Culture
REVIEW: Oh What A Lovely War at MAST Mayflower Studios
Roll up, Roll up! And take your seat as ‘Oh What A Lovely War’ plays at MAST Mayflower Studios. This is modern musical theatre at its very best! It’s the story of the First World War but not like you’ve quite seen or heard it before. Blackeyed Theatre are touring this satirical drama on the 60th anniversary of Joan Littlewood’s theatrical entertainment – bringing all the folly, farce and tragedy of WW1 to Southampton. After not really knowing what to expect going into this show, all I can say coming out of it is that I now understand why it has received the awards it has! My only question would be, “How hasn’t it won more?!”. The story is an unanimous voice from the trenches, showing a snapshot of what life was like in the war, being told through what seems to be a circus type show playing a game they call the ‘War Game’.
Everything about this production was incredible. I was so worried that with it being 60 years old and the story matter being that of the First World War, it was going to feel incredibly dated – but it felt far from it. I’m still blown away by how much I actually enjoyed this show, genuinely incredible! Of course the music and story was period accurate, but it was the way in which it was presented that kept this story from feeling totally depressing. I also love how you didn’t need an encyclopaedic knowledge of WW1 history to understand everything that was happening; and bits that we may not have understood were explained and played on by the cast as well. This is something director, Nicky Allpress, has done incredibly well. You felt an insane range of emotions throughout the show. There was lots of laughing, some crowd participation, and some complete reflective silences. All things that were only possible because of the phenomenal cast.
I think this is potentially the most talented cast I have seen on a stage.
The cast were the heart behind this show. They were everything. Literally EVERYTHING. They were the band. They were all multiple characters. They all played multiple instruments. They were singers. They were dancers. They were bilingual (both talking and singing), not to mention their range of different accents. I think this is potentially the most talented cast I have seen on a stage. Oh and to top it all off? There were only 6 of them! I can’t pick out just one performance to highlight as they all played such an integral role to the show, each bringing something individual. As I’ve said, just phenomenal and super fun!
In no particular order, Tom Benjamin brought a big sense of control not only over the stage but also the audience in his narration and forth wall breaking. Tom Crabtree had his work cut out to make his professional debut in such a busy and complex show, bravo! Harry Curley had the ability to morph characters on stage without you even noticing, seamless. Alice E Mayer’s performance was inspired. The energy she brought to that stage was sublime, and what a gift to be able to sing, act, dance and play a range of instruments as she can – that’s far better than a triple threat! Much the same can be said about Euan Wilson and Chioma Uma. Euan’s performance was hilarious and powerful. From before the show had even started, right to the end, you were either laughing or in deep thought about what was going on. The on stage bond between him and Harry was also admirable. Last but certainly not least, Chioma’s voice was incredible and again her energy levels and bond with Alice was spot on. How impressive that each actor could also talk/sing in another language, seamlessly transitioning between different accents and languages simultaneously! All of the cast cannot be praised enough. They were all constantly doing something, and it all fell into place like clockwork.
The set was incredibly effective, yet quite simple. What you saw was sort of what you got. The set was fixed as the inside of a big-top tent you’d get at a carnival, with instruments dotted around the stage for the actors to play. The entrances were through the ‘tent-like’ curtains at the back and any set changes to portray a different place were all done on stage with different props rather than actual big pieces of set. It was very contemporary and forced you to use your imagination, but it just worked remarkably well! Victoria Spearing (set designer) has worked very closely with the cast and Adam Haigh (movement designer), to make this as smooth as possible. I also really liked how simple yet effective the lighting was. It wouldn’t have looked out of place in a 1920s theatre, yet certain spotlights would signify different things like bombs or shells going off. To top this all off, looming over the set was a projection of certain stats/pictures that would basically finish every scene off. This was so perfect and powerful in really hitting home the reality of the satirical twist on the story.
I also need to add that the costume changes were much like the set changes. Very contemporary and mostly done on stage quickly, again forcing us to use our imaginations. I specifically liked the dinner party/dance scene the best. The work between the cast and Naomi Gibbs (costume designer), make this feel so natural and like you could follow along the story no matter how complex it got at times.
You CANNOT miss this show.
As for the music, I’ve already mentioned that the cast were the source of this. The songs were all so easily recognisable. Some songs were sung a-cappella with some of the most beautiful, touching harmonies you have ever heard; and some songs were played with full accompaniment from the cast playing different instruments (if not multiple at the same time). Musical director, Ellie Verkerk, also did a fantastic job at having the cast play the score to the musical as well. Not only did they play the score, but also nearly all of the sound effects were from the instruments. There was even times when parts of the set being moved became percussive, adding an extra edge to the music. I can’t stop thinking about the part in the show where Tom starts singing with his ukulele, and begins to get progressively drowned out by bombings to the point of sensory overload, making the audience feel as if they were in the soldiers shoes. Incredibly efficacious.
To sum up, this musical is just incredible! Everything about it is to be desired. I think there a lot of musicals out there that can look at this one and learn something from it. Taking a stab at the military incompetence of the First World War, along with the disregard for human life makes you question so much about life even today. To do this in a satirical way, yet still powerful enough to keep a sense of meaning is incredible. You could feel the shock from the whole audience when the stats were revealed from different battles, after just learning the blunt way in why those battles were even fought. If you get the opportunity, you CANNOT miss this show. ‘Oh What A Lovely War’ is touring until May 2024 and it’s going to be a real shame to see it finish its run. Until then I wish all the amazing cast and crew the best of luck going forward.
If something looks perfect from the outside does it mean it actually is?
That’s the concept that director Jay Roach brings to life in the new movie The Roses released in August 2025.
The Roses is a reimagining of the 1989 film The War of the Roses which was originally based on Warren Adler’s 1981 novel.
Although unlike the novel the characters instead are shown to struggle with their different careers either rising or falling.
It has been adapted, in my opinion, to make it resonate with women a lot more as in both the novel and first film the women were stay at home mothers who felt unsatisfied.
This appears to be one of the main reasons for the divorces with Barbara (Kathleen Turner) eventually turning to a catering business.
However, within the new modernised version Ivy’s (Olivia Colman) successful career is a point of contempt for Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch).
While it starts off with a more realistic depiction of parents struggling with the loss of a career and a start of a new one, it slowly divulges itself away from the typical divorcee movie.
I watched this movie at the Everyman (luxury I know!) and the grip it had on me as an audience member was outstanding.
With the selection of actors involved in this movie it’s no surprise that there is a mix of comedy and drama making it a satirical black comedy.
While it was delightful to watch, I feel that some audience members might criticise the realism of the movie.
Yet I go to the cinema to be transported from real life so the mix of realism and shock factor was highly entertaining.
A contrasting mix of comedy and darkness
The performances from the actors was exactly what the movie needed.
The chemistry, or lack thereof, between Colman and Cumberbatch was so believable that you would think that they were married in real life.
Their delivery of both the comedy and the rage was again so believable that it sucked me as the audience into what was the “dirty laundry” of their personal lives.
With a supporting cast including Andy Samberg, Allison Janney and others their characters mostly brought the comedy relief needed in to break the movie up.
They also gave us a contrast to the main relationship being shown which helped us recognise how some of the actions were exaggerated for our benefit.
However, some critics online have noted that while it is undeniably a satirical dark comedy, the dark comedy seemed to be held back some times, therefore not always giving it the edge it needed.
I think that for a 15 certificate movie it had just the right amount to stretch over its wide audience.
Another criticism that The Roses received was that the contrast between the comedy and cruelty was sometimes so abrupt that it didn’t hit as hard as it could have.
At some points the comedy seemed out of place which almost gave the film a sort of jarring feel as they changed between the emotions.
The ending is ambiguous which can have mixed reactions from the audience.
Some may like to have the movie tied up neatly at the end whereas others like that they can believe what they want to believe.
I am the latter in the case of this movie as I enjoyed the fact that I could believe either the more macabre ending or not.
To me the ending, without giving any spoilers, had me on the edge of my seat with a real 360 turn.
Again it had the perfect amount of shock factor and comedy which highlighted the overall tone throughout.
I felt that it drew the entire film together nicely especially with the ending performance from Coleman and Cumberbatch.
Winchester original artist Sam Bishop has been releasing music for almost a decade but after not releasing a new song for the last two years, Just a Little is set to be release this Friday, February 7th.
Sam first got into music when he was in secondary school, after watching Imagine Dragons in the O2 he fell in love with their support act.
As an only child he has always been a creative person, writing stories and songs in his free time.
The first thought has never been how can I perform live but how can I write?
Sam also enjoyed:”I enjoy feeling nervous but eventually acting felt like second nature, so I decided to give music a go.”
After getting into music in school Sam released his first song in 2016.
“It has been trial and error since with each year getting better and better performing and writing more.”
I asked him whether he has always written his own songs, and he explained: “The first thought has never been how can I perform live but how can I write?
“That’s the angle I attack music with.”
For Sam music has always been a way to express how he feels.
But what’s the best part of the writing process?
Well, for Sam it’s the feeling of a song coming together as a whole, he compared the writing process to a tap, that it slowly drips until it starts to flow.
“You get a melody and a good lyric. It feels amazing when it all comes together it’s so special, it’s definitely a process it takes time and trial and error.”
Sam’s new single Just a Little, is no different, going through this same process, and has now come together ready for its release this Friday.
It all started in last summer, when Sam was on a flight from Miami to LA, he wasn’t interested in watching the typical films you find on airplanes, and felt creative, this is where the chorus for Just a Little was born.
Being away from family for a prolonged amount of time through working away and travelling gave Sam the feeling of wanting to be connected and keep in touch with people’s lives whilst being away.
Just a Little is about questioning whether you’re enough.
It’s a song full of vulnerability and expressing that and truly allowing yourself to feel those feelings.
After Sam’s travels he got home and revisited the song, from there it started to take off and really build.
He sent the song to his friend Toby who he describes as an unbelievable guitarist, and an excellent musician.
Toby then worked on the song as a production, whilst Sam worked on the lyrics.
Just a Little was kind of a one off, as a process it was very natural.
By mid-November the song was finished and now is the time for its release.
This song has a different sound to Sam’s previous songs, and he’s excited for people to hear this new style of music from him.
“It’s a very personal song washed under happy and jolly music.
“It’s very current and popular; something you’d expect to hear on the radio.”
Sam hopes that that the release allows people to connect with not just the lyrics but how the song feels.
Following the release Sam has big plans for the next year.
This is the start of a new sound for him, and he hopes more songs like this will follow with maybe one or two before the end of the year.
There are also a number of gigs to be announced for the next three months that he is looking forward to performing.
At the end of our interview Sam said: “Songs will happen, it’s what I love to do it’s so expressive as an art form and it’s something I will always want to do.
“Just a Little was kind of a one off, as a process it was very natural.
After not releasing a song for two years, once the lyrics were finished and he got the song back from Toby he knew this was the one that this would be the re-release of his music as an original artist.
Just a Little is out at midnight February 7th.
For announcements of new music and dates of performances you can follow Sam on Instagram @sambishopmusician.
The wait is over for Winchester’s burger lovers, as a new Five Guys restaurant has opened in the heart of the city centre.
The American burger chain, world famous for its customisable smash burgers and seemingly bottomless fries opened on Monday, December 2nd.
It was a soft launch without any ceremony for the restaurant, but the new staff and management immediately had a growing queue of customers on their hands.
Five Guys has taken one of three units from the former Debenhams department store. The other two are Nando’s which opened last month and Pizza Express.
Founded in Virginia in 1986, Five Guys launched in the UK in 2013 and has become a popular choice for burger lovers, including celebrities such as Tommy Fury, Mollie King, Ed Sheeran, and Maya Jama.
There are now 1,800 restaurants worldwide including 171 in the UK.
The new Winchester branch is expected to be a popular addition to the city’s food scene.
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