Tipsy Hippo Winter Marathon 2011

May I introduce you to an exciting mini-adventure from Tipsy Hippo - the Tipsy Hippo Winter Marathon 2011. To celebrate all that is good and great about the London theatre scene we are committing to a week of non-stop theatrical traipsing as we jaunt around the streets, circuses and squares that dot the London landscape. From Tuesday 6th to Saturday 10th December we're dropping into six shows in total, with the reviews appearing shortly thereafter on this blogsite. We hope that you join in on following us along the way and pick up on the reviews. If you've seen any of the shows, let us know what you think of our review and the show by commenting on them. We're very excited by this quaint little quest and we hope you are, too!


So...

On Tuesday 6th December we begin a week of fun with a trip to Cambridge Circus in the heart of the West End to sit in class with Matilda and her RSC rejuvenation. Transferring to the the humdrum of foggy old London town's West End from a sell-out season up in quiet, sunny Stratford-upon-Avon in the Courtyard Theatre it has brought a huge buzz of excitement with it and we can't wait to get in on the action. With the script written by Dennis Kelly and all the music from the multi-award winning comic musician Tim Minchin (host of the first ever Comedy Prom as well) it promises to be a great night and a great way to open the billing.

Wednesday sees us move westward with the setting sun to sit in on 'Through the Night' at the Finborough Theatre. The theatre has celebrated its 30th anniversary in magnificent style this year with no less than 44 premieres of new plays and musicals and has earned renewed recognition for its endeavours, among these is The Stage 100's Fringe Theatre of the Year award (in its inaugural season). Well done! Now they have teamed up with the Papatango Playwriting Competition and present the winner and three runners up from their 2011 competition. Papatango has been running since its inception in 2007. Needless to say, we can't wait to see what the results are!

Thursday once more takes us into the heart of central London to the Soho Theatre, another venue known for producing new and original theatre. 'Audience', the show we're going to see there, has had fantastic reviews from its stint up in the Edinburgh Fringe, after which it has been described by various sources as 'the most talked about show' of the whole month. Following that they have conducted a successful European tour and are finishing out the year in the heart of London's West End. We're very excited to see what they have to offer us!

Friday is the penultimate day in our stretch and we sit down and relax in the comfortable and reliable arms of the Royal Court for 'Haunted Child'. Writer Joe Penhall renews a successful history with the Royal Court (most recently 'Dumb Show' in 2004 and originally 'Some Voices' in 1994, which won him the John Whiting Award). A story questioning our beliefs and the consequences of our holding them. Described as chilling and unsettling it will bring a great dynamic to the week.

Saturday is a bumper day that sees us going to two shows, beginning regally with a matinee at the Duchess Theatre and 'The Pitmen Painters'. Acclaimed at every level from their 2007 opening in Newcastle through their run at the National, UK tour, Broadway production and now revival in the West End as well it's hardly difficult to see why we've picked this to fall on our final day. 






Our rousing finale takes us down to our favourite theatre in the whole wide world, the Old Vic. Their new production of 'Noises Off' opens this week and we're not exactly going to miss a treat like that, are we? Since the play premiered in 1982 it has enjoyed a silly amount of awards and acclaim, having been enjoyed by audiences all over the world. Following the antics of a touring theatre company stumbling their way through rehearsals and shambolic performances it offers a classic comedy of backstage play-within-a-play confusion; sounds great, doesn't it? Directed by Lindsay Posner and boasting a very talented cast it should prove to be the final height we reach as our excitement reaches its feverous climax.

If you have any comments or contributions regarding the Winter Marathon, please leave them below!!




John Ord (5/12/2011)