When I had a look through my list of shows, it wasn’t too hard to choose a top 10 – the hardest thing was getting them in the right order
‘A theatrical experience that you will never forget’: CABARET – West End ★★★★★
A theatrical experience that you will never forget – Eddie Redmayne revels in the role of the Emcee, but Jessie Buckley steals the show in Cabaret.
‘It is a real achievement to come up with such an original spin’: A CHRISTMAS CAROL – Old Royal Naval College ★★★★
Once you reach December, you don’t have to look far to find several adaptations of a certain Charles Dickens novella – the key is finding an original take on the story.
‘It’s thrilling to see working-class Bob given some agency’: CRATCHIT – Park Theatre ★★★★
Marley was dead to begin with – and what of it? There’s still work to be done, and Bob Cratchit has to bear the brunt of his remaining master’s foul moods whilst remaining industrious.
‘Hopeful & joyful without being sickly sweet’: THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT – Stratford-upon-Avon (RSC) ★★★★
My first time back in Stratford-upon-Avon since February 2019, and roughly three years since I’d last stepped foot in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre – and after seeing some rehearsal footage of this new show, I was excited to see what this had turned into.
‘A reasonable introduction to the wider themes of DH Lawrence’s book’: LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER (Online review)
This GBM Productions musical version of DH Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover originally had a limited run at the Shaftesbury Theatre but has now been given a digital revival by Stream.Theatre.
‘Surprisingly hilarious about a not-so-hilarious subject’: YELLOWFIN – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★
What would you do if all the fish suddenly vanished? It’s a question that would have sounded faintly ridiculous a few years ago, but as climate change grips the world, a mass extinction event doesn’t feel that far off.
Puppetry, top casting & other reasons you should see The Magician’s Elephant
The RSC’s brand-new musical, an adaptation of The Magician’s Elephant, started performances this week at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Earlier this month, the company opened its rehearsal room doors for a sneak peek. Why should you add this show to your list of autumn treats?
‘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.
‘An interesting take on the Oscar Wilde classic’: DORIAN: A ROCK MUSICAL – Stream.Theatre (Online review)
Dorian: A Rock Musical is an interesting take on the Oscar Wilde classic, probably better suited to live & in-person shows – Bart Lambert gives an arresting performance as Dorian Gray.
‘This is not about romance, it’s about escape’: Romeo & Juliet – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★
Romeo & Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe is a new and vital take on the classic Verona tale, contextualising the characters’ motives – this is not about romance, it’s about escape.
Book Review: Hamilton & Me – Giles Terera ★★★★★
Illuminating about both the craft of acting and the glorious show that is Hamilton, Giles Terera’s book Hamilton And Me takes the reader on a whirlwind journey through what was clearly an incredibly important period in the performer’s life.
‘What comes across incredibly strongly is a sense of hope’: SHEDDING A SKIN – Soho Theatre ★★★★★
“I’m afraid of the skin I’m in.” Quick out of the blocks in Soho Theatre’s reopening season is Amanda Wilkin’s Verity Bargate Award-winning debut play, Shedding A Skin. The run has socially distanced seating, but for those who can’t attend in person there will be a live-streamed performance on 15 July.
‘Another superb bit of escapism’: THE TEMPORAL SOCIETY – CtrlAltRepeat (Online review) ★★★★
The Temporal Society is another superb bit of escapism from the minds of CtrlAltRepeat, taking you back in time and keeping you on your toes – Rebekah Finch and Rachel Waring are the double act we’ve all been waiting for.
‘A superb hour of movies & dance’: REMEMBERING THE OSCARS (Online review) ★★★★
A superb hour of movies and dance, with a fun concept and brilliant choreography – Aljaž & Janette are absolutely in their element in Remembering the Oscars.
‘Shane Richie gives a momentous performance’: SCARAMOUCHE JONES – Ginger Quiff Media & Stream.Theatre (Online review) ★★★★★
Shane Richie follows in the footsteps of Pete Postlethwaite, taking on Justin Butcher’s one-man play Scaramouche Jones or the Seven White Masks for Ginger Quiff Media and Stream.Theatre.
‘A thrilling piece of entertainment’: THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (Online review) ★★★★★
Not only does it work as a standalone piece of digital theatre, this adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray is also really intelligently linked to the original story.
‘An inventive & compelling retelling of a classic’: A CHRISTMAS Carol – Polka Theatre (Online review) ★★★★
An inventive and compelling retelling of a Christmas classic, the Polka Theatre’s A Christmas Carol is a great introduction to the tale of Mr Scrooge for audience members young and old.
‘It felt like we were all creating something very special together’: A fond farewell to The Show Must Go Online series
I may be woefully behind on my show write-ups, but I couldn’t not mark The Show Must Go Online coming to an end – at least until further notice.
‘Natasha Karp’s performance is particularly moving’: LITTLE WARS (Online review)
At a time when hatred seems to be the new norm (whether antisemitism, homophobia, or literally anything else), narratives like those discussed in Little Wars are more important than ever.