Theatre Review: I’m a Londoner

So you think you know London? That’s the question set to the audience in this show, which is running as part of special free festival at More London, the riverside amphitheatre. ‘I Am A Londoner’ aims to tell the stories of several characters, a carefully arranged eclectic group that reflect the people that make up this city. The producer and founder of Palladini Productions, Saima Duhare, recently directed her second show, 1867 at Tristan Bates Theatre and the Rich Mix Theatre.

In monologue style and interactive with the audience, you immediately recognise these stereotypes, which are played out hilariously – the born again Christian and the posh fashionista as well as the immigrant father misunderstanding his second generation daughter. The show particularly wants to express the stories of those that never get heard – the people you see every day but don’t know – the vendor who offers out the Evening Standard everyday at your local tube station, the lovestruck Italian pianist, and the homeless person you pass by on the way home and the Eastern European who sells you a burger at 2am on a Thursday night. It aims to show you their side of life in the exciting, fast-paced but at times cutthroat city – so in turn these stereotypes are performed explicitly and then destroyed. The show holds up a mirror to our city lifestyle with its clash of cultures and varied people. A worthwhile opportunity to get to know your London better, and with plenty of laughs. If you thought you knew London, think again.

I’m a Londoner’ is running at More London as part of The Free Festival At The Scoop (between London Bridge and Tower Bridge on the south bank of the Thames)
June 16-18 at 7pm – free entry
www.palladiniproductions.co.uk
www.morelondon.co.uk/scoop.html