Roz Wyllie Directed by Caitlin McLeod ★★★ Pros: Timely look at the world of the privileged few. Cons: Not really sharing anything new. Our Verdict: An enthusiastic bunch of young and brave performers. Courtesy of Almeida Theatre I was very impressed by this cleverly devised performance that explores social inequality and the world of private education. The Young Friends of the Almeida company, working alongside a professional team, are clearly the best placed to present a play that deals with the experience ...

Alice BirchDirected by Lucy Morrison★★★★ Pros: Insightful play about female camaraderie in prison that is as rich as reading a book. Cons: Lack of context at the start isn’t helpful. Verdict: A powerful, moving, warm and magical piece set simultaneously in a prison and on the beach, underneath a mangrove tree. A theatrically skilful treat. Courtesy of Clean Break Little on the Inside is enormous on stage. This is a two-hander about a prison friendship between a pair of women. ...

Andy Smith and Tim CrouchDirected by Karl James★★★★ Pros: Simple, hilarious and entirely relatable with a great connection between the two performers. Cons: May prove too simplistic for some. Our Verdict: A cozy little performance that felt intense yet somehow lighthearted, all at the same time. The Almeida Theatre was decked out in astroturf and plastic daisies as I entered. Done especially for the Almeida Festival, I was loving the cool, outdoorsy feel as I stepped out of the hot ...

Lucy Kirwood Directed by Lyndsey Turner ★★★★★ Pros: An excellent script addresses some fascinating issues, with top-notch performances and a stunning set. What more could you ask for?! Cons: At over 3 hours the play is long, but to be honest I don’t know what you could lose – I really have no complaints. Our Verdict: I suspect this play is going to go down as one of the best new plays this year. I’d thoroughly recommend you try to ...

Rodney AcklandDirected by Matthew Dunster★★★ Pros: Some very funny characters, and excellent performances. Cons: The comedy was much more brilliant than the deeper character moments. Our Verdict: Certainly worth the trip for a fun evening out. Credit: Keith Pattison Having recently consumed four whole seasons of the IT Crowd, I found myself wondering why Katherine Parkinson (who plays Jen Barber absolutely brilliantly) has slightly disappeared off the map, in particular in comparison with the astounding successes of her co-leads. So ...

Based on the novella by Henry James Adapted by Rebecca Lenkiewicz Directed by Lindsay Posner ★★★★ Pros: A top class show with terrific production values, brilliant character development, extraordinary performances and genuinely terrifying horror effects. Cons: I have no issue with the production itself, however, the novella, written in 1898, suffers from decades of screen imitations, making a once original plot seem clichéd at times. Our Verdict: Everything about this play is top notch from the stunning set and wonderful ...