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

Written and performed by Phoebe Waller-BridgeDirected by Vicky Jones★★★★ Pros: An absolutely hilarious comedy which will have you laughing out loud. Waller-Bridge manages to captivate the audience’s attention for the duration of the story. Cons: If rude sex-related jokes don’t appeal to you then this production is most definitely not for you. Our Verdict: People with an open sense of humour will fast become fans of this production and I can’t wait to see what else Waller-Bridge has up her ...

Elizabeth Kuti Directed by Robert Price ★★★ Pros: Beautiful, subtle and thoughtful storytelling from three unique perspectives, each with an intriguing personal tale. Cons: The accents were – at first – heavy-handed and difficult to understand. The narrative, although clever and intricate, did not quite click together as satisfactorily as it could have. Our Verdict: A compelling story which, in trying to connect three seemingly disparate people through the ages, ends up brushing over plot points or making tentative references ...

William Shakespeare Adapted and Directed by Tom Latter ★★★ Pros: A dynamic and enjoyable adaptation of the classic Shakespeare comedy with some very good acting and innovative use of space. Fun costumes and an excellent theatre space. Cons: Some rushed transitions and a bit more running around than necessary detracted from the overall experience. Our Verdict: The 1950s Shakespeare East London adaptation is a great idea that gives this classic comedy a new life. The performance is fast and dynamic ...

John Webster Directed by Owen Horsley ★★★ Pros: Interesting staging and style, with engaging character portrayal and genuinely eye-opening moments. Cons: A sense that it was a bit rushed and the cast a bit inexperienced in dealing with this kind of piece. Our Verdict: A visually arresting and memorable production that’s a great way into this classic play. Courtesy of Eyestrings Theatre Company Ah Malfi: sun, sea, sand. Crazy boat trips. Shaving-foamed bananas. Drunk kids lying blissfully in their own ...

William Shakespeare Directed by Pamela Schermann ★★★★★ Pros: A fantastic adaptation of Shakespeare with a very poignant modern twist and a wonderful cast! Cons: There are a lot of physical limitations to the venue, including a lack of toilets. Our Verdict: A very interesting take on how something written so long ago still has devastating impact when considered in today’s society. Credit: Robert Piwko Pamela Schermann’s The Taming of The Shrew presents an interesting idea. Take the classic Shakespeare play ...

by Ann Henning JocelynDirected by Alex Dmitriev ★★★★  Pros: Play offers an insight into a little-known time in poet Ted Hughes’ life. Cons: Would have been nice to have a longer show! Our Verdict: A one-act play that packs an emotional punch. Courtesy of Jermyn Street Theatre Doonreagan takes place a few years after the death of Sylvia Plath – the famous American poet who committed suicide in the 60’s. Her husband, fellow poet Ted Hughes, has moved his children ...

by Oscar WildePresented by The Alchemic Order★★★ Pros: The combination of promenade theatre and “Dorian Gray’s private home” gives this piece something quite special. Cons: Conversations felt slow, the pauses between lines sometimes dragged. However this might have been because of last-minute-casting. Our Verdict: A different evening that will transport into the debauched upper echelons of Victorian society, albeit it is a little rough around the edges. Courtesy of Sebastian Lister and The Alchemic Order What do you do when ...

by Louise BrealeyDirected by Paul Hart★★★★ Pros: Everything about this piece is good – the writing, the acting, the setting, the lighting – it all works. Sophia Crawford’s performance is a highlight. Cons: Although atmospheric, church acoustics make voices echo so some dialogue is hard to catch. Our Verdict: This is wonderful theatre. It builds slowly, but provides a thoughtful look into an often-debated subject in history that still has relevance and shock value in today’s society. Courtesy of National Youth Theatre Given ...

by Ayndrilla SingharayDirected by Lucy Allan★★★★ Pros: Intense plot and acting filled with emotion and surprises, with an overwhelming ending. Cons: The slight over-acting made the scenes look too staged at times. Our Verdict: A gripping and haunting story about love and family, fantastic script and setting. I highly recommend it! Courtesy of Rosemary Branch Theatre Unsung is writer Ayndrilla Singharay’s reinterpretation of a short story by Rabindranath Tagore called Punishment. The original piece is set in a little village ...

Howard ColyerDirected by Sarah Marr and Scott Le Crass★★★★ Pros: Produced perfectly, performed fantastically, written engagingly. Cons: I did not really understand the point of the final play, Nothing Else Ever. Our Verdict: An enjoyable evening where I inhaled the riveting performances. Judging by the quality of these shows, Ballast Theatre is a company to watch out for. Courtesy of Brockley Jack Studio Theatre Although entitled Never Have I Seen Mount Fuji, this show was actually made up of three ...