Molière Adapted by Compagnie de la Flibuste Directed by Clement de Dadelsen ★★★ Pros: An enjoyable production of Molière with some excellent costumes. Cons: The pace of the show sometimes feels a little slow. Our Verdict: A great way to get your fill of classic French theatre in English. Courtesy of Don Juan Cockpit The old saying, “You wait ages for a bus, then two come at once” sometimes applies in the most unusual circumstances. In my case, with Molière. ...

Sarah Daniels Directed by Bryn Williams ★★★ Pros: The strength of the play is in the three patients. By presenting individual stories it personalises the issue of mental health, which is otherwise too easy to ignore. Cons: A tough watch but it wouldn’t be succeeding if it didn’t make you squirm and question the judgement and treatment of such issues. Our Verdict: Written in the early 1990s it did feel a little dated. But maybe it makes for such uncomfortable ...

Presented by Smoking Apples Theatre & Little Cauliflower Theatre Company ★★★★ Pros: Extraordinary puppetry creates a real affection for Ted and I followed his story with interest and emotion. Cons: Some slight prop mishaps disrupted the magic temporarily. Our Verdict: A refreshing and un-judgmental look at disability and the effect it has on someone’s life. Courtesy of Smoking Apples Theatre Within a maze of streets behind Marylebone station is The Cockpit Theatre. The entrance reminds me slightly of a school ...

La Voix Humaine Jean Cocteau and Francis Poulenc Directed by Nikolas Sodiant Folie à Deux Jean Genet  Adapted by Two Tongue Theatre ★★★★ Pros: Two great performances, displaying a wide array of skills from both companies. Cons: Few to speak of. The interval between the plays could have been a little shorter. Our Verdict: A great double bill, accessible to French and English speakers alike. Great stuff from the Voilà! Festival. Courtesy of The Cockpit Voilà! is an annual French-language ...

Molière Tour de Force Theatre Company ★★★★ Pros: Great to see some theatre in French. Fabulous costumes and good performers. Cons: Perhaps some of the dance sequences could have been shorter. Our Verdict: A promising start to an exciting festival for French speakers in London. Courtesy of The Cockpit They say that London is the fifth biggest French city. That might seem like a confusing statement, so let me clarify: London is reputed to be the city which has the ...

William ShakespeareDirected by Nick Hastings★★★ Pros: The technical elements, including the music, sound effects, lighting and use of film are well crafted, and perfectly managed. Cons: Some of the cast sound like they are reciting lines, and not performing them. There is also an overuse of actions and hand gestures to try and convey meaning of the words. Our Verdict: This interpretation of Macbeth is very clear, and is intelligently applied to the story. However, it is questionable whether such ...

Leave your cynicism at the door and enjoy this fun and heart-warming new musical. It’s a treat the West End can’t match.

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, ...

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 ...

Conceived and directed by Guillaume Pigé ★★★★ Pros: Beautiful imagery, haunting original music, a showcase of first-rate physical performances. Cons: Might not be your cup of tea if you don’t like mimes! Without words, the story can be difficult to follow. Our Verdict: A beautiful piece of storytelling, featuring very skilled performers, that captures the magic of the circus. If you like physical theatre, go see it! Courtesy of The Cockpit The Little Soldiers is a mesmerizing tale told through ...