Not your usual lovey-dovey rom-com; this is a comedy about people and relationships with themes of culture, religion and sexuality intertwined. Expect comedic realism.

Once this production gets going I defy anyone not to laugh – it's old fashioned panto-style humour at its best.

Farce is a really tricky genre and the director has yet to nail it down. I feel like the area between wacky and annoyingly over-the-top actually isn’t that big – this production may have got it wrong, but wasn’t miles away from the target.

If you’re willing to suspend your disbelief and go with the flow, you’ll be chuckling away.

This is an enjoyable and solid production – a good introduction to Shakespeare for those who do not wish to go endure a three hour show.

William ShakespeareAdapted and Directed by Ricky Dukes★★★★  Pros: The fantastic staging evoking a Venetian carnival with elements from The Godfather filtering through. Cons: The transition from the trial scene to the ending left me aching for a more intense performance on Shylock’s part. Our Verdict: A superbly presented, highly enjoyable and accessible take on one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Courtesy of the Brockley Jack Studio Theatre A new adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is running at the ...

Outrageous and dynamic parody on relationships, dating, marriage and meeting that special person.

Katerina Vrana Presented by Angel Comedy ★★★★★ Pros: Stand Up doesn’t get better than this. Intelligent content; expertly crafted humour; deliciously responsive audience dynamic and performance skill so good it actually hurts a little bit.Cons: Guilt. She’s not charging for this show. Verdict: I’ve seen a *lot* of stand-up comedy and Vrana’s set is one of the cleverest, funniest most skilfully delivered shows I’ve seen, ever. Courtesy of Angel Comedy Katerina Vrana’s stand up comedy set, Feta with the Queen, ...

Written and Performed by Rachel Mars Part of the Beyond the Joke Festival ★★★ Pros: Thoughtful and relevant subject matter delivered by a charming performer. Cons: Not all elements come together well, and several moments feel forced or contrived. Our Verdict: Not the feel-good romp it might initially seem, but a worthwhile and well-delivered exploration of the role of comedy. Courtesy of Rachel Mars Many people argue that irreverent humour is the most interesting, and while individual taste makes this ...

Richard BeanDirected by Nicholas Hytner★★★★★ Pros: Easily the funniest show in town, different-in-a-good-way to the original, Owain Arthur is ridiculously good, The Craze are still playing the music. Cons: None. Except for the fact that it gets out at the same time as Phantom of the Opera, forcing you to share limited pavement space with so-called ‘Phans’! Our Verdict: Still at the top of it’s game, it remains the must-see show in London. Courtesy of Alistair Muir for the Daily ...