Temi Wilkey has written a brilliant first play, which grabs you even though you’ve probably seen many of the components of The High Table before.
‘It is my tribute to everyone of us who is adopted’: Karen Bartholomew on Giving Up Marty at the Vault Festival
Giving up Marty, written by Karen Bartholomew, looks at the impact on adoption when the birth family comes looking.
‘Moving & sympathetic portrayal of a complex man’: CHAPLIN: BIRTH OF A TRAMP – Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
Chaplin: Birth of a Tramp is a sensitive and interesting take on Chaplin, looking at the artist behind the art and continues to showcase Arrows and Traps as a innovative company.
‘A comedy monologue like no other’: MUSIK – Leicester Square Theatre
Frances Barber gives one of the performances of the year (yes I know it is only February) as Billie Trix in Musik, reuniting with Jonathan Harvey and the Pet Shop Boys.
‘Funny & poignant’: TIME & TIDE – Park Theatre
Although Time and Tide ends on a hopeful note, it is not sickly sweet. The characters’ coming out and coming of age stories are grounded in the joys and disappointments of real life. The ending is just right for the characters.
‘Smart & funny two hander’: SEX/CRIME – Soho Theatre
Alexis Gregory’s script for Sex/Crime takes an uncomfortable glance at our obsession with serial killers, sexual violence and 21st century homosexuality.
‘It is a star making performance from Daisy Wood-Davis’: BEAUTIFUL THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL – Touring
In this touring production of Beautiful, following on from lengthy London and Broadway runs, Daisy Wood-Davis plays Carole King from innocent 16 year old with enviable talent to an older and wiser woman.
‘A brave effort to modernise the eponymous Greek tragedy’: ANTIGONE – New Diorama Theatre
Presented by company Holy What, playwright Lulu Raczka’s reimagining of Sophocles Greek tragedy Antigone, uses an all-female cast.
‘The right kind of funny in a stone-faced world’: SCROUNGER – Finborough Theatre
As an insight into a member of society failed by systemic stupidity and social illiteracy, Athena Stevens’ new play Scrounger is particularly relevant.
‘Offers some time-worn comforts’: THE WIND OF HEAVEN – Finborough Theatre
Still, if you don’t mind the preachiness or the admonishment, The Wind of Heaven boasts a suitably earnest cast and fine staging.
‘A fun & informative night of politics’: CRISIS? WHAT CRISIS – Colab Factory
What makes Crisis What Crisis special is the strong storyline and convincing performances in combination with game play.
‘A rewarding watch’: THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS – Cervantes Theatre
Adapting a multi-generational family saga for the small stage takes ambition, confidence and knowing just where to cut, The House of the Spirits has all three covered.
‘The cast can certainly sing’: SOHO CINDERS – Charing Cross Theatre
With a few modern updates, this new interpretation of the Cinderella story in Soho Cinders boasts several top notch musical theatre ballads.
‘Involving, emotionally harrowing two-hander’: CHEMISTRY – Finborough Theatre
Chemistry is an at times unsettling, but always compelling evening. It humanises the stigmatised and touches the soul using a wonderdrug – intimate performance.
‘This is cabaret in its purest form’: LORNA DALLS – Crazy Coqs ★★★★
Lorna Dallas is the essence of old school cabaret distilled. She oozes glamour and combines the look of Blanche Deveraux with a spirit of a proper Illinois broad.
‘What we need is a production about now’: GASPING – The Space
Presenting a revival of Ben Elton’s early 90s environmental farce Gasping in The Space, located just minutes from Canary Wharf, is appropriate.
‘Sometimes the best stories are messy & unresolved, & real’: LITTLE BABY JESUS – Orange Tree Theatre
Wunderkind actor-writer Arinzé Kene (how can one man be so talented?) knocks it out of the park with the revival of his 2011 play Little Baby Jesus.
‘It does what it says on the tin’: AFTERGLOW – Waterloo East Theatre
After a run at the Southwark Playhouse, Afterglow, S. Asher Gelman’s story of polyamory in modern American, returns with a new cast.
’Wants to make you think’: LAST ORDERS – Old Red Lion Theatre
The Knock Knock Club (Reece Connolly, Christopher Keegan, Caroline Buckley) investigate the venue and present their findings in Last Orders, as part of the London Horror Festival.
‘It is genuinely terrifying’: GHOST STORIES – West End
Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman’s Ghost Stories has been entertaining audiences since 2010 both on the stage and in a 2017 film adaptation and this revival at the Ambassadors Theatre is a welcome return.