CLOSE QUARTERS (Aurora Theatre)***

 

By Emma

Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwhWmWJPoEmHqEQek0JGlt2JEeD4eVPIX

Available until: Unknown

Aurora Theatre have been posting a lot of videos throughout lockdown and we’ve reviewed quite a lot of them. Their plays have been really international with cast and crew members in different continents.

Close Quarters is a bit different because the two characters are in the same place and they’re not social distancing but it’s still really good. It’s a sitcom about Greg and Samantha, a couple who are getting on quite well but they’re not ready to move in permanently.

CHOICES (Aurora Theatre)***

 

By Cal

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtEYPFAFU8k

Available until: Unknown

A young woman is in debt so she visits a debt counsellor for support. She’s handed a long document to read, but she’s confused.

It doesn’t make sense. There’s got to be a catch somewhere… hasn’t there?

SHE CAME IN THE DOOR (Aurora Theatre)****

  

By Cal

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bZUeT-jr7Y

Available until: Unknown

I don’t know anyone who was in the exact situation of the characters in She Came in at the Door. But a lot of us came quite close to it and it did cross my mind to wonder what you’d do if you were in that situation so it’s very interesting to see a play about it.

HAPPY FOR YOU (Aurora Theatre/Ensemble Force/That’s Fantastic! Films)***

 

By Dave

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6btdt5wzkVE

Available until: Unknown

Content warning: Mental health, depression, suicide, unsupportive attitudes

Estina is depressed about various things in her life and she can’t lift herself out of it but she wants to be left alone to feel. Penny doesn’t understand this and tries bringing her out of it with ice-cream, movies and singing. When Penny’s methods don’t work, she becomes angry with Estina. Really angry.

BABY FEVER (Covid & Cigarettes/Aurora Theatre)****

 

By Emma

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1z5tLKQO9k&list=PLwhWmWJPoEmF8P780nCvmV74Zv_kK-FGQ&index=1

Available until: January 7th

I think there are two ways of interpreting the title of this story. ‘Baby fever’ could be a desperation to have babies or the fact you almost feel like you’ve got a fever because you’re so stressed by your children!

IT IS WHAT IT IS (Covid & Cigarettes/Aurora Theatre)****

 

By Cal

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHw92erCCYo&list=PLwhWmWJPoEmF8P780nCvmV74Zv_kK-FGQ&index=1 

Available until: Unknown

Aurora Theatre had planned to celebrate their ten-year anniversary by having actual people in the theatre. We all know too well why that didn’t work out. But they have produced a series of thirteen short plays on their youtube account under the name of Covid & Cigarettes. The reasons why they needed to turn to online audiences are sad, but it does mean their work is now available to people not just in Hong Kong, where they’re based, but all over the world.