Reviews of Habibi Funk 031, Kayatibu, and The Good Ones
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Oleanna, Arts Theatre London
David Mamet’s play on the power games between men and women as relevant today as when first performed 30 years ago
IMMACULATELY CONTROLLED: Jonathan Slinger and Rosie Sheehy in Oleanna
[Nobby Clark]
SIMON DUFF relishes the cross contamination of Damien Hirst’s greatest hits by street artists from France and the US
In view of the grooming gangs inquiry, SIMON PARSONS feels the relevance of this powerful examination of trauma suffered at Medomsley Youth Detention Centre
JOHN GREEN doubts the motivations of a US war photographer who never questions why, or for whom, she is producing images of imperialist conflict
MARIA DUARTE reviews Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Hedda, The Mastermind, and Regretting You
TONY CONWAY welcomes a thrilling and concise history of Hope not Hate, that is also a manual full of tactical advice
PAUL DONOVAN welcomes an inspiring account of living with deafness that has important lessons for the treatment of deaf people in today’s UK
OLEANNA has a simple scenario. John holds down a comfortable academic post in a higher education establishment and is engaged in what appears to be a routine tutoring session with Carol, a seemingly innocuous female student.
He acts like he’s done this a million times and is sitting pretty — a recent promotion enabling him to buy a new upmarket house, adding to life’s sweetness.
But Carol is about to upset the apple cart. While she presents initially as a naive, struggling wannabe, a certain defiance in her tone and posture suggests a different agenda. Carol’s weapon is her identity. A female, self-proclaimed socio-economic underling, a beginner in a world of experts and with an unclear sexual proclivity, her life experience is a million miles from John’s.
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