The Watermill’s bespoke setting and compact stage wouldn’t be my first choice of venue for a revival production of the musical Whistle Down the Wind based on the book by Mary Hayley Bell, adapted to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Jim Steinman. However, the results are extremely impressive.
‘An intriguing life’: THE WOMAN WHO AMUSES HERSELF – Brockley Jack Studio Theatre ★★★★
Victor Lotado’s story The Woman Who Amuses Herself is based on true events which took place back in 1911 when Vincenzo Peruggia stole the famous painting Mona Lisa from the Louvre in Paris. Posing as a workman and dressed accordingly the theft in his opinion was effortlessly carried out.
‘Suspending your disbelief is an imperative requirement’: THE THRONE – Charing Cross Theatre ★★★
Finding yourself stuck in a portaloo toilet with Her Majesty the Queen would be nerve-wracking enough for anyone, add a bomb into the equation and an anti-Royalist and The Throne at the Charing Cross Theatre has all the ingredients for an explosive performance.
‘The immersive experience is a must’: Fawlty Towers The Dining Experience – President Hotel ★★★★★
The President Hotel located in Russell Square is currently the home to Fawlty Towers The Dining Experience. Situated a few minutes walks away from Russell Square tube station it’s conveniently located for a West End night out.
‘The ensemble precision & attention to detail are superb’: CHICAGO – Touring ★★★★
New Wimbledon Theatre presented the latest touring production of the “sleek and sassy” successful West End musical Chicago. Set in the heart of 1920s America, the inner moral compass has virtually vanished, underground clubs are a common part of the social landscape and literally anything goes.
‘Humorous & bawdy’: BLEAK EXPECTATIONS – Watermill Theatre, Newbury ★★★★
Anthology Theatre productions and David Wolstencroft have adapted the BBC Radio 4 comedy production Bleak Expectations and bought it to the stage. Its cast of nine brings many of the famous Charles Dickens characters to life with a twist away from their usual narrative surroundings.
‘A perfectly balanced & in sync production’: DIRTY DANCING IN CONCERT –Touring ★★★★
Marking the 35th anniversary of the popular iconic film Dirty Dancing written by Eleanor Bergstein which starred Jennifer Grey and the late Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing The Movie in Concert comes to the stage and is now on tour.
‘This complicated murder mystery unravels before us’: THE DA VINCI CODE – Touring ★★★★★
This touring version of The Da Vinci Code maintains the storyline of the original book where the codes come thick and fast and the dialogue is clear and concise allowing you to follow the storyline with ease.
‘Unrushed & sympathetic performances’: THE RED – Original Theatre (Online show) ★★★★★
Back in 2019 when Marcus Brigstocke premiered The Red at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I was lucky enough to meet him at one of the food venue vans and was personally flyered by him.
‘Throughout the play, I felt personally caught up in this family battlefield’: THE FEVER SYNDROME – Hampstead Theatre ★★★★
The first thing you notice upon entering the auditorium is the impressive dominating cross-section of the Myers’ family’s four-storey, ageing townhouse based in Manhattan.
‘Christina Bianco doesn’t fail to deliver with an incredible range of voices’: THE RISE & FALL OF LITTLE VOICE – Touring ★★★★
Suffering, poverty, grief and alcoholism predominantly run through the entire performance of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.
‘Rich, funny & heart-rending’: SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR – Touring ★★★★
Sarah Kempton in the role of Doris and Kieran Buckeridge as George embark on two extremely challenging roles in Same Time, Next Year.
‘For Alan Bennett fans such as myself, it is a real treat’: HABEAS CORPUS – Menier Chocolate Factory ★★★★
In 1973 when Habeas Corpus was first staged, it reflected attitudes and behaviour indicative of its time.
‘A touch of 1920s glamour & toe-tapping musical entertainment’: TOP HAT – Sonning
Jack Butterworth as Jerry Travers and co-star Billie-Kay as Dale Tremont dance their way through the confusion of mistaken identity as to whether they will or won’t get together.
‘Any actor that can purposely act badly deserves credit’: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG – Touring ★★★★★
Since the play began in 2012 on the stage in the Off West End venue The Old Red Lion, The Play that Goes Wrong has gone from strength to strength and spent nine years in the West End and is currently back out on tour.
‘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 dramatic end with impressive lighting effects’: THE BALLAD OF MARIA MARTEN — Theatre Royal, Winchester (UK Tour)
The Red Barn murder in 1827 took place in Polstead, Suffolk it’s the notorious tale about Maria Marten who was brutally shot dead by her partner William Corder.
‘Superb & moving start to a long-awaited season’: SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN – Salisbury Playhouse ★★★★
Salisbury Playhouse reopens its doors with September in the Rain by John Godber. Liz (Nicola Sloane) and Jack Munroe (Ian Kelsey) fondly reflect on holiday memoirs from their thirty years of annual visits in September to the seaside town Blackpool.
‘Bad taste jokes & plenty of laughs’: AY UP, HITLER! – Touring ★★★★
We watch as Ay Up, Hitler is set “down the pub” with an array of Yorkshire accents, lots of warm beer drunk (mimed) and donning the flat cap. Writer David McCulloch has certainly put the Ay Up into Hitler.
‘It’s refreshing’: WAITRESS – New Wimbledon Theatre & Touring ★★★★
New Wimbledon Theatre has opened its doors with the West End smash hit production Waitress starring Lucie Jones as Jenna and ex Busted star Matt Willis in the role of Dr Pomatter. The book by Jessie Nelson tells the story about Jenna’s escape from an unhappy violent controlling relationship into the happier life that she works extremely hard to achieve. Alongside her are the two fellow waitresses Becky (Sandra Marvin), Dawn (Evelyn Hoskins) and the long-suffering diner manager Cal (Christopher D Hunt).