There is an urgency and an immediacy about The Canary and the Crow that will leave you thinking and questioning everything about British society long after you’ve left the theatre
News, Reviews and Features
These are all of our in-house news and features as well as syndicated article excerpts from our 45+ theatre bloggers. You can also access All Our Mates' Posts in comprehensive list form and view individual author pages.
NEWS: Ayenai explore inhabiting a foreign country in Living Here? at VAULT Festival
Where is our place? What happens when we have nothing left to hold on to? Do we remain? These are the questions asked by new dance work Living Here? which runs as part of the VAULT Festival later this spring. Book your tickets now!
WATCH Magic Goes Wrong post-show Q&A: What’s it like working with Penn & Teller… & JJ Abrams?
Abracadabra! As their weekly episodes of The Goes Wrong Show continue to delight television audiences, I was delighted to continue my series of Mischief Theatre post-show talks with a return to the Vaudeville Theatre to catch up with the company’s co-writers – Jonathan Sayer, Henry Lewis and Henry Shields – and their co-stars in the latest goes-wrong stage comedy.
‘A night of world class musical theatre’: LES MISÉRABLES – Sondheim Theatre ★★★★
Above all it is Kretzmer’s stunning lyrical treatment of those soaring French melodies (on press night, immaculately delivered under Steve Moss’ baton) woven around a story that is breathtaking in its scope that still define Les Misérables as a night of world class musical theatre.
‘Both difficult & comforting to watch’: FACES IN THE CROWD – Gate Theatre
Whilst the script for Faces In The Crowd demands unwavering focus and attention in order to not get lost, women’s individuality, voice and their suppression by patriarchal systems are profoundly resonant.
NEWS: Paul Merton will make his West End musical debut in Hairspray at the London Coliseum
Paul Merton, the popular comedian and star of BBC’s renowned programme Have I Got News For You – is to join the new production of Hairspray the Musical at the London Coliseum, making his West End musical debut as Wilbur Turnblad.
‘Never really catches fire’: YOU STUPID DARKNESS! – Southwark Playhouse
A new play about optimism, You Stupid Darkness! is compassionate in conception, but repetitive and frustrating in performance.
‘Far lighter than the themes of the play might suggest’: UNCLE VANYA – West End
This Uncle Vanya is more roundedly entertaining than other recent productions and while that detracts a little from the emotional undercurrents of the original, the fluidity and richness of Rickson’s production, performed by an excellent cast, ensure a satisfying Chekhovian conclusion.
‘It’s taught me to be brave’: Katie Arnstein brings her play Sticky Door to the VAULT Festival
Katie Arnstein is an award-winning writer and performer. Her latest play, Stick Door, the final part of her It’s a Girl! trilogy, will be performed at the VAULT Festival next month. I caught up with Katie to find out more.
NEWS: Cherie – My Struggle gives a Downing Street inside view from Cherie Blair’s perspective
What was Cherie Blair thinking during the New Labour years? Has her contribution to Tony Blair’s success ever been fully acknowledged? Cherie – My Struggle provides an intimate look at a remarkable woman. Time to get booking!
‘If you see one Off-West End show, make it this one’: RAGS – Park Theatre ★★★★★
Directed by Bronagh Lagan, Rags embraces the true wonders of theatre, bringing to light the compelling story of some Jewish immigrants attempting to integrate into American society of the 1910s.
‘Smart & funny two hander’: SEX/CRIME – Soho Theatre
Alexis Gregory’s script for Sex/Crime takes an uncomfortable glance at our obsession with serial killers, sexual violence and 21st century homosexuality.
NEWS: Shakespeare’s Globe announces its summer season 2020
Shakespeare’s Globe’s summer season 2020 will include Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night and Antony & Cleopatra.
NEWS: Tamasha playwright Cheryl Ndione brings tale of self-discovery Apple to Vault Festival
Darkly comic tale of a woman’s journey to uncover her roots and understand who she is, Cheryl Ndione’s Apple will run at the VAULT Festival next month. Book you tickets now!
‘Delicate but delicious’: YOU STUPID DARKNESS! – Southwark Playhouse
With its focus on the small things, Sam Steiner’s play You Stupid Darkness! is a delicate but delicious thing at the Southwark Playhouse.
‘Delights & inspires in equal measure’: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE – West End ★★★★
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a show which delights and inspires in equal measure and is sure to retain its spot in theatre lovers’ hearts for the foreseeable future.
FEATURED SHOW: ★★★★ reviews are in for the premiere of Janice Okoh’s new history play The Gift
Janice Okoh’s “enthralling” new Black British history play The Gift has premiered to a tranche of ★★★★ reviews at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre at the start of a UK-wide tour. We’ve rounded up our selection of favourite review highlights. Time to get booking!
‘Oily Cart still put access at the heart of their work’: ALL WRAPPED UP – Touring
Oily Cart, the creators of All Wrapped Up, makes gently immersive, highly sensory performances for people under five years old, and people with complex needs.
‘Tea & manners link throughout’: THE GIFT – Belgrade Theatre & touring ★★★★
This complex play covers a vast but nourishing soup of issues that impact relationships between cultures, races and people in the modern world.
‘Given a new lease of life’: TEN TIMES TABLE – Touring
A review of Ten Times Table by Alan Ayckbourn currently at Richmond Theatre . Still has resonance.