Mosquitoes at the National Theatre review

by Sonali Dutta

Mosquitoes ia a new play by Lucy Kirkwood, set in 2008 and directed by Rufus Norris. The play explores relationship between two clashing sisters, Jenny played by Olivia Coleman and Alice played by Olivia Williams. Alice is an exceptionally clever scientist at CERN who has spent more than a decade working on the Large Hadron Collider to look for the Higgs Boson. In contrast, Jenny is pegged as the “stupid one” and prefers to read horoscopes in magazines rather than look at facts. As Jenny herself says, she is the “Forest Gump” to Alice’s genius “Wizard of Oz”. Much of the action is set in Geneva during the run up to the Large Hadron Collider being launched.

Beyond Caring at the National Theatre

by Sonali Dutta.

Zero-hours contracts have hit the headlines over the past few years. A zero-hours contract means that an employment arrangement where an employee isn’t guaranteed work. The amount they work each week can vary and as a result it can be an insecure position when an employee is uncertain how much (and if) they will be paid. There’s more information in this BBC article about zero-hour contracts.

Golem at the Young Vic review

by Sonali Dutta.

Non-spoiler review.

The Golem is a figure from Jewish mythology – an animated clay figure that carries out the commands of its master. Modern day equivalents can be seen in our use of technology in everyday life to make our lives easier. But what if this was reversed? What if something intended to help us, such as technology, shapes even dictates our behaviour, preferences and personality? The idea we are becoming slaves to technology and it’s affecting our lives badly has previously well articulated, a recent example including the Black Mirror television series. The 1927 theatre company takes up this question in their touring production of Golem. The play combines live action with animated film.