‘THE BROCKLEY JACK’
Written by Michael Jones
Performed at the Bridge Lane Theatre/Tour
Produced by London Ensemble
Directed by Geoff Bullen
Winner of the 1991 LBC Playwrights Award
Writers Guild Nomination – Best Original Play
Featured on LWT’s ‘The London Programme’
Founder of the Brockley Jack Theatre
‘Powerful drama...a great kick start for this new company’.
The Stage
‘An attractive production and a promising debut by a talented ensemble’.
Time Out
‘Ambitious, admirable and compelling theatre, their commitment is unimpeachable’.
What’s On
‘Excitingly ambitious work. Gallop to see this play’.
South London Press
‘MOUNTAIN LANGUAGE’
Written by Harold Pinter
Performed at the Brockley Jack Theatre/Tour
Produced by London Ensemble (with the Bromley Youth Theatre)
Directed by David Schaal
‘LAUNDRY GIRLS’
Written by Bill Owen
Performed at the Brockley Jack Theatre/Tour
Produced by London Ensemble (with the Bromley Youth Theatre)
Directed by David Schaal
‘ONE NIGHT AT THE INN’
Written by Michael Jones/Music by Mark Richards
Performed at the Millfield Theatre
Produced by London Ensemble (with the Musical Theatre Co)
Directed by Al Gregg
‘Remarkably well written and well staged piece with impressive clarity and accessibility of performance. A hot night at the Inn’.
Enfield Gazette
‘THE FIVE AND DIME’
Written by Michael Jones/Music by Mark Richards
Performed at the Millfield Theatre/Westminster Theatre
Produced by London Ensemble (with the Musical Theatre Co)
Directed by Michael Jones
‘Simply loving it at the Five and Dime’
The Stage
‘I was very impressed by the range of talented singers, the kaleidoscope of colourful characters and that no-one stole the limelight in a production which valued every member of the cast, underlining the shows collective spirit’.
Enfield Gazette
‘A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM’
Written by William Shakespeare
Performed at the Studio Theatre, East Berkshire College/Tour
Produced by London Ensemble
Directed by Al Gregg and David Schaal
‘Shakespeare's most romantic play is set by London Ensemble in the 1950's to stunning effect. A rock 'n' roll band plays live as the themes of young love are poignantly played out.
The Company's co directors Al Gregg and David Schaal begin the play with Oberon's evocative speech, 'I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows’.
The ingenuity of this simple but effective idea conjures up the atmosphere of the forest and of love and romance to the audience and that the full mystique of nature is about to run its course.
One of the brilliant showstoppers is Bottom as an ass singing ‘Mr Sandman’ to Titania in this fresh and hilarious new production from an innovative ensemble’.
Berkshire News
‘A LITTLE WEAKNESS’
Written by Guy Jones
Performed at Nottingham Playhouse
Directed by Dan Hogarth
One man show starring Al Gregg
Produced by London Ensemble (with Quadrangle Theatre)
Part of Nottingham Playhouse’s 50th Anniversary Volcanic season
‘This comedy about love, sex and infidelity is a very funny and moving debut by Guy Jones’.
Nottingham Evening Post
‘WORTHLESS THING’
Written by Michael Jones
Performed at the Etcetera Theatre/Watford Palace studio
Part of the Watford Arts Festival season
Produced by London Ensemble
Directed by Geoff Bullen
‘Under Geoff Bullen’s sensitive direction, Al Gregg and Lisa McNaught give two nigh-on faultless performances. The evening is a success’.
Time Out
‘Al Gregg and Lisa McNaught play well together bringing real depth to their roles. The action and issues are confidently developed by director Geoff Bullen with subtle directorial attention to body language, inflection and stage positions. This is a fine production’.
The Stage
‘The play works by confronting people’s preconceived ideas about rape and the media making it more challenging. An engaging evening – intense viewing’.
Camden Times
‘Al Gregg and Lisa McNaught tread a psychological dance in a flawless revelation of their respective characters. It’s a brave play and well worth the trip’.
Watford Observer
‘REALITY CHOKES’
Written by Al Gregg and David Schaal
Performed at Pentameters Theatre/New Town Theatre, Universal Arts, Edinburgh
Produced by The Real London Ensemble
Directed by Chris Jury/David Schaal
Nominated for Edinburgh MTMUK Award
'Authentic, touching and outlandishly funny'
Time Out
'A truly remarkable cast stand before us - directed by the adept hand of Chris Jury. Comic moments saturate the play, made only funnier by the wobble of four middle-aged men as they let go of their past watched by the rolling eyes of two truly modern women’.
Camden New Journal
'A very funny and poignant story which is both loud and exhilarating. It has an unusually distinguished cast - faces recognisable from TV. This is definitely well worth the trip'.
Ham and High
'Using a pre-rap, dub-poet style chorus to break up the episodic narrative, littering the set with accessories from a Fathers for Justice direct-action, building up to some full-on blasts of punk and adding a liaison with a curvaceously nubile Dutch punk into the mix gives this a real whiff of authenticity. The cultural and political references are all present and correct too and the music is very well-integrated. A hit for anyone who ever harboured a fantasy of getting up on stage'.
The Stage
'With live music, a good dollop of irreverence and a darkly comic narrative, the punk movement is alive and well in The Real London Ensemble's punk rock show Reality Chokes. In fact, never mind the rest of the bollocks this Fringe, London's still calling if you just know where to look'.
Edinburgh Evening News *****
'While there's nothing intrinsically new about the idea of a band trying to re-form, there are plenty of three dimensional performances here to draw the audience into the drama. Throw in some bursts of live music, a stuffed Spiderman and the feeling that these characters could probably sustain their own six-part comedy series, and you've got something special'.
Pink Paper *****
'This snapshot of the punk mentality has real energy and a playing speed thatʼs as fast and furious as the music itself. Its feeling of authenticity is due not only to the quality of the acting but also to the fact that two of the actors are experienced musicians'.
MTMUK ****
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