We Started To Sing. Arcola Theatre.
Barney Norris’ biographical homage to his parents and grandparents has charm, but lacks momentum and tension, and feels strangely unfinished. 24 [...]
The House Of Shades. Almeida Theatre.
Beth Steel’s exploration of secrets and lies in three generations of a Northern working-class family is made magnificent by Anne-Marie Duff. [...]
The Father And The Assassin. National Theatre.
As an exploration of a killer’s mind ‘The Father and The Assassin’ disappoints. As history lesson it packs a hefty punch. [...]
Lotus Beauty. Hampstead Theatre.
Satinder Chohan’s slice of Asian women’s life, set in a Southall beauty salon, is a richly observed and immaculately performed gem. [...]
My Fair Lady. London Coliseum.
Bartlett Sher’s marvel-filled, crowd-pleasing revival adds deft modern touches without losing sight of what makes My Fair Lady a musical masterpiece. [...]
The Lift. Southwark Playhouse.
Southwark Playhouse’s revival of Craig Adams and Ian Watson’s 2012 musical, The Lift, makes for an enjoyable if sometimes puzzling 90-minutes. [...]
The Breach. Hampstead Theatre.
Naomi Wallace’s dark, joyless debut at the Hampstead is sunk by awkward dialogue, an unlikely plot, and an absence of tension. [...]
House of Ife. Bush Theatre.
Beru Tessema’s slice-of-family-life debut play, set in the aftermath of an addict’s untimely demise has fantastic dialogue and great performances throughout. [...]
Marys Seacole. Donmar Warehouse.
Jackie Sibblies Drury’s polemic is a thought-provoking take on black women’s lives - just don’t expect a biography of Mary Seacole. [...]
The End of the Night. Park Theatre.
Writer Ben Brown has found something of a niche in creating solid, efficient, and informative dramatic reconstructions of real-life historical encounters. [...]
Middle. National Theatre.
David Eldridge’s two-hander on the incipient collapse of a marriage feels unbaked, despite solid performances from Daniel Ryan and Claire Rushbrook. [...]
La Boheme. Kings Head Theatre.
Mark Ravenhill’s much reduced 90-minute version of Puccini’s best work transposes the action from 1830’s Paris to a grim modern-day London. [...]
Scandaltown. Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.
Bartlett’s restoration-style satire on wokeness at the Lyric Hammersmith lacks bite but has enough wit to offer an engaging evening out. [...]
The Corn Is Green. National Theatre.
This heavily biographical interpretation of Emlyn Williams’ play is a bold and striking reflection on the nature of writers and writing. [...]
Cabaret. Playhouse Theatre.
Rebecca Frecknall’s production of Kander and Ebb’s magnum opus is so good that all future versions should be measured against it. [...]
Cinderella. Gillian Lynne Theatre.
Despite top-quality production and a stunning coup de théâtre at the beginning of the second half, Cinderella does not sustainably impress. [...]
Another America. Park Theatre.
Bill Rosenfield’s, Another America, is a charming if somewhat misty-eyed, road-trip that sees three likeable characters bike across the American hinterland. [...]
Bonnie & Clyde. Arts Theatre.
Nick Winston’s Arts Theatre revival of fan favourite Bonnie & Clyde is a full-on crowd-pleaser that looks ravishing and sounds great. [...]
Anyone Can Whistle. Southwark Playhouse.
There is much in Southwark Playhouse’s revival of Sondheim’s ‘Anyone Can Whistle’ to get confused about, but also plenty to enjoy. [...]
Wolf Cub. Hampstead Theatre.
Ché Walker’s Wolf Cub cannot quite decide whether it wants to be about Reagan’s America, or a feral child gone bad. [...]
Persuasion. Alexandra Palace Theatre.
This witty, creative, and hugely entertaining modern-day take on Jane Austen’s classic novel is a complete delight from start to finish. [...]
The 47th. Old Vic.
The 47th explores what might happen in the run-up to a bitterly conflictive 2024 presidential fight between Trump and Kamala Harris. [...]
Black Love. Kiln Theatre.
Nicholle Cherrie’s powerhouse central performance and some clever writing by Chinonyerem Odimba flatters a story that is unecessarily thin on characterisation. [...]
Zorro. Charing Cross Theatre.
The Charing Cross Theatre’s new production of musical Zorro is an over-directed mishmash that comes across as strangely lacking in self-confidence. [...]