English National Ballet School Summer Performance 2026 There was plenty of talent on display in Steps Toward Tomorrow, English National Ballet School’s summer performance, presented at the small Bloomsbury Theatre. Steps Toward Tomorrow consisted of five tailor-made pieces, followed after the interval by Act III of The Sleeping Beauty in simplified form – a […]
Songs of the Bulbul, Aakash Odedra Company
An Ancient Sufi Story Brought to Life in Dance The bulbul, or nightingale, is a central figure in Persian culture, its bewitching song representing a spiritual seeker, yearning for union with the divine. It is, then, particularly troubling that the ancient Sufi myth of the bulbul tells of the bird’s increasing confinement, so that its […]
London Dance Previews – July to December 2026
The Very Best of Dance to Look Forward To From Summer specials all the way to Christmas staples, the coming semester brings an abundance of dance, both national and international, to London. What follows is not an exhaustive list, but rather a selection of highlights – the shows that stand out from the crowd. Royal […]
London Children’s Ballet, Anne of Green Gables
Budding Ballet Dancers Charm and Delight Picture this: a hard-boiled critic, who has seen a lot of dance and over many years has been privileged to marvel at the talent of some of the greatest dancers in the world, sits in a darkened theatre with a goofy smile of sheer pleasure on her face. She […]
I Puritani – Royal Opera House
Oropesa is Transcendent as Elvira at Covent Garden It’s been 35 years since The Royal Opera last staged Vincenzo Bellini’s three-act I Puritani, a key work in the bel canto canon, so last night’s opening of Richard Jones’ new production was a big moment in the Royal Opera’s season. One of the key reasons for […]
Next Generation Festival #3
ENB School/John Cranko School – Two Schools, One Mission Collaborations often work by throwing up the unexpected. We saw an example of great cross-fertilisation in the previous Next Generation 2026 programme, when ZooNation Youth Company joined forces with dancers from Memphis, USA, and Memphis Jookin’ pioneer Lil Buck to reimagine history through the lens of […]
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Regent’s Park Theatre
Rock and Roll Shakespeare Reaches Music Festival Heights “Sound, music! Come, my queen, take hands with me,And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.” Perhaps it’s not surprising that A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been performed at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre more than 50 times since its first production there in 1933. The sylvian […]
Springwood – Hampstead Theatre
The hot dog summit Springwood, which has just opened at Hampstead Theatre, is a historical drama that tells the story of the 1939 meeting at Franklin (Robert Lindsay) and Eleanor (Jemma Redgrave) Roosevelt’s New York estate, Hyde Park, with King George VI (Andrew Havill) and Queen Elizabeth (Rebecca Night). The King hopes to garner American […]
London Theatre Previews, July – December 2026 – Off West End
Clue in to the theatre scene as the days shorten There’s a lot to be excited for on London’s ‘Off West End’ scene in the second half of 2026. From big-name performers like Tilda Swinton and Josh O’Connor to community productions celebrating London’s history, we’ve curated a selection of standout ‘Off West End’ shows not […]
South Bank and Bankside Theatre Previews 2026 (July–December)
A guide to theatre on the Thames in the second half of 2026 London’s South Bank and Bankside scene kicks into gear in the second half of 2026. From sprawling Greek tragedies to an intimate portrayal of Jazz Age London, we’ve curated a selection of standout South Bank and Bankside productions not to be missed as the days get shorter. […]