Review: Blood Wedding at the Courtyard Theatre

Blood Wedding

Courtyard Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 23rd October 2013

Aria Entertainment's production of Blood Wedding certainly is not a piece of theatre to go and see if you fancy a fun night out! Instead, this interesting piece is for audiences who want to witness a Spanish drama and be affected by the complexity of human beings in relationships and in life. The Courtyard Theatre is located in the depths of trendy Hoxton and, although simplistic, Franciso Rodriguez-Wile's scenic design is very atmospheric.

Big Interview: Cassidy Janson

At the moment Cassidy Janson is one of the busiest actors in musical theatre. Not only is she currently starring in Aria Entertainment’s production of Blood Wedding at the Courtyard Theatre, but during the day she is rehearsing with an all-star cast for the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production Candide.

Earlier this year Cassidy won rave reviews for starring in Rooms: A Rock Musical at the Finborough Theatre and created the role of Trinity in The Route To Happiness at the Landor Theatre as part of Aria Entertainment’s From Page To Stage season of new writing. 

Cassidy famously played Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut in the West End production of Avenue Q, created the role of Maggie in the original West End production of Lend Me A Tenor The Musical and was in the original West End production of Wicked, eventually taking over as Standby Elphaba.

Some of Cassidy’s other theatre credits include: Amy in Company (Southwark Playhouse), Jude in Bridget Jones: The Musical directed by Stephen Daldry (workshop), Polly Baker in Crazy for You (Kilworth House), Sam in Austentatious (Landor) , Sarah in Only the Brave (Edinburgh Festival 2008), Susan in Tick Tick …Boom! (Menier Chocolate Factory), Rusty in Footloose (UK tour), Brenda in Brenda Bly Teen Detective (Bridewell), Newsrevue (Canal Café) and Snoopy (Jermyn Street Theatre).

Recently I spoke to Cassidy about doing her first ever play, returning to the Menier Chocolate Factory and her time in the West End productions of Wicked and Lend Me A Tenor...

What was the rehearsal process like for Blood Wedding?

Really, really good. It’s just so exciting being a part of such a talented cast and everyone is so nice as well! It’s lovely to be doing such a heavy piece of theatre with such generous and thoughtful people; we’re having quite a laugh!

Review: Up4AMeet? (UK Tour) at the Courtyard Theatre

Up4AMeet?

The Courtyard Theatre

Reviewed on Thursday 11th July 2013

I never thought there would be a point where seeing naked men would become tedious, but unfortunately that day came with the revived tour production of Jeff Moody's Up4AMeet. Playing at The Courtyard Theatre, advertised as 'naked comedy', this production is only half right. The story, of which there is very little, follows a collection of gay men and their fag hag who all live within the same block of apartments.