HIJINKS & CAVIAR★★New Wimbledon Theatre
HIJINKS & CAVIAR at the New Wimbledon Theatre ★★ “In defence of the actors, they lacked nothing in energy and commitment, which they maintained throughout” The best way, perhaps, to understand Hijinks and Caviar – a piece of new writing from duo Moody & Moody of Fluffy TOP Productions –
BRIDGE COMMAND★★★Bridge Command
BRIDGE COMMAND at the Bridge Command ★★★ “complex and polished enough to build a community and keep them coming back for more” Bridge Command is part escape room part video game, where participants must work as a team to captain a space ship and complete a fully immersive sci-fi mission.
THE FORSYTE SAGA★★★★★Park Theatre
THE FORSYTE SAGA at Park Theatre ★★★★★ “flawlessly executed under Josh Roche’s stylish direction that adds a unique clarity to the sweeping story” John Galsworthy’s “The Forsyte Saga” earned him the Nobel Prize for literature. Its epic chronicle of the leading members of an extended upper-middle-class Victorian family has understandably
AUTUMN★★½Park Theatre
AUTUMN at Park Theatre ★★½ “Harry McDonald’s dialogue is snappy and Charlotte Vickers’ direction energetic, but little can save the meandering aimlessness of this story” This new adaptation brings Ali Smith’s 2016 novel, which is widely viewed as ‘the first post-Brexit novel’ to the stage. Across two timelines we follow
1984★★★Hackney Town Hall
1984 at Hackney Town Hall ★★★ “thumpingly well executed and fervently pursued” “The enemy within.” Has a ring to it, no? Or what about this? “See It. Say It. Sorted.” Another hoary command broadcast by The Party and also by TfL on the way home. That’s immersive for you. The
TATTOOER★★★Charing Cross Theatre
TATTOOER at the Charing Cross Theatre ★★★ “an authentic taste of Japanese theatre and art that Hoaglund’s translation respects” At first there is silence. A slowly revolving set, plain white but daubed with an insect caught in a web of vivid brush strokes. The characters will gradually get lured into
ST MAUD★★★Live Theatre
ST MAUD at the Live Theatre ★★★ “has the potential to go bigger, better and smarter to raise the hairs on the back of necks of everyone who dares come along” Saint Maud at Live theatre is a murky journey of religion, death, and neglect. The story follows Maud (played
OUTPATIENT★★★★Reading Rep Theatre
OUTPATIENT at Reading Rep Theatre ★★★★ “a heart-warming story with an unexpected ending” Three black walls, a black floor, a running machine and a giant exercise ball. One remarkable solo writer-performer. That’s what it takes to make one heck of a show at Reading Rep. Harriet Madeley is an award-winning
WONDER BOY★★★★UK Tour
WONDER BOY at the Theatre Royal Stratford East ★★★★ “Cookson’s inventive style of directing is – as ever – capturing, stimulating and entertaining” Wonder Boy by Ross Willis, and directed by Sally Cookson, follows Sonny (Hilson Agbangbe) as he comes to terms with the cause of his stammer; and tries
WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANNE FRANK★★★★Marylebone Theatre
WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANNE FRANK at the Marylebone Theatre ★★★★ “this drama is pure, clean, rich with luxuries, well-engineered and superbly constructed” In this visceral dissection of modern Judaism, what greets us first is designer Anna Fleischle’s super chic compact kitchen island: clean lines, cream
THE JAMES BOND CONCERT SPECTACULAR★★★½Indigo at the O2
THE JAMES BOND CONCERT SPECTACULAR at Indigo at the O2 ★★★½ “a shaken-and-stirring combo of hits through the ages” Superspy James Bond is no stranger to The O2. Remember the sequence in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough? The suave Pierce Brosnan zips the Q Boat round the Docklands. He
DR DOLITTLE KILLS A MAN (AND READS EXTRACTS FROM HIS NEW BOOK)★★★Museum of Comedy
DR DOLITTLE KILLS A MAN (AND READS EXTRACTS FROM HIS NEW BOOK) at the Museum of Comedy ★★★ “We’re in the land of the surreal, where nothing makes sense until it suddenly does” His name is Dolittle, Dr John Dolittle, sweaty adventurer, animal linguist and hyper-animated Oxford don. Remember him?
SLAVE: A QUESTION OF FREEDOM★★★★UK Tour
SLAVE: A QUESTION OF FREEDOM at the The Lowry ★★★★ “Moments of lightness or humour are rare, but welcome, during the work, which is a hard watch for a compassionate audience” Co-adapted for stage by Kevin Fegan and Caroline Clegg from the autobiography Slave (Virago) by Mende Nazer and Damien
FILUMENA★★★★UK Tour
FILUMENA at the Theatre Royal Windsor ★★★★ “There are complex emotions and issues on show here, that are delivered with warmth and humour – and at times with quite a punch” The opening of Eduardo De Filippo’s “Filumena” finds the title character on her deathbed with Domenico, her partner of
THE LEHMAN TRILOGY★★★★★Gillian Lynne Theatre
THE LEHMAN TRILOGY at the Gillian Lynne Theatre ★★★★★ “a towering study of human drives, frailties, venality and, yes, exuberance” On September 15, 2008, something was stirring. I went to the window of my Canary Wharf office and peered down to see an ant trail of sacked Lehman Bros workers
EURYDICE★★Jermyn Street Theatre
EURYDICE at Jermyn Street Theatre ★★ “Occasionally it feels as though the actors, lost in their own underworld, are making it up as they go along” “Orpheus was beginning to get very tired of sitting by his girlfriend on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice
KING TROLL (THE FAWN)★★★★★New Diorama Theatre
KING TROLL (THE FAWN) at the New Diorama Theatre ★★★★★ “brilliant, vital and fresh” As an art form theatre is rarely truly frightening. Often a show will be disquieting, or sinister, but as King Troll began, I was confronted with the unusual sensation of fear. From the initial shock factor
PLEADING STUPIDITY★★★New Wimbledon Theatre
PLEADING STUPIDITY at the New Wimbledon Theatre ★★★ “absurd and delightful in equal measure” Pleading Stupidity is, as the title suggests, ever so silly. From Maybe You Like It Productions, this is the true story of two very stupid boys (classic) on their gap year (very classic) working in a
FRENCH TOAST★★★★Riverside Studios
FRENCH TOAST at Riverside Studios ★★★★ “It mocks pretty much everything about the industry, but it is also a heartfelt love letter to the theatre” The French actor, director and writer, Jean Poiret, is best known for his 1973 “La Cage aux Folles”. He is perhaps less well known as
MAISIE ADAM – APPRAISAL★★★★UK Tour
MAISIE ADAM – APPRAISAL at the Tyne Theatre & Opera House ★★★★ “a welcomingly confrontational and awkward evening of stand-up with a bit of something for everyone” On the biggest night of her new tour, Maisie Adam presents a raucous night of heckling the audience right back, and journeying through
“Once glanced at by someone moderately famous”