Does My Bomb Look Big in This? was born from actor Nyla Levy’s dissatisfaction with being typecast as a ‘jihadi bride’. It deals with teenager Yasmin’s (played by Levy) slow enticement into, what she thinks, is a hopeful new life for her with ISIS. There’s a meta aspect to the play, as it consciously acknowledges its theatrical form to put forward the story of Yasmin, and her best friend Aisha (Halema Hussain). The two play myriad characters, including their family ...

If you’re into dance, the Peacock should be on your radar. It plays host to some of the most original productions around, yes. But just as importantly, it gives you an up-close-and-personal view of that all-important footwork from virtually every seat in the house. This intimate vibe works particularly well for Beats On Pointe, a groundbreaking Australian dance show on the first stop of its world tour. It’s sold as ‘an electric fusion of street dance and ballet’. But that’s ...

The hierarchy between Othello (Peace Oseyenum) and the sneaky network of unfaithfuls beneath him/her (although the actors are female, the characters are still their original gender) is set up around the stairs, at the outset of the play, which wouldn’t be possible in a usual theatre. So, from the first moment, we feel the long, dark tunnel stretching out above and beneath us. This is a place of no escape, and as Othello descends the stairs, you get the feeling ...

The posters displayed around the always welcoming lobby of Waterloo East Theatre ask the questions “Love Kylie? Love the 90s? Love Soap?”. The worrying thing is I can confidently state the answer is “no” to two of these questions; as for the 90s, I have vague recollections of them, usually of being in some dark dingy venue watching long forgotten bands. So even before taking my seat I was a little concerned I was not the shows target audience. Thankfully ...

An eccentric, joyful celebration of musical theatre, Operation Mincemeat adds to the fine British tradition of clever people doing silly things in the name of entertainment.  The fact its poster image seems to borrow Monty Python stylings is surely no coincidence. Make no mistake, members of Spitlip, the musical theatre collaborative that write and perform, are very, very clever people.  The high-quality word play in the show’s songs is honestly worth the ticket price alone. Of course, Hamilton comparisons are ...

This production could easily be dropped into a West End venue

A funny, prescient and revealing drama that cleverly spins a big tale

Part game, part social experiment

A hugely funny and moving one-woman-show, wonderfully staged and my oh my, what a sexy lamp.

Well-made refugee drama that doesn’t need its abstract trimmings.