This is a labour of love. Hilary Mantel has adapted The Mirror and the Light, the third novel of her Tudor trilogy, in collaboration with actor Ben Miles.
‘An interesting character study of the King & his best man’: THE MIRROR & THE LIGHT – West End
Hilary Mantel and Ben Miles have combined a sizeable semi-fictional tome and the familiar historical story of Henry VIII, distilling them into a properly theatrical show with something new to say about this era and the humble man who, for 10 years, commanded a king.
‘Didn’t I want to see it unfiltered by the opinions of others?’: Mark Shenton explores critical opinion and its influence on perception
One of the pleasures — but also the risks — of being a theatre critic is that you come first to a new production, ready to form your own opinions on what you’ve seen, before you’ve already encountered or digested the opinions of others.
‘It was exhilarating’: Disney’s Frozen offers the most perfectly packaged present for all ages
I don’t have children so the 2013 release of Disney’s animated film of Frozen largely passed me by. It wasn’t until a Christmas a couple of years later that I finally saw the film.
‘Really keeps the audience emotionally invested’: FROZEN THE MUSICAL – Theatre Royal Drury Lane ★★★★★
As much as it is visually spectacular, Frozen the Musical also has added depth to the story that makes it feel more poignant than the film.
‘Demonstrates the power of art to thrill & challenge’: RED – The Shows Must Go On! (Online review)
Red beautifully demonstrates the central thesis that sons must challenge fathers, the old must give way to the new and art and theatre must constantly evolve and change in order to survive – a lesson which has been all too evident as Lockdown2 comes to a close.
‘A classic of lazy playwriting’: BITTER WHEAT – West End
Bitter Wheat, the most controversial play of the year, is almost certainly also going to be the worst.
‘Has nothing to say & misses the point’: BITTER WHEAT – West End
Bitter Wheat is not only frustratingly irresponsible in its treatment of the events that led to the #MeToo movement, it is also a poorly constructed drama.
‘As likely to punch you in the face as tickle your ribs’: THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE – West End
As directed by Michael Grandage, whose revival of John Logan’s Red is just around the corner at the Wyndham’s Theatre, The Lieutenant of Inishmore proves that some black humour doesn’t age.
‘As likely to punch you in the face as tickle your ribs’: THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE – West End
As directed by Michael Grandage, whose revival of John Logan’s Red is just around the corner at the Wyndham’s Theatre, The Lieutenant of Inishmore proves that some black humour doesn’t age.
‘Beautifully pitched revival’: THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE – West End
This version of The Lieutenant of Inishmore is an impressive technical accomplishment supported by very fine performances from the ensemble, that has plenty of layers to unpick.
‘This engaging debate & conversation is pure joy’: RED – West End
Michael Grandage’s revival of Red may only be 90 minutes, but there is no sense of rush here, and instead the play – much like Mark Rothko’s creations – is given room to breath, to slowly come into focus as a true picture emerges.
LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL – West End
Lady Day was originally meant to make its, and Audra’s, West End debut almost a year ago exactly but with a surprise pregnancy turning things around, the opening of the show was cancelled. Whilst this was a huge disappointment at the time, the extended wait for Miss McDonald to perform our side of the pond just built up the excitement and made her debut even more triumphant.
THE ENTERTAINER – West End
Kenneth Branagh’s final show in his West End season is a revival that is slick, but a bit passionless.
Diary of a theatre addict: Is it all work and no play(s) in South Africa?
“You can take the girl out of the chorus but you can’t take the chorus out of the girl,” Broadway legend Chita Rivera told me when I interviewed her recently. And the same is true of me: you can take the boy away from the theatre, but you can’t take the theatre away from the boy. I’ve been in South Africa (my country of birth) since Tuesday after flying overnight Monday.
Diary of a theatre addict: Is it all work and no play(s) in South Africa?
“You can take the girl out of the chorus but you can’t take the chorus out of the girl,” Broadway legend Chita Rivera told me when I interviewed her recently. And the same is true of me: you can take the boy away from the theatre, but you can’t take the theatre away from the boy. I’ve been in South Africa (my country of birth) since Tuesday after flying overnight Monday.
Press pass: All the news, interviews, opinions (and booking) for Kenneth Branagh season
Just days after Kevin Spacey gave his (literal) swansong when accepting his Special Award at the Oliviers, our own homegrown Hollywood star has announced his plans to take over a West End theatre as actor-manager. As you will have noticed from the avalanche of coverage and quickening social media frenzy, Kenneth Branagh is back. Though […]