This is the sort of fare that might have run for years on Shaftesbury Avenue in the mid- 20th century and, despite references to Brexit and the internet, and the use of mobile phones, We’ll Always Have Paris at The Mill at Sonning feels like a throwback to that simpler era.
‘A show whose electric ending pushes you higher’: SOUND OF THE UNDERGROUND – Royal Court Theatre
Ever been to a queer club? You know, drag cabaret night at Madame Jojo’s, or the Black Cap or Her Upstairs. No? Well, not to worry — the Royal Court’s latest provides a fabulously extravagant simulation of the experience with its staging of Sound of the Underground, a play written by Travis Alabanza — whose contemporary classic Burgerz is coming to the South Bank’s Purcell Room in March — and directed by his co-creator Debbie Hannan.
‘Lively writing, physical comedy & audience interaction’: AROUND THE WORLD WITH NELLIE BLY – Vault Festival ★★★★
Nellie Bly (1864-1922, played by writer/performer Katie Overstall) is set for an adventure, and she doesn’t want to be stuck writing on her newspaper’s gossip column.
Inspired by the novel Around The World In 80 Days by Jules Verne, she plans to bea…
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Noises Off at the Phoenix Theatre
Find out what is being said about the 40th anniversary production of Michael Frayn’s comedy Noises Off at London’s Phoenix Theatre with our review round up.
‘Chilling & contemporary’: NOTRE DAME – The Space (Online review)
Ever since Covid’s early days pioneering company Threedumb Theatre has developed and sustained the idea of the one shot livestream; this is unedited and raw but captures much of the spontaneity and edge which comes with live performance. Their latest, Notre Dame, is probably their most ambitious.
‘A writer who knew that you must both entertain & awaken’: WATCH ON THE RHINE – Donmar Warehouse
HELLMAN’S LESSON IN HUMANITY Theatre can offer few more topical messages for a nation which might hesitate over Ukraine’s needs than this neglected one-set domestic play by Lilian Hellman. It is an artfully jolting picture of a comfortable, … Continue reading →
‘A fantastic debut play’: THE BOYS ARE KISSING – Theatre 503
In a week where a petition to remove LGBTQ+ education from the primary school curriculum has reached the threshold for a parliamentary debate, you will struggle to find a more relevant piece of theatre than The Boys are Kissing, Zak Zarafshan’s debut play.
‘Narcissistic behaviour is central to the performance’: PICASSO – Playground Theatre
Grandeous narcissistic behaviour is central to the performance throughout Picasso, which brings the world renowned artist Pablo Picasso to life in the production currently playing at the Playground Theatre.
‘There is an incredible energy that is infectious’: DIRTY DANCING – Dominion Theatre ★★★★
As someone who always wanted to learn to dance (but never have really had the confidence to), Dirty Dancing was always a film that I have particularly enjoyed – mesmerised as much by the fabulous dancing as well as the wonderful chemistry between Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Now back in the West End – the musical is just as sexy and enjoyable, faithful to the film but able to find its own way with a couple of additional moments.
‘A great foundation to an unconventional story’: PROJECT ATOM BOI – Vault Festival
Project Atom Boi follows the story of Yuanzi (Xiaonan Wang), a doomer who, pressured by a self-indulgent Filmmaker (Francesca Marcolina), starts re-exploring the memories of her childhood in China. Yuanzi grew up in Factory 404, a Cold War ghost town in the Gansu province that was built in the fifties with the sole purpose of hosting a nuclear weapon. As Yuanzi travels back in time, we also meet her childhood best friend Erdan and her grandfather (both played by Kelvin Chan).
‘Exhilarating & exciting’: OTHELLO – Lyric Hammersmith ★★★★
This vibrant, vicious, violent, and vivacious two-hour adaptation by Scott Graham and Simon Hoggett for Frantic Assembly at the Lyric Hammersmith places Othello in a land of gangs, drugs, and booze.
‘Frayn’s play has still got it’: NOISES OFF – Phoenix Theatre
Noises Off at the Phoenix Theatre is a fast-paced show that still demands an enormously skilled and precise technical performance from every member of its cast and Lindsay Posner’s team makes it look far easier than it really is. 40 years on, Michael Frayn’s play has still got it.
‘Filled with warmth & passion’: LIZA PULMAN: THE HEART OF IT – The Other Palace ★★★★★
Liza Pulman’s show is as much a musical education as it is an entertaining and gentle evening of entertainment. Filled with warmth and passion, it is always a treat to listen to Liza Pulman performing. Her precision and deep understanding of the songs that she is performing, combined with the way in which she naturally […]
‘It lingers in your mind’: THE ELEPHANT SONG – Park Theatre ★★★★
Nicolas Billon’s The Elephant Song at the Park Theatre takes us through a game of cat and mouse as Dr Greenberg tries to talk resident Michael into revealing the information he has. Michael, with his toy elephant always in his hand, knows the information he has might give him some leverage. He wants to leave the hospital.
‘A rare dark delight’: We Didn’t Come To Hell For The Croissants – Riverside Studios ★★★★
As it turns out, Jemma Kahn’s We Didn’t Come To Hell For The Croissants, the South African, multi-authored one woman riff on the Seven Deadly Sins, offers rather more than just a whimsical comic title and a series of outrageous pull quotes.
‘Can leave the listener wanting & needing more’: OUR VOICES – Small Truth Theatre (Online show)
Small Truth Theatre has commissioned a series of micro plays recorded as part of its Digital Caravan space (their original mini theatre on wheels being decommissioned because of the need for social distancing). About a month ago they put out a new set of material under the umbrella title of Our Voices consisting of four short pieces inspired by interacting with young people in and around the company’s north Kensington home.
‘You’ll be mesmerised from beginning to end’: KURIOS – Royal Albert Hall ★★★★★
The best advice I can give you for Cirque Du Soleil’s Kurios is, leave all sense of reality, understanding and logical explanation at the entrance of the Royal Albert Hall, for this visual spectacle defies and challenges all aspects of any logic or expectations you have, on every level.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Unfriend at the Criterion Theatre
Take a look at what critics have had to say about the West End transfer of Steven Moffat’s comedy The Unfriend at the Criterion Theatre.
‘Extremely moving to watch’: ALLEGIANCE – Charing Cross Theatre ★★★★★
Allegiance at Charing Cross Theatre will be one of the musicals that leaves a lasting memory for all the right reasons. Running until April 8th there’s plenty of time to catch a performance and catch this legendary actor on stage.
‘Original & fascinating’: HAMLET – Southwark Playhouse
Lazarus’ production of Hamlet at the Southwark Playhouse (Borough Road branch) strips the older generation from the play, leaving us with only the younger characters. Battered, used and confused, the play reveals how focusing on their experience can show us a familiar text in a new and disturbing light. Hamlet is, among many other things, a tale of an older generation destroying their successors to serve themselves.