Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond

Brendan Cowell Directed by Robert Shaw ★★★ Pros: This play has it all: comedy, drama, ups and downs. It will have you laughing at one moment and in tears the next. It is impossible to be bored. Cons: It takes a while to really understand the whys and hows of the characters. Until the pieces fall into place it feels a bit hard to let the play sink in.  Our Verdict: A completely different theatrical experience with multiple innovative elements. ...

James Baldwin Directed by Rufus Norris  ★★★★★  Pros: A unique and remarkable script, exceptional performances and gorgeous costumes with the best live jazz you’ll find in London town. Cons: Literally nothing. Our Verdict: We love the National and yet this production surpasses even its own high standards. This is an unforgettable evening of first class theatre. Courtesy of The National Theatre ‘Some of the congregation are sick in the body, some are sick in the soul.’ The Amen Corner has already ...

Anders Lustgarten, Paula B Stanic, Georgia Fitch, April De Angelis, Mark Norfolk Directed by Charlotte Westenra ★★★ Pros: The characters are well written and varied with good performances by the cast. The parallel recollections provide a textured view of the human story of the Blair years. Cons: The stories lack climax and the production fizzles out in the second act. It would benefit from a lot more humour. Our Verdict: Gets off to a strong start, with a sound concept, ...

Githa Sowerby Directed by Jonathan Miller★★★★  Pros: Strong and nuanced acting, especially the central performance of Rutherford, and a beautiful period set.  Cons: At two and a half hours long, the heavy storyline could be a bit too much for some. Our Verdict: Grim and somewhat old fashioned, it is a hard going-evening but still an enjoyable production with compelling performances. It is worth going to see if you like a period drama. Courtesy of St James Theatre Set in the ...

Rob JohnstonDirected by Andy McQuade★★★★ Pros: A truly original, deliciously dark and modern reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s gothic novel, with top-notch performances to boot. Cons: Dark lighting and less than ideal sightlines made it sometimes difficult to get the most out of the action, and audiences completely unfamiliar with the source material may feel a bit confused. Our Verdict: It’s a thrilling and chilling gothic piece brought to life by a diverse and talented cast – not one to miss! ...

Machiavelli, adapted by Howard Colyer Directed by Scott Le Crass ★★ Pros: A fun romp of a story. Cons: Limited depth of thought in this production. The script is played comically rather than as comedy. Verdict: Loosely enjoyable but ultimately not very satisfying. Courtesy of The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre When you enter the auditorium you see clever and elegantly designed dividing frames that suggest the creation of a vast array of locations and, in their sparseness, promise simple but ...

Rahila GuptaDirected by Guy Slater★★★★ Pros: The play gives the subject of caring for the disabled a personal dimension. Cons: The show may not sound like everyone’s cup of tea, but appearances are deceiving. Our Verdict: A one-woman show that taps into the fears and experiences of all parents. I don’t know about you, but when someone says, “Do you want to see a moving play about a parent with a Courtesy of the Cockpit disabled child?” it doesn’t necessarily ...

Good news theatre fans: we’re giving away some free theatre tickets again! We’ve teamed up with Hiraeth Artistic Productions again to give you a chance to win two tickets to see their production of Federico Garcia Lorca’s Blood Wedding at the Waterloo East Theatre, London. The tickets are valid for any performance between 12th June – 7th July 2013, subject to availability. As always with our competitions, there are absolutely no catches. We’re not going to sell your data to any third parties and we’re ...

Vertical Line Theatre Company ★★★★ Pros: A very enjoyable series of short plays to both amuse and entertain. Provides us with glimpses into our current world issues. Cons: A bit short on the production value, with a few kinks to iron out here and there. Our Verdict: Some fantastic new work, great for a fun night out! Complete with that great feeling of knowing you’re supporting up-and-coming talent. Courtesy of Vertical Line Theatre Company Watching new writing line ups can ...

Johan August StrindbergTranslated and Directed by Anna Ostergren★★★ Pros: The tension of the play is palpable throughout, making for exciting viewing. Cons: Some of the acting didn’t quite work for me. Our Verdict: A tense piece of work focusing closely and effectively on human relationships. While an hour isn’t necessarily long enough to engage with characters, Playing with Fire is a wonderfully tense production with extremely strong direction.  Tucked away just off of Gloucester Road, the Drayton Arms appears to ...