Shakespeare’s The Tempest Through Caliban’s Eyes I had high expectations of We Caliban, which has arrived at Sadler’s Wells East as part of a UK tour, because the work of choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh is never less than interesting. Her ceaselessly inquisitive mind burrows under the surface of her subjects to come up with fresh, challenging perspectives, […]
Between the River and the Sea
Personal politics on stage at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs ‘I’m not going to talk about October 7, I’m not going to talk about the war in Gaza. I’m going to talk about my divorce,’ Yousef Sweid informs the audience in his opening paragraph. The audience laughs – partly relieved and partly amused – because the play’s […]
LIVE AT CHELSEA at the Royal Hospital Chelsea June 2026
Step Back into the ’80s with Live At Chelsea If you grew up in the ’80s like me, you’ll have fond memories of its iconic pop culture, and there’s no better way to indulge them than with Live At Chelsea, running from 10–14 June. Set in the historic Royal Hospital Chelsea, home to the world-famous […]
Wayne McGregor, Alchemies, The Royal Ballet
A Trio of McGregor Works Old and New The Royal Ballet’s latest triple bill, Alchemies, showcasing the work of its resident choreographer Wayne McGregor, consists of a little gem bookended by two difficult works. The gem is Yugen, created in 2018 as part of the Leonard Bernstein centenary celebrations. Either side of it comes […]
Dorrance Dance, The Centre Will Not Hold
A Genre-Busting Celebration of Dance The American Michelle Dorrance made her name as a tap dancer extraordinaire, not quite in the elegant mould of Fred and Ginger, but rather more physical, more street, more of our times. She’s always relished collaboration with other dance forms and has recently been seen at Sadler’s Wells as one […]
International Draft Works 2026
Emerging Choreographic Voices at the Linbury International Draft Works is undoubtedly a good thing. A Royal Ballet initiative in collaboration with a number of international companies, every year it brings to London emerging choreographers from across the globe to meet, share ideas and showcase their work. The 2026 edition once again validated the project, offering […]
Brighton Festival
Brighton Celebrates the Arts with a Wide-Ranging Festival A sprawling jamboree of arts and entertainment, the Brighton Festival returns to the city and surrounding areas in May for its 60th edition, bigger and better than ever before. Music, both classical and popular, circus, dance, literature, visual arts, you name it, all will be there vying […]
Birmingham Royal Ballet, Don Quixote
A Look-Ahead to a Sunny, Joyous Ballet Undoubtedly one of the sunniest, most joyous and amusing ballets in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s repertoire, Don Quixote is weaving its magic across the UK in a tour that will end at Sadler’s Wells in late April. BRB dance Carlos Acosta’s vibrant, boisterous production of the 19th century classic […]
Kontakthof – Echoes of ’78
Veteran Pina Bausch Dancers Reimagine a Landmark Work The late great German choreographer Pina Bausch created Kontakthof for Tanztheater Wuppertal in 1978. At about three hours’ length, it was, like so much of Bausch’s output, an expressionist piece of dance theatre – truth to tell, always more theatre than dance – focusing on human interactions […]
Copenhagen – Hampstead Theatre
A lesson in quantum mechanics, ethics and human connection With wars breaking out around the globe and the geopolitics unsteady, the reprisal of Michael Frayn’s Copenhagen at Hampstead Theatre feels uncomfortably prescient. As bombings of nuclear facilities are shown on our news programmes, a play reflecting on the 1930s race to understand nuclear fission and […]