Mike Bartlett has made a bit of an art out of notions of the counter-factual future. In The 47th, he grounds his flights of fancy in the knowledge of institutions, people and political tides.
‘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.
‘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.
‘You will find much to make you think about’: ALBION – Almeida Theatre (Online review)
If anything, the resonances in Mike Bartlett’s Albion have grown and strengthened as countrywide divisions have hardened.
‘An essentially serious play for serious people’: THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA – West End
Star cast delivers a terrific revival of Tennessee Williams’s last masterpiece The Night of the Iguana at the Noel Coward Theatre.
‘Hayley Atwell’s multi-layered performance reveals a heroine like no other’: ROSMERSHOLM – West End
Most importantly Ian Rickson’s gripping production of Rosmersholm suggests that great female roles are to be found among the classics if only we look hard enough.
‘The vibrant exploration of the beauty & challenges of language make it a play to catch’: TRANSLATIONS – National Theatre ★★★★
It is rare to find a show so good-natured and yet ominous and academic, all at the same time. Come for the raucous humour, stay for the dramatic, dirty colonialism and the lesson in the pros and cons of multilingualism. Translations is beautiful and daring, go see it.
HARRY POTTER & THE CURSED CHILD 1 & 2 – West End
could a stage presentation of the latest episode(s) of the Harry Potter series match the buzz of the books or the hype and hysteria that has surrounded the much loved movies? The answer is most definitely Yes.
MACBETH – Manchester
Directed by Carrie Cracknell and Lucy Guerin, this production – starring John Heffernan and Anna Maxwell Martin – is startlingly different to any other versions of Macbeth I have seen before. It’s a highly visual production which explores main themes of Macbeth’s breakdown and the supernatural through a fusion of Shakespeare’s original words and stunning choreography.
Mark’s Critical Digest: Linda, Funny Girl, The Girls, Oliver!, Barbarians and Macbeth
Reviews digest of openings in London, Leicester and Leeds from national critics for new productions of Linda, Funny Girl, The Girls, Oliver!, Barbarians and Macbeth.