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

James SaundersDirected by Matthew Parker★★★★ Pros: The tone of the mid twentieth century was conveyed and performed beautifully. Cons: The show moved too quickly in the beginning, making it a bit hard to follow. Our Verdict: The trinkets of anguish in Zoe’s life are bought together fantastically by DogOrange theatre company, examining the true pitfalls of heartbreak. The audience is taken back to a recent but long-forgotten past. Courtesy of Brockley Jack Studio Theatre I always look forward to shows at the intimate ...

J B PriestleyDirected by Alex Marker★★★★  Pros: The post-apocalyptic British setting is intriguing. Strong character development, interwoven storylines and vivid imagery give the play a lot of interest and energy. The production standard is excellent and the stage direction is fantastic for such a small space. Cons: Written in 1949 and set in 1975, some aspects of the play are a little dated and naïve. Some of the characters are over-romanticised which leaves them a little contrived and insincere. Our ...

William Shakespeare Directed by Scott Ellis ★★★ Pros: A mesmerising performance from Simon Grujich in the title role, a fast-paced evening, and a refreshingly clear and back-to-basics approach to the most well-known play in the English language. Cons: I felt that the final scene was not as moving as it should have been and that the supporting cast were outshone by Grujich’s performance.  Our Verdict: This is a solid production that uses simple and effective staging to foreground Shakespeare’s text, ...

Simon Vinnicombe Presented by The Orange Line Collective ★★★★ Pros: Funny, truthful and touching. Cons: Perhaps at times the pace of the dialogue was a little frenetic. I was little disappointed by the lack of London imagery in the stage design. Our Verdict: An intelligently put together, poignant exploration of modern London-based love. Credit: Sam Swainsbury City Love, by emerging writer, Simon Vinnicombe expertly explores modern relationships. It tells the story of Lucy and Jim. They are alone in London; both ...

Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford Directed by Marianne Elliot and Tom Morris ★★★★★ Pros: A stunning play packed with emotion, talent and humanity. Cons: The ending moment perhaps lacked some of the emotion it had been built up to produce. Our Verdict: The play that theatre has been waiting for. Simply breathtaking. Credit: Brinkhoff/Mögenburg Michael Morpurgo wrote War Horse with the intention of telling the story of the First World War through the eyes of a horse, so that ...

Presented by Dirty Market Theatre★★★ Pros: Original, brilliantly funny, macabre, dark, bizarre, fantastical – get the idea? Cons: The plot is difficult to follow in parts but just go with the flow; you’re in other-worldly realms here in Hoxton. Our Verdict: Imagine Tim Burton directing an episode of Emmerdale whilst on an acid trip. Just go along with an open mind and let Dirty Market create their wonderful havoc.  Credit: Jemima Yong This Dirty Market production is in association with Camden ...

Colman DomingoDirected by Titas Halder★★★★★ Pros: Colman Domingo’s endless energy is contagious in this fun yet emotional piece. Cons: The concept is not original and the show doesn’t experiment with new ideas or new types of theatre. Our Verdict: A thoroughly enjoyable show which will get your feet tapping to some awesome tunes. You’ll leave with a smile on your face. Courtesy of tricycle.co.uk The basic premise of A Boy and his Soul has been seen on stage many times: ...

Part of the Deloitte Ignite Festival 2013 Written and performed by Simon Callow Directed by Simon Stokes ★★★★ Pros: Witty, well-pitched and refreshing taste of classical music.  Cons: It’s difficult to find any. Price of tickets is a little high given the ethos of the festival.  Our Verdict: An eloquently written, superbly performed and directed potted history of Richard Wagner. Courtesy of Royal Opera House  Straight up, I am no great listener of classical music. I have been to the ...

Alfred de Musset Translation by Peter Meyer Directed by: Martin Parr ★★★★ Pros: Wonderfully witty dialogue and brilliant performances. Cons: The punctuation of brief operatic interludes seemed a little out of place. Our Verdict: Great entertainment in an unusual setting makes for a special evening of theatre. Courtesy of The Osbourne Studio Gallery I was intrigued by the prospect of attending this show given that it is being staged in an art gallery in Belgravia rather than an auditorium. We ...

Maureen ChadwickDirected by Simon Evans★★★★ Pros: Creative, hilarious and unique, with a seasoned cast and great set. Cons: The plot arc felt quite abrupt, characters didn’t seem fully formed. Our Verdict: An innovative and thoughtful story of lost love as well as a relevant reflection on what it means to be a lesbian, a mother and a woman. It’s well worth your time! Credit: Catherine Ashmore Riverside Studios has a penchant for hosting excellent and varied new work, recently having ...