Sunday 8 November 2015

Theatreland - readings and revels

I'm really thrilled that Theatreland is now in print! The collection was launched with lots of clinking glasses, fancy cakes, and six wonderful actors who brought the poems vividly to life.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make it happen, came to the party, read a poem, bought a copy (or is going to..!)

You can listen to the readings here. They are:

Fiona Drummond reading ‘The Kindness of Strangers’ (Southwark Playhouse, July 2014) and ‘Brilliant’ (Young Vic, July 2013)
Tom Clegg reading ‘Shakespeare in Love’ (Noel Coward Theatre, July 2014) and ‘The Low Road’ (Royal Court, May 2013)
Rebecca Tanwen reading ‘Orlando’ (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester) and The Master and Margarita (The Barbican Centre, January 2013)
Rosie Holt reading ‘Hymn’ (Duchess Theatre, May 2013) and ‘Wolf Hall & Bring Up the Bodies’ (Aldwych Theatre, May 2014)
Ursula Mohan reading ‘Lear’ (Union Theatre, June 2014) and ‘Father Christmas’ (Lyric Hammersmith, December 2012)
Dominic Gerrard reading ‘A Christmas Carol’ (Charles Dickens Museum, December 2012) and ‘Richard III’ (Shakespeare’s Globe, July 2012) 

Theatreland is published by Indigo Dreams Press and is available here.














Naturally you want to know what the cakes looked like too..













Friday 6 November 2015

Jane Eyre

26 October
National Theatre

She is not poor
as they would have her be,
plain as a pikestaff,
green as the woods in spring.
She has a heart, beating
and bold beneath her petticoats,
and a voice of her own
though you would not
expect to hear it sing.
She is a woman lost
upon a rocky sea, friendless
and cut from what she had
of family, but though
she may flounder
she won't give in,
her hope burns bright
in spite of everything.

Jane Eyre runs at the National Theatre until 10 January 2016
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/jane-eyre

Thursday 15 October 2015

Hurricane Boy

Polka Theatre
11 October 

There was a boy,
and within him, a storm
that made him scared
to sleep. He ran to the sound
of raindrops on the roof
and rivulets of water
on the walls.

He lived alone until
one day a girl, a butterfly,
a glimmering of hope ran
through the door, like a moment
of quiet on a busy day,
insects in the meadow,
sunlight shining on a forest floor.


Hurricane Boy is on tour until 1 November 2015

Farinelli and the King

Duke of York's Theatre
3 October

If you asked me I'd go
without a glance,
give up this life of cloves
and oranges laced in a crowd
at dusk, the scent of roses
crushed, perfume
to the world's applause.
I'd stay forever
in this hide of trees,
a songbird singing
to the stars alone.
With the world as my witness,
my voice, your loveliness.



Farinelli and the King runs at the Duke of York's Theatre until 5 December
www.shakespearesglobe.com
 

Saturday 12 September 2015

Mouthful

Trafalgar Studios
11 September


Organica
by Pedro Miguel Rozo
translated by Simon Scardifeld

She put her savings
into earth, and now she fears
what is buried there.


Chocolate
by Bola Agbaje

The cocoa farmer
who does not know what they make
those bitter beans into.

 
Bread on the Table
by Lydia Adetunji

He bought a loaf, too small
to feed them all, but all 
he could afford.
 

Photo: ©Richard Davenport 2015











The Protectors
by Clare Bayley

These are potatoes
growing wild, all but forgotten,
fabled, forbidden.


Try Me
by Poppy Burton-Morgan
and Dominic Gerrard

He would scuttle
if he could
across your tongue,
the smooth-talking
cricket.


Photo: ©Richard Davenport 2015















16 Pounds
by Neil LaBute

Water welling, spilling,
sliding down her gullet,
icy in her gaze.


Turned
by Inua Ellams

A woman, once a wife 
and mother, now alone;
stoical by her stove.











Mouthful, by Metta Theatre, is a collection 
of six short plays and a musical, responding 
to the global food crisis.

Mouthful runs at Trafalgar Studios until 3 October

Monday 7 September 2015

Theatreland


Exciting news! Theatreland, a collection of some of the best Haiku Review poems, is now at the printers!
 
It's available for pre-order from Indigo Dreams and Amazon











 




 


 

The cover image is a beautiful shot of Orlando at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester (photo credit: Jonathan Keenan Photography). It was so hard choosing just one of the shows featured in the book to go on the cover - I love them all! - but this one I think really conjures up something of the magic of theatre. 

One of the loveliest parts of preparing the collection was receiving some amazing testimonials. Here are a few that I particularly treasure...

Having joyfully followed #HaikuReview on Twitter I am delighted to read these thoughtful, witty and incisive poems in a volume. In this unique meeting of poetry and theatre, Sophie Reynolds has brought her brilliant skill and talent to offer intelligent and passionate insights into some of our most thrilling recent theatre productions. 
Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director, Royal Court Theatre
 
Sophie Reynolds captures something of the fleeting experience of watching theatre - crystalizing character or capturing an atmosphere with evocative economy. These poems are miniature celebrations of the magic and mystery of that ephemeral art form ... impressionistic gems that serve as happy reminders of – or introductions to – some of the best plays to grace British stages in recent years. 
Holly Williams, Arts journalist 

This fresh, evocative collection of poems by Sophie Reynolds is a must-buy for every theatre lover, actor and director. It reveals to the reader the plays from the outside looking in, as well as the theatre from the inside looking out.
Lucinda Hawksley, Author

Sunday 16 August 2015

The Encounter

Edinburgh International Conference Centre
10 August

The forest comes in thick;
the light goes quickly
and the trees are suddenly
too close, their breath
hot on your face,
your throat dry and the river
out of sight.
It is a nightmare
that you cannot wake
or flee from; teeth, smoke,
screaming, flames in your head
and words that were not uttered
but you hear them plainly.
This is reality. Weak.
Despairing. Half-dead. Dreaming.
Wake. And take the long walk back
to the beginning.

The Encounter runs at the Edinburgh International Festival until 23 August
http://www.eif.co.uk/2015/encounter#.VdCyTUp4WrV


Sunday 9 August 2015

Against Captain's Orders

National Maritime Museum
9 August

Here's to adventure!
A crew, strong and brave,
and a room full of treasures
recalled from the waves.
And here's to loyalty,
friends fine and true,
who will never desert us
whatever they do.
And lastly to stories,
the old and the new,
the ones we have heard
and the ones we'll live through.


Against Captain's Orders by Punchdrunk Enrichment 
and the National Maritime Museum runs until 31 August

http://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/events/against-captains-orders

The Motherf**ker with the Hat

National Theatre
3 August

Downtown,
upstairs,
in bed,
a bullet hole,
a hat.
Crack
on the table
and a web of lies;
a fight,
a baseball bat.


The Motherf**ker with the Hat runs 
at the National Theatre until 20 August

http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/the-motherfker-with-the-hat?play=2

Friday 17 July 2015

An Oak Tree

National Theatre
15 July

Here, a bend in the road
where our lives change
forever. Here an oak tree stands,
our little girl, our love,
head full of music,
dancing fingers,
feet that kiss the ground.
Her heart is cold
but she will live forever,
young green leaves and acorns,
all the colours of the sky at dusk.


An Oak Tree, by Tim Crouch. Performed by the playwright himself and a different second actor at each performance. 

I saw the show at the National Theatre, performed by Tim Crouch and Samuel West.

An Oak Tree will also run at the Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Fringe, 9 - 16 August 2015

http://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event-detail/608/an-oak-tree.aspx

Monday 13 July 2015

The King of Tiny Things

Udderbelly Festival, London
12 July

Better than fairies
these strange-legged creatures
that dance in the moonlight
and juggle with magic.



The King of Tiny Things is on national tour until 1 November 2015
http://www.mettatheatre.co.uk/productions/the-king-of-tiny-things/
 

Sunday 15 March 2015

Romeo + Juliet

Rose Theatre, Kingston
10 March

Like spots of light
they dance together,
moving close
for the inevitable kiss.
They are but children
brought to flower suddenly,
alike in beauty,
all too soon extinct.

 

Romeo + Juliet runs at the Rose Theatre, Kingston until 21 March
http://www.rosetheatrekingston.org/rose-productions/romeo-juliet

Monday 9 March 2015

Man and Superman

17 February
National Theatre

Woman of wealth
and willpower:
a bastion of morals
and a sledgehammer
of sleek manipulation.

He would rather run
than face those wedding bells,
pick up his heels,
head for the hills
and drive like the devil.

Man and Superman runs at the National Theatre until 17 May
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/man-and-superman 

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Macbeth

Vault Festival
13 February

Blood-smeared, scarlet,
hands and face attesting murder
that his pale heart would quail at.
Holding the daggers out
with utmost care; his fingers shake
at what they could commit.
There's too much blood in it
but on he goes, deep desperation
driven by despair;
he wanted to be king
but not alone - there's no delight
left in it without her.


Macbeth by Filter is on tour until 14 March
http://www.filtertheatre.com/page/home/ 

Made in Dagenham

Adelphi Theatre
6 November

I'm not a Commie on a mission,
or a Labour politician,
I'm just a woman,
a mother and wife
and I'll probably work
for the rest of my life,
cos I'm not here for pins
I'm just earning the rent
and a fair, equal wage
is what I must expect!



Made in Dagenham runs until 11 April
http://www.madeindagenhamthemusical.com/