FRAT★★Old Red Lion Theatre
FRAT Old Red Lion Theatre ★★ “With some rewrites, this is a show that could easily shine.” “He said/she said” is a conundrum that many have attempted, with varying success. And with the rise in right-wing rhetoric about traditional versus modern masculinity, these narratives have never been more fraught. Newcomer
THE GANG OF THREE★★★★King’s Head Theatre
THE GANG OF THREE King’s Head Theatre ★★★★ “At the centre of director Kirsty Patrick Ward’s bitchy and erudite psychodrama are three rounded and convincing performances” The occasional soundtrack behind this formidable political drama tells of a nation undergoing change, from the raucous rock of the early ’70s to the
FAYGELE★★★★★Marylebone Theatre
FAYGELE Marylebone Theatre ★★★★★ “allows us into a world that may be unfamiliar, and makes space for connection, truth, and healing” Faygele is a powerful and moving theatrical piece written by Shimmy Braun and directed with sensitivity by Hannah Chissick. It’s a work that gives voice to those so often
THE EMPIRE STRIPS BACK★★★★★Riverside Studios
THE EMPIRE STRIPS BACK Riverside Studios ★★★★★ “a beautiful representation of the power of live performance” I can confidently say that you do not need to have seen Star Wars to enjoy this show. I say that because, shamefully, I went to see this without having ever seen it. With
CONVERSATIONS AFTER SEX ★★★Park Theatre
CONVERSATIONS AFTER SEX Park Theatre ★★★ “a play that focuses more on glimpses of intimacy and character variety rather than any tangible plot with a clear ending” Desire, grief, family, sexually transmitted diseases and much more can be found in this production of Conversations After Sex. Written by Mark O’Halloran,
BLOOD WEDDING★★★★Omnibus Theatre
BLOOD WEDDING Omnibus Theatre ★★★★ “The dynamics are beautifully conveyed by the actors in wonderfully genuine performances” One of the most telling lines in Barney Norris’ adaptation of Lorca’s “Blood Wedding” is when the young bride, Georgie proclaims ‘I can’t remember what’s good about me’. The mix of fear and
THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR★★★★Chichester Festival Theatre
THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR Chichester Festival Theatre ★★★★ “brims with swearing, colloquialisms, double entendres, and joyful absurdity” Nikolai Gogol’s razor-sharp satire The Government Inspector gets a bawdy and riotous reimagining in this new adaptation by Phil Porter, directed with pantomimic glee by Gregory Doran in his Chichester debut. Fuelled by farcical
MY MASTER BUILDER★★★Wyndham’s Theatre
MY MASTER BUILDER Wyndham’s Theatre ★★★ “Director Michael Grandage moves the action swiftly along, although there are no real obstacles in the script that is fast flowing and fresh” Lila Raicek’s “My Master Builder” is not a translation of Ibsen’s ‘The Master Builder’. Nor is it an adaptation. But it
DEALER’S CHOICE★★★Donmar Warehouse
DEALER’S CHOICE Donmar Warehouse ★★★ “The cast is uniformly strong, bringing definition to Marber’s testosterone-fuelled ensemble” Three decades after its debut, Patrick Marber’s Dealer’s Choice returns to the London stage in a muscular revival at the Donmar Warehouse. Mostly set in the sweaty basement of a mediocre restaurant, this brutal
CORINNE BAILEY RAE PRESENTS BLACK RAINBOWS★★★★★Roundhouse
CORINNE BAILEY RAE PRESENTS BLACK RAINBOWS Roundhouse ★★★★★ “Bailey Rae creates beauty from pain, with a voice that is spellbindingly theatrical” As Corinne Bailey Rae begins this orchestral, one-night-only show of her 2023 album Black Rainbows, she recites an incantation: “We long to arc our arm through history to unpick
SCENES WITH GIRLS★★★Golden Goose Theatre
SCENES WITH GIRLS Golden Goose Theatre ★★★ “this production pulls on every bit of substance and brightness that it can” Female friendship. It’s a bit of a media minefield, if we’re honest — full of portrayals of women betraying one another, being pitted against each other, or some combination thereof.
THE BRIGHTENING AIR★★★★Old Vic
THE BRIGHTENING AIR Old Vic ★★★★ “a rich and entertaining family drama” “How are you doing?”, a priest asks jittery Dermot (Chris O’Dowd) midway through this fine new play. “I’m fine”, replies deadpan Dermot, although “the circumstances around me are challenging”. Dermot is not alone in his plight. In the
ROMEO AND JULIET★★★★★Hackney Empire
ROMEO AND JULIET Hackney Empire ★★★★★ “thrilling, raw, moving, and completely unforgettable” If Shakespeare were here today, he’d be proud – perhaps even moved – to see his timeless tragedy reimagined in such a vibrant, daring, and emotionally charged way. This co-production between Hackney Empire, Belgrade Theatre and Bristol Old
ORDINARY DAYS★★★★Upstairs at the Gatehouse
ORDINARY DAYS Upstairs at the Gatehouse ★★★★ “The simple sincerity is heartwarming” When asked to pick out his favourite exhibit at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, Warren (played by the suitably kooky but charismatic Aidan Cutler) selects a very ordinary still life. ‘It’s a little bit boring’ counters Dora
PERSONAL VALUES ★★★Hampstead Theatre
PERSONAL VALUES Hampstead Theatre ★★★ “an unflinching depiction of grief, suffering, and how family can infect” Personal Values, a new play written by Chloë Lawrence-Taylor and directed by Lucy Morrison, is an unapologetic depiction of grief and isolation through the lens of two estranged sisters. Firstly, the set design (Naomi
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING★★★½Royal Shakespeare Theatre
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Royal Shakespeare Theatre ★★★½ “a refreshingly funny and modern production” Much Ado About Nothing is generally considered one of Shakespeare’s best comedies, because it combines elements of robust hilarity with more serious meditations on honour, shame and court politics. In this fun production at the Royal
SNOW WHITE: THE SACRIFICE★★★★★Sadler’s Wells East
SNOW WHITE: THE SACRIFICE Sadler’s Wells East ★★★★★ “pushes the boundaries of what is possible” It is a story that we grew up reading and watching. We think we know it well. Therefore, we have no reason to be uncomfortable for what we are about to witness. But we soon
DICK★★★Drayton Arms
DICK Drayton Arms ★★★ “The dialogue throughout is intricate and precise” Oh, to be young and free. To have one’s whole life ahead of you. Well, all is not as it seems. Dick is a powerful immersion into the dangerous desires of youth and the burden of potential – the
THE INSEPERABLES★★★Finborough Theatre
THE INSEPERABLES Finborough Theatre ★★★ “there is a lightness to this interpretation, and a guarded feel that at times shields its essence” Rather than her novels, Simone de Beauvoir’s most enduring contribution to literature are her memoirs. It is no surprise, therefore, that the novelist, philosopher and feminist activist’s works
THE RISE AND FALL OF VINNIE & PAUL★★★★The Glitch
THE RISE AND FALL OF VINNIE & PAUL The Glitch ★★★★ “Both actors possess exceptional singing voices — expressive, versatile, and emotionally charged” The Rise & Fall of Vinnie & Paul explores one of art history’s most infamous fallouts — the brief but intense period when, in the autumn/winter of
