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

by Aorta Theatre Collective & Life ArtCo-directed by Rob Hale & Phan Y’LyScenography by Paul Burgess★★★ Pros: Instant connection with the audience by the performers. Language or culture differences ceased to exist. Cons: The show requires comprehensive effort to enjoy it, due to the different performing techniques employed. Our Verdict: Intuitive and groundbreaking take on social norms and gender exploration. Very moving. Courtesy of Albany Theatre Stranger is a groundbreaking, abstract piece of improvised acting brought to the stage by ...

William Shakespeare Directed by Nicholas Hytner ★★★★ Pros: One of the clearest productions of Othello I have seen. Had the whole audience on the edge of their seat for the whole 3 hours and 15 minutes. Cons: Rory Kinnear plays Iago with an accent that doesn’t sit well for some reason. Our Verdict: Shakespeare’s finest characters played by Britain’s finest actors and helmed by one of theatre’s finest directors. Courtesy of The Independent We at Everything Theatre have seen quite ...

Tanika Gupta Directed by Kerry Michael ★★★ Pros: Slick, technically excellent and a text-book example of how to present a huge range of characters with very few actors. Cons: Hard to develop an emotional attachment to the piece.  Our Verdict: A gently enjoyable insight into a 35 year-old marriage where one partner makes a radical decision. Quite funny, extremely well executed, but lacking in tension which stops it from being truly engaging. Credit: Robert Day Love N Stuff is a ...

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.

William ShakespeareDirected by Michael Grandage ★★★★★  Pros: A lavish, contemporary, comical production with an outstanding cast. The relatable interpretation succeeded in bringing this play full of fairies and spells to a wide and appreciative audience. Cons: I’m grasping at straws, but Padraic Delaney as Oberon/Theseus is a little less commanding than I expected from the king of the fairies/Duke of Athens. Our Verdict: Grandage’s interpretation proves the timelessnes of Shakespeare’s writing. Don’t be put off if you are not a ...

Presented by Genesis Cinema★★★ Pros: The opportunity to see and influence the development of plays at their earliest stages. Cons: As there were no posters or anything in the foyer to indicate where the event was taking place, venturing there was initially a trifle unnerving. Our Verdict: A very enjoyable experience. Something to put in your diary each month. Courtesy of Genesis Cinema When I first arrived at the Genesis Cinema to collect the tickets, there were no signs or ...

Martin ForemanDirected by Emma King-Farlow★★★ Pros: The performers paint a powerful picture of longing, loneliness and regret that reaches deep within. Cons: Sometimes your mind wanders off because of the monologue-based structure of the play. Our Verdict: A production which has matured and improved since we last saw it. Courtesy of Lauren Wright Californian Lives is comprised of three different stories, each focused on the account of a nameless American character. Set in 1990s California, through a combination of monologues, ...

Jean-Paul SartreDirected by Felix Schaaf and Tom van der Klugt★★★ Pros: A very clever premise, and a surprisingly humorous take on Hell! Cons: Do not see this while there’s football on in the pub. Just. Don’t. Our verdict: Lively, well acted and interesting! Courtesy of White Bear Theatre The idea behind the play is a clever and modern take on Hell. Three souls arrive in the Inferno only to find the fires are not present – instead they are in ...

Judy Upton, Melanie Hunter, Camilla Whitehill and Wendy Thomson Directed by Tessa Shrubsall and Charlie Ely ★★★ Pros: An eclectic mix of light-hearted and serious insights into life in England with some laugh-out-loud moments. Cons: The four ten-minute plays didn’t manage to go beyond being rather cursory glances into what could have been interesting topics.  Our Verdict: A thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a night with friends and be introduced to some emerging young playwrights. Courtesy of Grey and Green ...

Carrie Byrne & Cat RosarioDirected by Natasha Markou★★ Pros: An honest portrayal of life with the refreshing reminder that the good guy doesn’t always win. Cons: The narrative lacked real punch. Our Verdict: This is a live performance with a cinematic feel and structure. It would perhaps translate better on screen to articulate subtle themes and ideas more clearly. Courtesy of The Bussey Building The world of internet dating opens up a field of great material for the screen and stage ...