Latest news with #DukeOfYork'sTheatre
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Self Esteem live in London: Rollercoaster ride of a theatre show kicks off new era
Is this a sermon, a theatre epic, group therapy? Whatever it is, A Complicated Woman at the Duke Of York's Theatre feels defining in the already accolade laden career of Self Esteem. Is there anything Rebecca Lucy Taylor can't do? Hearing these new songs feels like a rite of passage on Easter Sunday. The room is not only part of a movement, but witnessing something inspired, destined for glowing reviews and affirmation. So much so, even Madonna has been spotted in attendance. Is she now a 'Steemer' too? It's easy to gush over something so emotive in a hotly immersive theatre setting. But the post hype that's coming from ticket holders and critics alike is well founded. In 75 minutes, you're taken on a rousing rollercoaster, a ride that flips your stomach, soul and emotional equilibrium. You don't know which way you're going to go, but be sure you're going to feel it. The show opens in theatrical spectacle, a follow on from Rebecca's Sally Bowles at The Kit Kat Club, meeting The Handmade's Tale square in the face. A Complicated Woman, or what we've seen of her so far, is brought to life; set free. The choreography from here on in is genius, rave-pop belter 'Mother' is fearsome, funny and executed in quite terrifying convulsive movements, rippling throughout the meticulous ensemble. This is what the crowd came for, a ride only Self Esteem can stop – strap yourselves in. The show is sprinkled with some hits from her second album Prioritise Pleasure. There's subtle twists though, Easter eggs for fans. So much thought and detail have been poured into this, where do you find the time Rebecca? But what's apparent here is that she's welcomed help now, even she recognises this on stage, stating the process of collaboration as 'healing'. Kudos to theatre designer Tom Scutt and the folks at Empire Street Productions. The new songs don't just hold gravitas within the crowd but recent single 'Focus Is Power' propels everyone into rapturous ovation and embrace. Even the back rows stand in collective appreciation, singing back to the stage 'I deserve to be here'. It's all quite euphoric, even cathartic. What are we witnessing, is anyone else doing this right now? 'In Plain Sight', a song with Moonchild Sanelly is jaw dropping, spine tingling stuff. Moonchild on the big screen, tears rolling down her face with the ensemble staring back in worship. Light cascades through the stage, across the crowd and goosebumps are triggered. Rebecca breaks character, or so we're led to believe as she sits down to have a chat with the audience. Can we take a breath? You must be kidding! She seamlessly merges this casual convo into the spoken word prowess of 'I Do This All The Time' and the audience are in the palm of her hand, chanting this fierce feminist gospel back to her. It's time now for the men to be quiet and listen: 'Be wary of the favours men do for you'. After juxtaposing fragility with power, comes a crescendo in the jubilant form of 'The Deep Blue Okay', another new track and one befitting an encore. It's easy to see why this new work found a place on the theatre stage. After all, it's a story, a journey, one of turmoil and captivity that leads to the ecstasy of freedom. No doubt the latest album will work on the road and in festival fields this summer too. Combined into a theatre show, it's nothing short of a masterpiece and one that's certainly going to leave its mark. But Rebecca, one question. How do you eat a banana on stage and then sing a beautiful ballad? They're so claggy.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stockard Channing Smiles in Photos from Her Play in London Ahead of 81st Birthday
Stockard Channing is all smiles in celebration of her new play. On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the actress attended a promotional event for her new West End production, Elektra, at the Duke Of York's Theatre in London. She was photographed alongside her costar, Brie Larson. Larson stars as Elektra, while Channing stars as Clytemnestra. The Grease star wore black leather pants and a navy blue pinstripe blazer, while Larson opted for a brown zebra print jacket with wide-leg black trousers. The premiere of the pair's play comes just a week before Channing turns 81 on Thursday, Feb. 13. In late January, the Emmy and Tony winner revealed to U.K. outlet The Times that as she approaches her birthday, she realizes that 'memory is very, very tricky' and 'it's painful to look at the past.' She noted that she 'consciously [tries] to be in the moment.' Adding, 'There's a lot of things conspiring to take you away — friends of a similar age who are still enmeshed in the past.' Related: Stockard Channing Says She Was 'Resented' for the Success of Grease: 'It Was Not Taken Seriously at All' As for what Channing hopes for in her 81st year, she's steering clear of finding a romantic relationship. Channing told The Times 'that [it] would be such a pain in the ass' to have a romantic partner. 'I'm consolidating, thank you very much," she said. "I'm very happy with the friends I have. No. Life is good. Life is very good." Related: Stockard Channing Says 'Chemistry' with Costar Will Smith on Six Degrees of Separation Was 'Very Motherly' Channing has been married four times. First to Walter Channing Jr., then to Paul Schmidt, David Debin and David Rawle. The star had a longtime relationship with partner Daniel Gillham, a cinematographer who died in 2014. After Gillham died, Channing left her residence in Maine and moved full-time to London. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I enjoyed living here [in London], the friendships I had, I kept. I was spending months at a time here. And then I was here during COVID, and that sort of cemented everything," she told The Times. She continued: "I realized that I was happier here. Also at my age people get sick and people die and people move away. And that started to happen. Now I live here, and I'm really grateful that I was able to pull it off." Read the original article on People
