Past Continuous by Tony Bayliss centres around two bright, headstrong characters, Matthew and Sophie. They grow up in different homes, with different family issues, but are closer together than they can possibly realise…
Archives for Review
Play with a good sense of humour would like to meet like-minded theatre-goer
Written by the creators of hit sit-com Friends, Personals is a hilariously quirky two-act show about being determined to find love but getting lost along the way…
A pleasant evening in Hell
Last week Contrary Life headed down to Lazarides’ Hell’s Half Acre exhibition in the suitably dark and eerie Old Vic Tunnels…
Hanging around on the Estate Walls
Estate Walls directed by Ché Walker and written by Arinze Kene, tells the story of Obi, Myles and Cain, three young men struggling to face up to adulthood and their future…
Night at the Museum
The Science Museum has a late night opening on the last Wednesday of each month, Contrary Life went along to the Space themed event to see what it was all about…
Thirsty work: Vespa Caffe aka Scooter Caffe
Just around the corner from Waterloo station is this little gem of a bar. Blink and you’d probably miss it, this little cafe/bar is eclectically decorated with various retro objects and a mish mash of furniture, signs and lights…
Madness and misery in Malaya
Written by Amanda Sington-Williams and set in the 1950s, The Eloquence of Desire explores the conflicts in family relationships caused by an affair…
Howling around with some outdoor games
Throwing and catching games are the most simple fun you can have in the park. But can anything out there beat the good old fashioned Frisbee for chucking around with friends and family?
A visit to London’s dictionary corner
Of the numerous houses that lexicographer Dr Samuel Johnson lived in, 17 Gough Square is the only surviving one. Why not pay it a visit and find out more about how Johnson lived…
Having a ball in the park with Tailball
Thinking of heading to the park and looking for something to keep the children (big and small) happy? Tailball the bat and ball game from the makers of Swingball may help provide some entertainment…
Evans nose I’m not miserable now
Simon Evans directs a swash-buckling cast in Cyrano de Bergerac. The play is on at The White Bear Theatre from 3rd August until 4th September…
A play giving voice to the Aftermath of invasion
Aftermath is a piece of documentary theatre based on interviews conducted with Iraqi civilians displaced by the war. On at the atmospheric Old Vic Tunnels from 8th – 17th July 2010…
Shape up for Shakespeare’s Stratford
Contrary Life headed to Stratford-upon-Avon to check out five houses looked after by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, soak up some history, meet some farm animals and get a bit lost…
Review: Ellipsis by Nikki Dudley
A woman pushes a man to his death, but all is not as it seems in Nikki Dudley’s first novel, Ellipsis. This book, published by Sparkling Books, tells the story of Sarah and Tom’s confused and problematic lives…
Author interview with Christopher Neilan
Christopher Neilan has written his first novel, Abattoir Jack. Neilan explains his choice of setting, his inspiration and what he plans to do next…