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

Richard Greenberg  Directed by David Grindley★★★★ Pros: Storytelling at its best, aided by a wondrous cast.  Cons: The continuous melodrama may not appeal to all. Our Verdict: The American Plan is worth taking a look at. Passion oozes from the cast as the sun not only shines brightly over the Catskill Mountains, but also the stage at St. James Theatre.  Transferring from The Ustinov Studio at the Theatre Royal, Bath, The American Plan has now landed in London. St. James ...

Suzy AlmondDirected by Marie McCarthy★★★ Pros: An energetic cast, emotional stories and a wonderfully coordinated production which may have proved tricky for other directors. Cons: The script dragged towards the end and it was slightly confusing. Our Verdict: An innovative production in an amazing setting, highlighting the moving stories of those who seek solace in St Giles. The setting for When the Fallen Sang could not have been more magical. St Giles in the Fields is an ancient church near Tottenham Court Road ...

William Shakespeare, adapted by Edward Hall and Roger Warren Directed by Edward Hall★★★★  Pros: Excellent staging, music, acting, costumes… nothing falls out of place.Cons: Very few to be honest, but perhaps just short of the elusive fifth star!  Our Verdict: I have no doubt Shakespeare would feel proud to see the way his play is brought to life by Edward Hall and Propeller.  Courtesy of Hampstead Theatre All male Shakespearean company Propeller gives new life to Twelfth Night in this production. ...

Joel Horwood Directed by Jim Russell ★★★ Pros: Horwood’s four playlets are consistently funny, often poignant, and delivered by an enthusiastic and talented young cast. Cons: Some pieces were underdeveloped, causing confusion or requiring a little more length to be effective. Our Verdict: A charming and funny sequence of short plays which addresses experiences of loneliness from different angles and features a top notch ensemble.  Courtesy of Southwark Playhouse This month, the Southwark Playhouse presents an evening of short plays ...

William ShakespeareDirected by James Tobias★★★★ Pros: A talented cast who are up to the challenge of Shakespeare’s verse; well-conceived set design; flashy dance numbers to enhance the experience; the plays themes remain incredibly relevant.Cons: I felt the play dragged in places and could have used a bit more energy. Occasionally the noise from the adjoining pub distracts from the play’s more subtle moments. Our Verdict: An excellent production of one of the Bard’s lesser-known plays. The play’s dark and sinister themes ...

William Shakespeare Directed by Grassroots Shakespeare London ★★★★ Pros: A pacey, modern production with plenty of humour and excellent comic moments. There is a lot of really enjoyable character interpretation, which adds a colour and relevance to the script. Cons: In delivering the prose in modern voice and comic character, at times the diction was unclear and parts of the story were lost. The blind casting worked better for some characters than for others. Our Verdict: A very enjoyable version ...

Michael Harry Directed by Christopher Jefferies ★★★ Pros: A fun window into the world of Elizabethan acting and its famous historical characters. Cons: In an attempt to include interesting historical facts and insight, the script was clunky in places, giving the tone of a school history lesson. Our Verdict: A brilliant homage to the revered Samuel Beckett and his respected Waiting for Godot, as well as to the period and playwright to which we owe much of England’s theatrical gravitas. ...

Written and directed by Michael Harry ★★★ Pros: A fun and light nod to Alfred Hitchcock and his legendary cinematic oeuvre with just enough tongue-in-cheek perspective on the mild absurdity of some of his plots, themes and characters. Cons: In the attempt to ‘cram’ as ‘many classic scenes’ as possible into ‘a piece that should however stand up on its own’ (Michael Harry), the plot was less cohesive than I would have liked. Our Verdict: An entertaining piece that cleverly ...

Johan August Strindberg Directed by Zoe Thomas-Webb ★★ Pros: A fantastic script furnished by a clean and appropriate design are the highlights in this production. Cons: The sexual tension and gripping drama of Strindberg’s script are muted, making the action seem unfounded and unconvincing. Our Verdict: Strindberg’s classic exploration of the politics of desire, gender, and class is always worth checking out, but this particular version fails to take full advantage of what the script has to offer. Courtesy of ...

Presented by Pins and NeedlesPart of Imagine Watford 2013Lyric Hammersmith, Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, Watford Palace Theatre and Latitude productions★★★★ Pros: Containing lots of humour for young and old this is an enjoyable half hour of street entertainment. Panto-esque fun, music and clever use of costumes and props bring the story to life and keep it upbeat and pacey.Cons: Just one– outdoor performance has taken its toll on the costumes and props which needed a good clean! Our Verdict: ...