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

Why Can’t We Live Together Steve WatersDirected by Paul Bourne Somniloquy Craig Baxter, in collaboration with Richard HornerDirected by Paul Bourne How To BeginHisham Matar, in collaboration with Devorah BaumDirected by Patrick Morris   ★★★★ Pros: New writing performed with intelligence and heart. Cons: You could argue the sets were basic, but they were fit for purpose and the writing wasn’t reliant on an ornate backdrop. Our Verdict: A set of new plays and monologues that are worth making the effort to ...

Emma MinihanDirected by Jonathan Woodhouse and Rachael Owens★★★ Pros: Well written and funny. It will have you smiling throughout and not just because it’s free. Cons: The vehicle for linking the sketches is a bit odd and not very effective. Some stories are stronger than others. Our Verdict: A fun hour that will have you wondering about the sanity of city living. Courtesy of ayoungertheatre.com This little venue is tucked away in the basement of the Africa Centre on King ...

Devised and performed by Michael Pinchbeck, Nicki Hobday and Ollie Smith★★★★ Pros: A fascinating concept, nicely performed with lovely music. Cons: This is an abstract piece, very in keeping with BAC’s ethos, but unless you are a fan of contemporary art and theatre, this may not be for you. Our Verdict: A clever, touching and often funny piece. Enjoyable and well worth a look. Courtesy of Julian Hughes and Michael Pinchbeck What is a performer? What does it mean to ...

Shane BurkeDirected by Sasha Roberts★★★ Pros: Interesting story about a well-known wartime poet, with some good performances. Cons: The short length meant some aspects of the play seemed hurried and the interaction between characters a bit unnatural. Out Verdict: An enjoyable and insightful show in a venue which was a joy to discover. The great thing about London’s theatre scene is that even if you have been seeing several shows a Courtesy of Tea House Theatre month for several years, ...

Devised by ANTLER ★★★ Pros: Playful physical storytelling in abundance. Different from anything else in London at the moment. Cons: It’s a shame that not all the dialogue was audible. Our Verdict: An imperfect, but enjoyable archetypal fable. As I write this review, it is in the middle of a heat wave. This being the case, it does seem a little strange to Courtesy of Antler Theatre write about a play that’s set in a land permanently under a blanket of ...

Devised by GoforBroke Theatre Company in association with AXIS Arts.★★★ Pros: Funny and sometimes thought-provoking with good characterisation. Cons: Action a little laboured at times. Our Verdict: Solid debut for a new theatre group. Can we ever really know someone? Can we ever truly know how anyone’s mind works? If we can’t, is it Courtesy of The Union Theatre worth the risk? That’s what Go for Broke Theatre group provocatively ask their audience to consider. ‘Boohai’ is the debut production ...

Directed by Andris Liepa ★★ Pros: A nice evening for children with lovely dancing, bright costumes and panto characters. Cons: The whole night lacked coherence and some unfortunate technical hitches made everything a little stilted. Our Verdict: By no fault of the dancers, this company struggle to pull off a night of entertaining ballet. I didn’t really know what to expect when attending this performance. Courtesy of The London Coliseum There was a scant programme giving little away about the ...

Alex GwytherDirected by Tom O’Brien★★★★ Pros: A strong performance and script from Gwyther, even-handed direction from O’Brien, and a timeless, deeply human message. Cons: The diffusion of narrative focus devalues the stories of the two characters who underpin the text; several passages come close to being a cliché and the mild allusions to the architects of war might have carried more venom. Our Verdict: A combative one-man piece with a lot to offer. Our Friends, The Enemy enjoyed a successful run ...

by Immercity Theatre CompanyDirected by Rosanna Mallinson★★★ Pros: Another well thought out production by Immercity which provides many of the components for brilliant immersive theatre. Cons: If you haven’t done the research, I don’t think this works quite so well. If you have done the research, you may feel that what you have looked up isn’t expanded on as much as you’d have hoped. Our Verdict: Give it a go. Immersive theatre is a popular form of entertainment at the ...

Written and Performed by Erich McElroy★★★ Pros: Crammed with interesting facts, amusing comparisons and bawdy humour. Very well woven together. Cons: Light on his own content while relying too heavily on asides about the media. Our Verdict: An entertaining show which will have you smirking and sighing at the insanity of American politics. Courtesy of Erich McElroy It’s a warm summer evening so sitting in a basement of a Slug and Lettuce bar doesn’t feel that appealing – until Erich ...