Panto, as most British traditions, is a deeply weird thing but entertains many families over the Christmas period.
‘The performers ring true throughout’: FAIR PLAY – Bush Theatre
Sophie has been running competitively since she was nine. Now on the threshold of adulthood, she’s training hard with an unwavering focused on major international competitions.
‘Leaves you with a fuzzy, festive feeling of joy’: THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT – Stratford-upon-Avon (RSC)
Everyone deserves a happy ending, and as we head towards the festive season, messages of hope and forgiveness start to provide us with a real sense of magic.
‘A wonderful insight into how culturally diverse London is’: A PLACE FOR WE – Park Theatre
Through the decades, three families try to navigate their way through an ever-changing environment for Talawa Theatre in Archie Maddocks’ new play.
‘This is one of the best comedies running in the West End’: RELATIVELY SPEAKING — Jermyn Street Theatre
This is the first show in the Jermyn Street Theatre’s Encounters season, and they have certainly started it off on a high note. This is a production of one of Alan Ayckbourn’s first plays from 1965, a comedy and farce set around the misunderstandings between two couples.
‘The cast contrast & balance each other’: SMALL CHANGE – Omnibus Theatre
Both Barrels Theatre’s revival of Peter Gill’s 1976 Small Changes looks back to postwar Cardiff through the eyes of two Catholic, working-class families.
‘Growing up in north London as a Black, gay man’: Behind the scenes of Passion Fruit at The Glory
Despite the best of intentions, working with friends doesn’t always turn out well. It can lead to crossed boundaries, arguments, and environments that make others uncomfortable.
‘Consistently holds the audience’s attention’: MAY QUEEN – Paines Plough Roundabout
Leigh’s doing her GCSEs but all she and the girls at school can talk about is the upcoming May Day event, where Leigh’s playing the May Queen.
‘Leaves an uplifting note embracing some serious girl power’: LOVEFOOL – Edinburgh Fringe
Written and performed by Rachel E. Thorn, Lovefool makes nostalgia a fun treat for those who can take hints involving pop music lyrics and a magazine’s cringe sections. If that’s you, this show will tell you what you want, what you really really want.
‘A place of comedy & heart-warming friendship’: MADHOUSE – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Welcome to the Madhouse, a place of chaos and confusion, typical of student house-sharing. A group of six friends gives a bittersweet glimpse of early adulthood, a path as messy as the kitchen table around which they party, study, and share their stories.
‘Moving & enticing’: HJEM – Greenhouse Theatre
Hjem at the Greenhouse Theatre is suffused with tenderness and has the potential to magnify the characters and their songs to embark on a more extensive, profound journey.
‘Explores with subtlety the theme of natural heritage’: 12 – Greenhouse Theatre
12 at the Greenhouse Theatre draws a line between language, environment and memory in a tender story of hope and deep affection that questions what is worth preserving as we lose our grasp of the world around us.
‘Really very little to fault’: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS – Royal Shakespeare Company
The visual interpretation and slapstick style of the RSC’s The Comedy of Errors make it a joy to watch, with timing used creatively to garner the most laughs.
‘Scopes is inherently funny & an excellent clown’: SOMEWHERE TO BELONG – Lion & Unicorn Theatre
Theatre needs more bisexual stories and with further development, Somewhere To Belong at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre could go a long way in improving representation.
‘A ridiculously entertaining evening’: CHOIR OF MAN – London Wonderground
Choir of Man entertains in the Wonderground Earl’s Court, from ubiquitous producers the Underbelly. It is certainly hard to leave without a big smile on your face.
‘Murphy is a master of his craft’: Friend (The One With Gunther) – Stream.Theatre (Online review)
Definitely a bold valley to travel down, Friends fans should explore Friend (The One With Gunther), a nugget of not-so-guilty pleasure watching.
‘The writing is gripping’: …cake – Theatre Peckham
Theatre Peckham’s artistic director Suzann McLean hits the target as she notes that …cake is a bold new play which honours intersectionality.
‘Absurd & often poignant gig’: Life: LIVE! – Battersea Arts Centre
Lucy McCormick’s show Life: LIVE! is a powerful social commentary that prompts rethinking on the expectations we have of those in the spotlight.
‘A reminder that what we do & who we are matters’: SHEDDING A SKIN – Soho Theatre
by Laura Kressly Whilst feeling uncertain and lost may well be something everyone goes through at least at one point in their life, thats no consolation in the moment. Everyone else seems to have purpose, direction and a place, and the sense of not having that can be debilitating. That’s certainly the case for Myah. […]
‘Complex & sophisticated’: seven methods of killing kylie jenner – Royal Court Theatre
Leanne Henlon as Cleo and Tia Bannon as Kara deliver extraordinarily versatile performances endowed with conviction and passion in seven methods of killing kylie jenner at the Royal Court Theatre.