David Eldridge’s play Middle at the National Theatre’s Dorfman space is a sketch, a watercolour on the landing of middle life: sensitive, accomplished but not likely to stop you in your tracks.
‘A bit of a muddle’: MIDDLE – National Theatre
David Eldridge’s trilogy about relationships, which started in 2017 with the hit show Beginning, now reaches its second part with Middle, which has opened at the National Theatre.
‘Entertaining in its populist stress on feelgood comedy’: THE CORN IS GREEN – National Theatre
Even 20th century drama is under threat. So can the National Theatre buck this trend with this rediscovery of The Corn Is Green, and some help from its star, Nicola Walker?
NEWS: Cabaret & Spring Awakening lead 31st annual Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards
Two Almeida musical revivals – Cabaret in the West End and Spring Awakening – were the biggest winners at the 31st annual Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards, for the first time held just one week before the Olivier Awards.
‘Full of the expressive theatricality director Emma Rice has built her reputation on’: WUTHERING HEIGHTS – National Theatre
Emma Rice dips into her usual bag of theatrical tricks for a highly expressive take on Wuthering Heights but possibly to diminishing returns.
What’s the likelihood that Hex won’t ever officially open at the National?
It’s not unusual for artistic directors of national companies to pursue the holy grail of producing a hit musical — not just for the financial security of the venue they are running, but also for their own.
‘This ensemble piece is exceptionally well cast & full of energy’: EAST IS EAST – National Theatre At Home (Online review)
East Is East is a recent addition to National Theatre’s At Home catalogue and only appeared as a live production back in October.
Year in review: Ian’s 10 favourite shows of 2021
Just a little bit late… Here’s 10 of my favourite shows, both online and onstage but fully acknowledging that I saw a lot less than usual, I might actually have broken the back of this theatre obsession – it just took a global pandemic to do it…!
‘Ruth Wilson is strong casting in the central role’: HEDDA GABLER – National Theatre At Home (Online review)
Ruth Wilson is strong casting in the central role with a, for once, restrained Ivo van Hove directing.
Five of my favourite theatre productions of 2021
We all know how we feel about 2021. What we need to do is celebrate what made it fabulous so here is my pick of what the year had to offer.
‘This revival of an American classic is both relevant & fun’: TROUBLE IN MIND – National Theatre
Race, rage and relevance: sensitive revival of American writer Alice Childress’ 1955 anti-racist play shines bright.
‘A farcical comedy or a serious anatomy of our septic isle?’: MANOR – National Theatre
Moira Buffini’s ambitious state-of-the-nation, climate-change play runs straight into the doldrums.
‘Enhanced by crisp editing & two towering performances’: DEATH OF ENGLAND: FACE TO FACE – National Theatre (Online review)
The Death Of England sequence by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams has had an interesting history. Starting life as a ten-minute microplay film courtesy of the Royal Court.
‘This play can’t help but end up as something of a disappointment’: MANOR – National Theatre
Despite the presence of Nancy Carroll and Shaun Evans, Moira Buffini’s Manor proves a disappointment at the National Theatre.
‘A perfect tour de force of visual, intellectual & emotional pleasure’: DEATH OF ENGLAND: FACE TO FACE – National Theatre/Sky Arts
One of the absolute highpoints of new writing in the past couple of years has been the Death of England trilogy.
‘One of the stars is for the staircase, which was great’: MANOR – National Theatre ★★
As the stage was plunged into darkness at the end of Manor on the National Theatre’s Lyttelton stage, I was thinking: What was the point?
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Ocean at the End of the Lane in the West End
On LoveLondonLoveCulture, Emma Clarendon rounds up the reviews for the National Theatre’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane, now transferred to the West End’s Duke of York’s Theatre.
‘Wonderful puppets & startling visual effects’: THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE – West End
Like the hit stage version of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, this National Theatre adaptation is about a teenager on a journey of discovery confronting a mysterious adult world.
NEWS: National Theatre announces new productions including Nicola Walker in The Corn is Green
The National Theatre has published on-sale dates and further details of its next new tranche of productions, opening from now until May 2022 with tickets on sale to the public from 2 December 2021.
‘A new retelling of the most ancient of true legends’: THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE – West End ★★★★
Sometimes a violent rip occurs in the thin veil of materialism, commonsense, morality and law. Children know this.