As part of her resumed post-show talk series, Mates founder Terri Paddock will chair a discussion following the performance of Lidless Theatre’s tenth-anniversary revival of Philip Ridley’s provocative Tender Napalm, at London’s King’s Head Theatre on Tuesday 7 November 2021. Time to get booking!
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.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: White Noise at the Bridge Theatre
On LoveLondonLoveCulture, Emma Clarendon rounds up the reviews for Polly Findlay’s European premiere production of White Noise, by Pulitzer Prize-winning US playwright Suzan Lori-Parks.
NEWS: RSC reopens Royal Shakespeare Theatre with new productions in spring 2022
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has released details of its Spring 2022 activity including Shakespeare returning to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage and the announcement of a ground-breaking national new writing project.
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Behind the scenes in the rehearsal room for Indecent Proposal
Previews begin at the end of this week for the world premiere musical makeover of Indecent Proposal, the novel made famous by the 1993 Hollywood film. What’s been happening in rehearsals? Check out our behind-the-scenes video and photo gallery. Time to get booking!
NEWS: Freaky Geese makes London debut with new comedy Holier Than Thou
New comedy Holier Than Thou, marking the London debut of young theatre company Freaky Geese, gets its full-length premiere next month at the Canal Cafe Theatre.
‘A superb credit to the 19th-century Gothic novel’: THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW – Touring ★★★★★
Based on the American Gothic novel by Washington Irving, which was first published in 1819, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has been adapted for the stage by Tilted Wig Productions in this highly recommended production.
‘A reminder that the most toxic youthful masculinity might turn to heroism’: INTO BATTLE – Greenwich Theatre ★★★
Balliol College Oxford, 1910. In Into Battle, confident young Etonians are hurling crockery downstairs, yelling “I’m a bastard, I’m a bastard, rather be a bastard than a Trinity man”.
‘I can’t help but ask: is this humour we still want or need in theatre?’ THE BOOK OF MORMON – Touring
I want to start by saying how happy I am to be back reviewing musical theatre. How happy I am the big tours are back and how overjoyed I was to be back in my home turf of the Wales Millennium reviewing a show.
NEWS: Cast & creatives announced for the world premiere of Kathy Rucker’s Darling
Full cast and creatives have now been announced for the world premiere of Kathy Rucker’s DARLING, which gets its world premiere at London’s Hope Theatre in a limited season from 9 to 27 November 2021.
FEATURED SHOW: Proforca’s ‘exquisite & lyrical’ ★★★★ Lately transfers to Albany Theatre
After two stints at London’s Lion & Unicorn Theatre, a slew of four-star reviews and an Offies nomination for Best New Play, Proforca Theatre’s premiere of James Lewis’ latest play Lately now heads to Coventry’s Albany Theatre with a stellar new pairing.
‘Black, bleak & ultimately deeply moving’: THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE – Lyric Hammersmith
Martin McDonagh’s black comedy piece, co-produced by Chichester Festival Theatre and the Lyric Hammersmith, proves to be a deeper exploration of family conflict and secrets than his The Lieutenant of Inishmore.
‘Shines a disquieting light on a truly terrifying period in history’: THE WITCHFINDER’S SISTER – Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch ★★★★
Beth Underdown’s debut novel The Witchfinder’s Sister, now adapted for the stage by Vickie Donoghue, gives a voice to a possible sister of Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins and interrogates the practice of witch-hunts in the 1640s.
Review Round-up: The Tragedy of Macbeth at the Almeida Theatre
On LoveLondonLoveCulture, Emma Clarendon rounds up the reviews for the Almeida Theatre’s new production of Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth. It stars James McArdle and Saoirse Ronan, directed by Yael Farber.
‘A ridiculous – & ridiculously enjoyable – show that boasts the finest score in musicals’: ANYTHING GOES – Barbican Theatre
As soon as the title number’s patter chorus kicks in, there’s a smile on every face at the Barbican Centre, where Cole Porter’s Broadway classic Anything Goes runs until 6 November 2021.
New post-show Q&A: Join Terri Paddock for Anton Chekhov’s Vaudevilles
As part of her resumed post-show talk series, Mates founder Terri Paddock will chair a discussion following the performance of Mercurius Theatre’s revival of Anton Chekhov’s Vaudevilles, adapted by Michael Frayn, at London’s White Bear Thatre on Wednesday 27 October 2021. Time to get booking!
‘Saoirse Ronan is a Lady Macbeth to remember for years’: THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH – Almeida Theatre ★★★★★
THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH. Almeida, N1 THE SCOTTISH PLAY WE NEEDED Say what you like about star-casting and auteur-ish directors messing with Shakespeare, but sometimes a multiple Academy Award nominee has a trumpeted on a British … Continue reading →
‘Matthew Bourne has lost none of his choreographic innovation, verve & heart’: THE MIDNIGHT BELL – Touring
A new piece from Matthew Bourne is always a talking point and a treat to get dance fans excited. I’ve been a fan for around a decade now.
‘A dark premise that feels disturbingly possible’: SNOWFLAKES – Old Red Lion Theatre
I was surprised when I discovered this is Robert Boulton’s debut play as a playwright, as there is a confidence and natural dark humour I’d associate with a more experienced writer.
‘Even if you came to it cold, this play would grip you by the throat’: THE MIRROR & THE LIGHT – West End ★★★★★
It was rising eight years ago that the first two parts of Hilary Mantel’s majestic Wolf Hall trilogy came to the stage, adapted by Mike Poulton and directed by Jeremy Herrin.
‘Patsy Ferran & Luke Thallon perform with superb control’: CAMP SIEGFRIED – Old Vic Theatre
Bess Wohl’s history play is an imaginatively-written, brilliantly chilling and resonant account of life at a Nazi summer camp, starring Patsy Ferran and Luke Thallon.