Ringing the Changes at the Bridge Nicolas Hytner’s prizewinning 2023 production of ‘Guys and Dolls’ at the Bridge Theatre, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, is getting refreshed. Some new cast members are being brought in so it seems like a good time to review. […]
Metamorphosis – The Lyric Hammersmith
Frantic Assembly’s Metamorphosis is a masterclass in physical theatre: Frantic Assembly are known in the business as physical theatre royalty. Renowned for their electric understanding of movement, Frantic has tackled everything from popular novels to John Osborne and Shakespeare. Now, with a new adaptation by Lemn Sissay and directed by Scott Graham, they’ve opted to […]
Pygmalion, Old Vic Theatre, Bankside
A Timeless Tale of Transformation and Social Commentary A blend of nostalgia and curiosity drew me to see the Old Vic’s production of Pygmalion, George Bernard Shaw’s renowned play originally penned in 1912. I wasn’t the only one keen to see it, as a dazzling turnout of stage and screen luminaries were out in force […]
Private Lives – Ambassadors Theatre, London West End
Noel Coward’s Private Lives Opens in The West End with a Cast of Consummate Pros Theatre veterans Patricia Hodge and Nigel Havers have come together in Noel Coward’s absurdist comedy of manners in a fizzing production of Private Lives that highlights the author’s trade mark acerbic wit and eye for hypocrisy. Coward himself and Gertrude […]
Henry V at Shakespeare’s Globe
War by candlelight The Globe’s winter season has opened with an intense Henry V for our times, in the intimate setting of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Starring Oliver Johnstone as Henry and directed by Holly Race Roughan, this co-production with Headlong gives us a psychological study of a king who is more neurotic than heroic. […]
Life Of Pi, Wyndham’s Theatre, London West End
A Journey of Theatrical Magic Life of Pi is a dazzling theatrical spectacle; a magical feast for the eyes that brims with imagination. Lolita Chakrabarti’s highly acclaimed stage adaption of Yann Martel’s Man Booker Prize-winning book which sold over fifteen million copies worldwide, premiered in June 2019 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield before transferring to […]
The Caucasian Chalk Circle – Rose Theatre
The Chalk Circle – An epic tale that stands the test of time. The Rose Theatre’s new production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle, adapted by Steve Waters and directed by Christopher Haydon, starts with an obvious contemporisation. The play-within-a-play construction opens to a refugee camp. The well-meaning but regulation-obsessed United Nations representative is trying to […]
Eureka Day at the Old Vic
Jonathan Spector’s unnervingly timely play Eureka Day Jonathan Spector’s unnervingly timely play Eureka Day, directed with artful finesse by Katy Rudd, is an absolute joy – a tremendously funny, poignant and authentic portrait of human discourse amongst the liberal middle classes. Set in a progressive private day school in Berkeley, California, a school where everyone […]
The Comedy of Errors – Barbican – Review
Double trouble The RSC is back in town with its latest production of William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors for a six-week run at the Barbican. It arrives fresh from tour after first being staged outdoors in Stratford-upon-Avon during the summer season. I arrived at the Barbican harbouring a long-held soft spot for The Comedy […]
&Juliet – Review
Beyond Shakespeare – & Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre & Juliet is celebrating its second anniversary in the West End. It has been wowing audiences since it first opened in November 2019, going on to receive nine nominations for the Laurence Oliver Awards. This fresh and joyous musical directed by Luke Sheppard is a witty […]