Since its Broadway premiere in 1976, Pacific Overtures has become a surprising addition to the musical theatre canon. Telling the story of Japan’s isolationist foreign policy transformed in 1853 by the arrival of American forces was and is not traditional musical theatre fare. Nor is the manner of telling; writers Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman, … More PACIFIC OVERTURES – REVIEW – MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Spine-tingling yet heart-warming, Mark Gatiss’s retelling of A Christmas Carol truly encapsulates the haunting atmosphere of a Victorian ghost story, balanced out with enough humour so as to capture the festive season. Led by Keith Allen as Scrooge, with Peter Forbes as Marley, this show is perfect for Christmas viewing. The set design by Paul Wills is instantly captivating, … More A CHRISTMAS CAROL – REVIEW – ALEXANDRA PALACE
Peter Pan Goes Wrong first premiered in London at the Pleasance Theatre in 2013, and earlier this year the show made its Broadway debut. Now the production is back in the West End for the Christmas season. Following on from The Play That Goes Wrong, in this production, J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan is staged by … More PETER PAN GOES WRONG – REVIEW – LYRIC THEATRE
Roll up lubbers and walk those unshaven sea legs to the Puppet Barge, for Fisherman Jon is in port! With a charmingly toothless grin and inexplicably filthy rod, Coral Bevan’s sweet and scurvaceous title character is here for one good reason: to catch a fish. And it’s his lucky day — for tonight there are … More FISHERMAN JON: WHAT’S ON THE END OF MY ROD? – REVIEW – THE PUPPET BARGE
FLIP! takes the audience on an exhilarating journey into the intricate world of social media, examining the ever-evolving digital world. We meet Carleen and Crystal (Leah St Luce and Jadesola Odunjo), a content-creating duo and inseparable best friends, who desire to become famous influencers! Their latest post pushes boundaries, but on FLIP!, a new social … More FLIP! – REVIEW – SOHO THEATRE
Broadway and West End star, Rachel Tucker’s new album ‘…you’re already home’ is absolutely stunning, brilliantly combining theatre, pop and rock. This collection is designed to reflect, “the hard choices we sometimes have to make between family, home and career. The tracks reflect these different elements of our lives and the choices we make.” Produced … More RACHEL TUCKER ‘…YOU’RE ALREADY HOME’ – ALBUM REVIEW
Malevo, created by director, choreographer, and dancer, Matías Jaime, is an all-male dance troupe that has appeared on America’s Got Talent and Cirque du Soleil, and has residency in Disneyland Japan. Malevo performs its take on the Argentine Malambo, a traditional dance handed down from older Argentinian Gauchos (South American Cowboys). The 90 minute programme … More MALEVO – REVIEW – PEACOCK THEATRE
Kenneth Branagh’s King Lear succeeds in dressing a classic piece of theatre in a modern guise without losing its character. Many Lears have kept us on the edge of our seats over the years, each with their unique approach; Branagh’s take is sensitive, a slow decline into madness that threatens to break the viewer’s heart. He brings … More KING LEAR – REVIEW – WYNDHAM’S THEATRE
South African dance company Via Katlehong made their Sadler’s Wells debut in incredible fashion with Via Injabulo. In collaboration with Dance Umbrella, Via Katlehong partnered with two choreographers to create a two-part show that is powerful, thought-provoking, and awe-inspiring. Via Katlehong Dance Company was formed in 1992 by young street dancers living in the South African Township of Katlehong. The company … More VIA INJABULO – REVIEW – SADLER’S WELLS THEATRE
More than one critically acclaimed book has recently been brought to the stage, some with great success, others with lesser success. So it is safe to say that the stage adaptation of Eliza Clark’s debut novel Boy Parts was eagerly awaited, and it does not disappoint. The production at the Soho Theatre shows not only a fascinatingly … More BOY PARTS – REVIEW -SOHO THEATRE
“Then there’s the Heathers, they float above it all.” Dark, witty, and of course “beautiful”, Heathers really captures the heart of dark comedy in a way that makes it stand out from other musicals today. This UK and Ireland touring cast have brought a new take to the script (which many Heathers fans by now … More HEATHERS – REVIEW – NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE
It feels pertinent to preface this review with the disclaimer that I am not a football fan, nor do I profess to understand the so-called ‘beautiful’ game, and grew up without a team, in a family that was at best sceptical about the sport’s relationship with toxic masculinity and nationalism. Having said all of that, … More DEAR ENGLAND – REVIEW – PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE
A seemingly simple audio-visual experience which proffers a stunningly complex meditation on ideas of heritage and identity. Created by Keisha Thompson and directed by Nathan Powell, 14% is an immersive new play which explores football culture, identity, heritage, and modern England. For Thompson, football culture is a launchpad for discussions of identity and belonging. Thompson … More 14% – REVIEW – CONTACT MANCHESTER
Jamie Lloyd is known for his trademark minimalistic style of direction, with bare staging which allows the performances to truly shine. Sunset Boulevard is no exception. Based on the 1950 film, Don Black and Christopher Hampton’s book follows a young writer, Joe Gillis (Tom Francis) as he tells us the story of meeting Norma Desmond … More SUNSET BOULEVARD – REVIEW – SAVOY THEATRE
The Ocean at the End of the Lane is as deep as the sea; so rich in emotions that it is easy to get swept away by the tidal waves in this stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s book. It truly is a theatrical masterpiece, I have not seen anything like it in recent years. The Ocean at … More THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE – REVIEW – NOEL COWARD THEATRE
The kids are not all right. In what appears a campsite, a young man goes about his practical tasks. A rifle prominently propped up adjacent to him suggests he is engaged in hunting. His clothes disheveled and worn, his movements almost feral, the audience questions just what the situation is here, whether his presence in … More FELL – REVIEW – BARONS COURT THEATRE
Eloina’s High Steaks is a raw and honest show about the shame some feel about their labia. With the majority of labiaplasties being performed for purely cosmetic reasons in the present day, our schools failing to teach us about the uniqueness of everyone’s vagina, and the media only showing edited or surgically altered versions of … More HIGH STEAKS – REVIEW – JACKSON’S LANE ARTS CENTRE
All Aboard! At Termination Station, a show designed to de-stigmatizing the conversation around abortion and dedicated to women, is one of the most memorable things I saw at fringe, and definitely the most important. As I sat in anticipation in Bunker One, I listened to the news being played over about the Roe v. Wade … More ALL ABOARD! AT TERMINATION STATION – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE
“Mental illness is seldom a private affair. It bleeds out onto others. While it doesn’t spread as reliably as smallpox, it can easily consume a family and everyone around it.” Conceived in 2008, Next to Normal became the recipient of three Tony Awards and the prestigious Pulitzer Prize. Described not so much as “feel good” … More NEXT TO NORMAL – REVIEW – DONMAR WAREHOUSE
A show I was excited about purely because of its title, A Shark Ate My Penis is a one-man show by Laser Webber, that charts the mostly unpublicised history of trans men, as well as its relevance to Webber’s own gender experience. The show slots neatly between the genres of comedy, spoken word, and musical … More A SHARK ATE MY PENIS – REVIEW – EDINBURGH FRINGE
