All is not so merry in this brand-new take on one of Shakespeare’s beloved comedies. The Merry Wives of Windsor has long been considered a frothy comedy of limited proportions, but this new production adds a layer of depth and sincerity to what is otherwise a pure romp of a play. As associate artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe, Sean Holmes is no stranger to the Bard’s comedies, and this production showcases a director indisputably working in their element – even if everything is covered in a luminous green paisley print.
Girl From The North Country
When writer and director Conor McPherson was approached to write a theatrical production using the songs of Bob Dylan, he had never before created a musical. The Girl From The North Country was the result, and since it premiered at The Old Vic in 2017, it has travelled to three continents and garnered multiple Tony and Olivier awards.
Il Trovatore – Royal Opera – Covent Garden
The Royal Opera’s revival of Verdi’s Il Trovatore, directed by Adele Thomas and first unveiled in 2023, returned to the stage last night. This is a production that divides opinion: a theatrical ‘marmite’ that some hail for its dramatic aesthetic, while others contend that the staging detracts from the opera’s emotional heart
NOUGHTS & CROSSES Regent’s Park Theatre
There was something quietly powerful about settling into my seat beneath the open sky at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre for the opening night of Noughts & Crosses – a story that has left an indelible mark on so many, myself included.
Rodelinda – Handel – Garsington Opera
With sublime arias, poignant duets, and gripping drama, Rodelinda showcases Handel at his finest—blending musical brilliance with timeless human themes. This critically acclaimed production at Garsington Opera brings fresh intensity and theatrical flair to a rarely staged masterpiece.
Jurassic World: The Experience at Battersea Power Station
As we made our way through the sleek riverside development at Battersea Power Station, my three young companions – aged 8, 11 and 14, were quietly fizzing with anticipation. Jurassic World: The Experience had promised an immersive encounter with life-sized dinosaurs, and even the most sceptical among them couldn’t quite conceal their curiosity.
Wilko: Love and Death and Rock and Roll
The Canvey Island Mozart is Reborn Just over a week ago I was reviewing Pete Townshend of The Who’s Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet, at Sadler’s Wells. Tonight is the press night for Wilko: Love and Death and Rock and Roll, which is having its latest run at the Leicester Square Theatre. It’s a biographic play […]
Les Indes Galantes – The Grange Festival
A rarely seen duo has pitched up at The Grange Festival this summer. Baroque opera meets Hip-Hop choreography in the first full staging of Rameau’s Les Indes Galantes in the UK. Presented here as a ‘choreographed concert’, complete with four soloists, a 25-piece orchestra, choir, and a team of at least 20 dancers, the overall result transforms Rameau’s exploration of cupid’s unexpected sting into a fascinating display of movement in devotion to music. Undoubtedly difficult to stage, this production manages to walk the line between brilliant and bonkers.
Evita the Musical – London West End 2025
Over four decades on, its exploration of celebrity, populism and power feels sharper than ever, especially in the hands of director Jamie Lloyd, who strips it back to its core and exposes its enduring, uneasy relevance.
Le Nozze di Figaro – Glyndebourne 2025
Glyndebourne’s 2025 staging of Le Nozze di Figaro marks a historic moment for the opera house, deepening its long-standing connection to Mozart’s comic masterpiece. First performed at the inaugural Glyndebourne Festival in 1934 and revived countless times since, Figaro returns in a new production helmed by French director Mariame Clément—the first woman to direct the opera at Glyndebourne.