn’t take a holiday, and nobody gets out of here alive. We just hope it doesn’t happen too soon. It’s currently playing at Southwark Playhouse Elephant. 

We first meet Malia as she prepares for summer writers' school. She aspires to be a writer and has a story in development. Encouraged by her mother to keep going, she is looking forward to the summer. But the summer school is cut short when her mother is diagnosed with stage four cancer. Back home so her mother can spend her last days with her family, Malia has to grow up quickly and find her voice while watching her mother slip away. 


There are some fine performances here. Robyn Rose-Li as Malia gives the show its heart with an emotional and rousing performance. Keala Settle, known for a big voice gives a strong performance as her mother. Nat Zegree’s music and lyrics are inventive and catchy, showcasing a variety of musical styles. The songs also give the cast plenty of opportunities to showcase their vocals. It is a pity there isn’t a cast album… Yet. 

There are some nice touches throughout the production. Everything is shades of pastels at first, but grey creeps in from the death and loss. The set consisting of a pile of paper is no doubt a metaphor for the mountain the characters are climbing—real and imagined. 

Musicals heighten emotions at the best of times. As much as I admired Next To Normal, watching it felt like being a party to the trauma and as if you needed to be in therapy. Here, the show tackles grief and loss with sweetness and positivity about living each day and loving it, as you never know what might come next. It’s a message that comes across without being too preachy or sentimental. Or too American… 

Directed by Christian Durham with music direction by Arlene McNaught, Fly More Than You Fall is at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 23 November. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photos by Craig Fuller

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