★★★★★
★★★★★
LondonTheatre1
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
Ginger Hibiscus
★★★★
Clarion
Set in the newsroom of a failing right-wing tabloid, Clarion is a satire about populism, media irresponsibility and blood and soil nationalism. The play foreshadowed Brexit and predicts the resurgence in politicised xenophobia which has sadly come to pass since. The Arcola production starred two of the most acclaimed British actors of their generation: six-time nominee and three-time winner of the Olivier Award for Best Actress, Clare Higgins, and Critics’ Circle award-winner Greg Hicks. The play returned for a second sold out run later in 2015.
Awards
Off West End Award – Best Actress (Clare Higgins)
Off West End Award Nomination – Best Play
Off West End Award Nomination – Best Actor (Greg Hicks)
★★★★★
“Mark Jagasia’s darkly comic new play is a topically urgent interrogation of British press standards. Hugely recommended.”
Morning Star
★★★★
“Greg Hicks is hilarious as a demonic newspaper editor in Mark Jagasia’s scorching satire.”
Michael Billington, The Guardian
★★★★
“An electrically funny and knowing script about an industry in decline and an ideology on the rise.”
The Independent
★★★★
“The scathingly funny, grim satire of tabloid ethics drives to the heart of a serious issue.”
Financial Times
★★★★
“[This] insider tabloid takedown has real pre-election heft … Director Mehmet Ergen finds an effective balance of humour and horror in a tale that’s all too topical.”
The Arts Desk
★★★★★
“An insightful and side splitting evening of entertainment, this is a must see.”
West End Wilma
★★★★★
“An utterly scathing but hysterical take on the worst excesses of tabloid journalism.”
LondonTheatre1
★★★★
“A savage dissection of the corruption at the heart of the media.”
The Grizzle Review
★★★★
“A wickedly funny satire with wide appeal … hilarious.”
The Public Reviews
Michael Billington, Country Life
★★★★★
“A headline-grabbing comedy that’s one of the funniest in years.”
Stage Review
★★★★
“An eye-wateringly funny — and foreboding — vision of British print journalism going to hell in a handcart … Higgins’s performance is pitch-perfect … Hicks is on storming form and having a ball … Highly recommended.”
The Times
★★★★
“Captures the distinctive journalistic flavour of bile, hysteria and sentimentality with savage precision … Hicks plays Morris with maniacal brilliance … appallingly funny.”
Daily Telegraph
★★★★
“Absorbing and devilishly funny.”
Evening Standard
★★★★
“This piercing and often funny play does to newspapers what Drop The Dead Donkey did to TV news”
Daily Mail
★★★★★
“Mark Jagasia’s script is outstanding … Engaging, stylish and irreverent.”
Ginger Hibiscus
★★★★
“An unnervingly enjoyable evening … Higgins is superb.”
Libby Purves
★★★★
“Probably the funniest play of the century.”
Remote Goat
★★★★
“The script races and soars with a wonderful frustrated energy.”
The Upcoming
★★★★
Londonist
“It’s a searing look at the darkest side of journalism.”
Read the Evening Standard interview with Clare Higgins and Greg Hicks.
“Wolf Hall star Mark Rylance: the catalyst for Clarion.”
Read The Guardian
“I’m proud that Arcola Theatre is tackling big political questions with daring political plays.”
Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen talks to WhatsOnStage
