Northern Ballet Revives Two Works Alongside a Brand New Piece The programme that opened Northern Ballet’s short residency at the Linbury Theatre is not quite the programme that will be shown in subsequent performances. This is because Northern Ballet and The Royal Ballet used the first night as an opportunity to to pay homage to […]
The Standard of Living
The Cost of Happiness Last night saw the world premiere of James Graham’s new play The Standard of Living at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. It tells the story of superstar economist John Maynard Keynes, a man whose achievements in his field would be extraordinary enough, but whose personal life was intertwined with that of the radical […]
Ballet Nights 012, The 3rd Birthday Programme
Ballet Nights Marks Anniversary with a Characteristically Eclectic Bill Stars and newcomers, classics and world premieres, dancing and music, all steered by an amiable compère – yes, Ballet Nights is back with its usual eclectic mix, breathing fresh life into the gala format. Inevitably, while some acts hit the sweet spot, and how! a few […]
Olympia Open House – Kensington
Gain insight into Heatherwick’s latest creation Kensington Olympia was part of the Open House festival this month. Thomas Heatherwick’s designs have become some of the UK’s most recognisable exports. With his studio’s work being built across the world, some of his most famous designs are still back home. The Routemaster redesign, now being phased out, […]
Table 17 – Kiln Theatre
A sassy, date-night rom-com, but does it have the bite? Table 17 comes to London after successful runs in New York and L.A. It is now served up to UK audiences at the Kiln Theatre, which is transformed via a versatile set into Bianca’s restaurant, the centrepiece of which is the eponymous Table 17. Before […]
English National Ballet, Rhythm Riot
Rhythm Riot combines versatility and explosive energy Vitality, superhuman energy, and above all rhythm – these are the keywords of English National Ballet’s latest triple bill, aptly named Rhythm Riot, which has just started a week-long residency at Sadler’s Wells. Three very diverse choreographers, three composers and two world premieres made for an entertaining […]
Tosca from Oxford International Opera
A Full-blooded Tosca Debut for Oxford International Opera Starting a new regional opera company in an era of swingeing cuts to the art form is a high-risk undertaking. But the team behind Oxford International Opera’s full-blooded performance of Puccini’s Tosca last night deserve their flowers for a highly successful opening night at Oxford’s New Theatre. […]
Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists – Dorfman Theatre
Portuguese play presents urgent political and moral dilemmas Part drama, part philosophical debate, and full-scale politics, Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists, playing at the Dorfman, National Theatre for one week, is a Portuguese play with English surtitles, that has been causing a storm since it was first performed in 2020. Written and directed […]
Dance Umbrella 2026
London’s International Festival of Dance Returns to Stage and Screen Dance Umbrella has been bringing both established and experimental dance to London every year for almost half a century. Over that period, the annual festival has necessarily evolved, gradually moving away from established companies to shift its focus to boundary-busting artists, whose work sometimes stretches […]
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Sadler’s Wells
Pioneers of Contemporary Dance Enthrall with New and Legacy Works There are many reasons why New York-based Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of the best-loved contemporary dance companies in the world: the impeccable, expansive technique of its dancers, the joy they bring to everything they do, the variety and inventiveness of its repertoire, […]