Monster. Park Theatre.
Abigail Hood’s dark, troubling Monster is difficult to watch and relies on some unlikely narrative conceits, but the endeavour pays off. [...]
Lucinda Spragg: An Evening With. Rosemary Branch Theatre.
29 July 2022 Lucinda Spragg, the monstrous alt-right comedy character created by talented actor Grace Millie, has a simple message: “It’s [...]
Tom, Dick and Harry. Alexandra Palace Theatre.
The Alexandra Palace Theatre’s tribute to the heroes of The Great Escape has lashings of theatrical creativity, wit, and charm, but [...]
Chasing Hares. Young Vic.
Chasing Hares is a timely exploration of worker exploitation that looks nice and boasts some good ideas. If only the execution [...]
The Darkest Park Of The Night. Kiln Theatre.
Although the narrative does not always persuade, Zodwa Nyoni’s saga of a struggling family has skilled writing and two fantastic performances. [...]
Much Ado About Nothing. National Theatre.
Simon Godwin’s crowd-pleasing production at the National Theatre looks great and sounds fantastic, I just wish it was a bit funnier. [...]
A Plague On All Your House. Riverside Studios.
Marcia Kelson’s A Plague on All Your Houses works better as historical reflection than comedy, but there are things to enjoy. [...]
Jack Absolute Flies Again. National Theatre.
The National Theatre’s delightful, laugh-out-loud tribute to the Battle of Britain generation deserves to be one of the hits of the [...]
Patriots. Almeida Theatre.
Patriots, Peter Morgan’s timely new work about the rise and fall of Boris Berezovsky is blessed with two stand out performances. [...]
The Southbury Child. Bridge Theatre.
The Southbury Child is a sporadically good play even if it feels, rather like the institution it contemplates, a bit anachronistic. [...]
Favour. Bush Theatre.
For all its charm, Ambreen Razia’s drama about three generations of women in a British Asian family never quite takes off. [...]
Invisible. Bush Theatre.
Nikhil Parmar’s comedy monologue about the near-invisibility of black and brown actors has oodles of charm and packs a hefty punch. [...]
The Fellowship. Hampstead Theatre.
Roy William’s interrogation of being Black and British in 2022 works well, both as troubled family drama and mature political reflection. [...]
Evelyn. Southwark Playhouse.
Tom Ratcliffe’s Evelyn has some interesting things to say about vigilante mentality, but they are drowned out by unlikely plot contrivances. [...]
Mad House. Ambassadors Theatre.
Fantastically charismatic performances by Mad House’s two leads cannot conceal the flaws, contrivances, and contradictions in Theresa Rebeck’s disappointing comedy drama. [...]
Mulan Rouge. The Vaults.
The Vault’s Mulan Rouge is an unexpectedly enjoyable dinner-show cum cabaret mash-up that delivers a fun, friendly, and highly inclusive night-out. [...]
That Is Not Who I am. Royal Court Theatre.
That Is Not Who I Am is a partially-successful exploration of how the internet conspiracy theories can overwhelm seemingly normal lives. [...]
A Doll’s House, Part 2. Donmar Warehouse.
Hang on to your mutton-chop whiskers Torvald because the bitch is back. Hnath’s homage to Ibsen captures the original’s zeitgeist perfectly. [...]
Jitney. The Old Vic.
Jitney is not the best of August Wilson’s Pittsburgh cycle, but the Old Vic’s excellent cast draws out all its strengths. [...]
Tony! Park Theatre.
Harry Hill and Steve Brown’s satire on the Blair years has some watchable moments but feels two decades out of date. [...]
The Still Room. Park Theatre.
Sally Rogers’ highly watchable debut comedy has some great lines and gets the early 80s tone of seedy decay just right. [...]
Rainer. Arcola Theatre.
Wilkinson’s one-woman show about a delivery rider boasts a great performance, but the story is thin, and the ending feels hackneyed. [...]
The Haunting of Susan A. Kings Head Theatre.
Mark Ravenhill’s entertaining new play at the King Head Theatre is part ghost story and part homage to the venue itself. [...]
Britannicus. Lyric Hammersmith.
Wertenbaker’s 2011 adaptation of Racine’s masterwork Britannicus feels fresh and urgent in Atri Banerjee’s stonkingly good revival at the Lyric Hammersmith. [...]