Chinese Theatre

Black Comedy review – Peter Shaffer’s relentless farce provokes helpless laughter

Orange Tree theatre, RichmondA stealing sculptor struggles to keep his visitors in the dark, while they lope and grope with the lights out, in Shaffer’s escalating slapstick showA regular complaint against reviewers and awards ceremonies is lack of recognition for the lighting team. But, in Peter Shaffer’s 1965 play, the “sparks” are the stars.Inspired by a lamp gag the writer saw in Chinese theatre, a power cut in a south London flat is staged with blazing brightness representing total...

‘As close as lips and teeth’: The highs and lows of China-North Korea ties

‘As close as lips and teeth’: The highs and lows of China-North Korea ties Chinese President Xi has been welcomed in Pyongyang for the first visit since 2019. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday to the full theatre of North Korean state ceremony, with flags, flowers, military honours and crowds to welcome the leader of the country that has long been one of North Korea’s closest allies. Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, greeted Xi and wife, Peng Liyuan, at...

Here are the IMAX theaters that can play 'The Odyssey' in true 70mm

Here are the IMAX theaters that can play 'The Odyssey' in true 70mm The best way to take in the spectacle is at the hard-to-find IMAX 70mm film theaters. Christopher Nolan's epic The Odyssey, arriving on July 17, is the first feature film shot entirely using IMAX's incredible 70mm format. Now that tickets are on sale, you may be wondering where to see it.

Celebrating 100 years of Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood honours screen icon

Celebrating 100 years of Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood honours screen icon One century after she was born in Los Angeles, Marilyn Monroe's hometown is paying tribute to the film legend with a series of events exploring her career and enduring legacy, including special screenings of such classics as "The Seven Year Itch", "Some Like It Hot" and "The Misfits". Marilyn Monroe's hometown of Hollywood kicks off Monday a series of special events marking the 100th anniversary of the movie icon's birth....

Black Comedy review – Peter Shaffer’s relentless farce provokes helpless laughter

Peter Shaffer's black comedy, "Black Comedy," is a relentless farce staged at the Orange Tree theatre in Richmond. The play features a unique lighting conceit where the stage's brightness represents darkness, forcing actors to navigate the tiny set in complete darkness. The production is noted for the exceptional contribution of the lighting team.

Folding Beijing

At ten of five in the morning, Lao Dao crossed the busy pedestrian lane on his way to find Peng Li. After the end of his shift at the waste processing station, Lao Dao had gone home, first to shower and then to change. He was wearing a white shirt and a pair of brown pants—the only decent clothes he owned.

What makes the S-400 India's most powerful air defence system and why it matters to Pakistan

The S-400 is the linchpin of the Indian air defence architecture, as was demonstrated during Operation Sindoor. The system can fire a missile at an aircraft as far as 400 kms away and can therefore control vast swathes of airspace. The system was able to shoot down a large Pakistani aircraft at a distance of over 300 kms.

PLA says it will stay on ‘high alert’ after Dutch warship crosses Taiwan Strait

PLA says it will stay on ‘high alert’ after Dutch warship crosses Taiwan Strait Beijing says the De Ruyter had made the transit days after an ‘illegal intrusion’ into its airspace near the disputed Paracel Islands The PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command said on social media that in less than two weeks, the shipborne helicopter of the Dutch frigate De Ruyter had “illegally intruded into the airspace over China’s Xisha [the Chinese name for the Paracel Islands] and then the frigate transited the...

China to the Philippines: don’t let ‘a few clowns’ sabotage ties with ‘political theatre’

Advertisement China to the Philippines: don’t let ‘a few clowns’ sabotage ties with ‘political theatre’ Beijing condemns remarks by Philippine defence chief, who says Manila is under ‘severe threat’ from China despite fertiliser and fuel offers 3-MIN READ3-MIN Listen Beijing has condemned remarks by Philippine defence chief Gilberto Teodoro Jnr, saying the comments seriously damaged bilateral trust and showed a lack of gratitude for Chinese aid. China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday called on...

Is PLA’s response to Dutch warship in South China Sea ‘putting down a marker’ for future?