'Theatreship', South Quay, Isle of Dogs

Theatreship open for entertainment.

The Theatreship is a new, as of 2024, world-class performing arts space on a historic ship, moored on the Millwall Cutting on the Isle of Dogs. It is the Millwall Cutting that links the South Dock with the Millwall Inner Dock and, until the 1950s, continued to the River Thames via the Millwall Slipway.

I visited the ship just weeks after it opened to hear a talk by Niki Gorick, about her book 'Dock Life Renewed', for which the Theatreship was the perfect venue.

Lovingly restored and fitted with a new spacious interior bar area and an events space, with tiered seating, it is a remarkable piece of renovation and foresight.

A new name for a historic ship.

Brief History

The ship was built in 1913 and weighs 300-tonnes. She began life as a sailing cargo barge, that transported cargo like coal and grain from Europe to London. She would continue in service for over 100 years serving the ports of Northern Europe, before she was retired.

Leicester Square

Empire, Leicester Square.

Leicester Square has been a busy hub for tourists and those visiting the area to watch films and shows for many years. The square is used for exhibitions and events throughout the year and is always bustling with a palpable energy.

William Shakespeare fountain.

With the Empire Leicester Square and the Odeon Leicester Square, on two sides which are used for film premieres, and more restaurants than you can count and pubs on the other, it is a magnet for anyone heading to the West End. 

Lumiere Festival, 2016.

To the north is Chinatown, the east Covent Garden, south lies Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus is to the west, making Leicester Square a true hub in the West End.

Enough said.

It is possibly because of how busy the area gets that I prefer walking around other areas of London.

m&m's World.

However, every once in a while, I do head here, especially if there is something worth seeing.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

Over the years I have seen many changes to the square and its surroundings. Statues have come and gone. Fountains and water features have been rebuilt and installed. Paving and seating has been improved. Theatres, cinemas, shops and restaurants have come and gone, too.

Celebrity handprints, 2010.

But the atmosphere has always remained.

'City of Champions' by Stephen Brown

Cast of Champions.

Cast, left to right : Amy Burke, Joel Arnold, Joe Southall, Steve Brown (writer and director), Ellie Ward, Maggie Robson and Ian McCurrach.

Saturday August 5, 2017.

I had a thoroughly amazing time watching the final night of City of Champions, at the London Theatre Workshop. 

The play took us through a roller coaster of emotions; some funny and humourous highs to some very dark and emotional lows. 

London Theatre Workshop.

The cast were superb and really brought the characters to life with great dialogue and wonderful chemistry. 

I find myself fortunate to have seen this play twice and to have seen it grow from those first early drafts, some six years ago.

Review: 'Judgement at Nuremberg'

'Judgement at Nuremberg' was a play put on by the 'Argosy Players' at the 'Compass Theatre', Ickenham, from 6th-9th October, 2010. 

It was directed by Mr Steve Brown.

The play concerns the trial of four German Judges by three American Judges in Occupied Germany in 1948.

The play began with a short video of the original Nuremberg trials, over which a speech gave an account of the trials and the sentences. The German Judges are accused of Nazi 'Sterilization' and 'Cleansing' Policies and 'War Crimes'. They are Werner Lammpe, Frederick Hoffstetter, Emil Hahn and Dr Ernst Janning. All but one of the Judges plead 'Not Guilty' as Dr Ernst Janning declares that he does not recognise the power of this court. The task of presiding over this trial falls to Judge Dan Haywood and the two Judges who preside with him, Judge Ken Norris and Judge Curtis Ives. Colonel Tad Parker, the prosecutor, makes an opening statement that depicts the defendants as having been willing, accomplices in Nazi atrocities. He is matched by Defense Attorney, Oscar Rolfe, who counters each argument and objection.

It is during an argument between Colonel Tad Parker and Oscar Rolfe that Dr Ernst Janning decides that he can't remain silent and, while still under oath, makes an emotional and heartfelt speech that highlights that the defendants had to make a choice between allegiance to their country and allegiance to their own sense of right and wrong. Even when they realised that Hitler was wrong they still did nothing. This speech damns the defendants. During the closing arguments, Colonel Tad Parker shows some footage from the Liberation of one concentration camp. The shot of bulldozers pushing hundreds of bodies in to pits will stay with me for a while, I think. After the closing arguments, Judge Dan Haywood passes his Judgement and sentences all four to Life imprisonment.

The entire play left me thinking. Thinking about who was really to blame:

Adolf Hitler. Winston Churchill. The Americans. The Vatican. Or was everyone to blame in there own way?!

Stand-out performances for me were, in no particular order:

Glenn Brentnall as Judge Dan Haywood.

Angus Patrick as Colonel Tad Parker.

Andi Tucker as Oscar Rolfe.

Les Broude as Dr Karl Wickert.

Helen Main as Frau Margarete Bertholt.

Tom Hartwell as Rudolph Peterson.

Steve Brown as Dr Ernst Janning.

Stand-out scenes for me were:

The cross examination of Rudolph Peterson by Oscar Rolfe.

Tom Hartwell really pulled off an amazing bit of acting as the man 'Sterilized' on the orders of the accused because his mother was 'feeble-minded.'

The argument between Parker and Rolfe.

This scene was so highly charged that I had the feeling that the two actors, Angus Patrick and Andi Tucker, really meant and believed in what they were saying.

Dr Ernst Janning's speech.

The scene where Dr Ernst Janning finally gives in and makes his impassioned speech, whilst under oath, was superbly and emotionally delivered. The conviction with which Steve Brown delivered his lines held the entire audience.

I came away from this play forgetting that I had just watched an 'amateur' production.

Of the cast I can only say,

'You were exceptional.'

As for the set and back stage crew,

'Keep up the good work.'

And to the Director, Steve Brown, I say,

'For a directorial début, this was incredible. I can't wait to see your next piece of work.'