Neil LaButeDirected by Samuel Miller ★★★ Pros: Some very good acting with strong and clearly identified character development. Cons: Not the most exciting play, and the subject matter felt a bit dated. Our Verdict: A safe and solid production with a good narrative arc, but which failed to build up to an satisfying finish. At school, we used to have to go to church every week. One time, after singing a particularly inane hymn, I slumped back down onto the ...

Terrence McNally Directed by John Fricker ★★★ Pros: Intense and original crucifixion scene; with Judas reading a passage from the gospels while Texan rangers take Jesus to the cross. Cons: A little rough around the edges with the mix of modern and classic clashing at points. Our Verdict: A different Christmas experience. Brave and gutsy in its interpretation of the gospel, with warm performances from the cast. Credit: OutFox Productions The Space is an old Victorian church transformed into a ...

This show will astound you. Whether it’s the immersive set, divine rhythmic ebbs and flow, the very truthful basis of the show or the raw shock of unfolding events.

William Shakespeare Directed by Kat Wootton ★★★★ Pros: A wonderful twist on a famous classic. This is a great idea that is very well executed. Cons: The venue feels more like an oven and some accents are a bit questionable. Our Verdict: Enjoyable, accessible, fresh and lively Shakespeare. Courtesy of The Lion & Unicorn Theatre Kat Wootton took a big gamble on the subject matter for Hamlet at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre. We all know Hamlet, but for her ...

A thoroughly British play and production with a charming cast, but the text feels outdated.

Stan’s Cafe ★★ Pros: It was interesting to hear of the views of Burton on cures for and causes of melancholy – some of which were surprisingly modern. Cons: A long performance with not enough to sustain interest and fully engage the audience. Our Verdict: A difficult performance that still feels like a work in progress. At 2hours 40 minutes it could be significantly shorter while retaining the overall content. Credit: Graeme Braidwood I do not usually research a production’s ...

SophoclesAdapted by Timberlake WertenbacherDirected by David Mercatali★★★ Pros: Thought provoking and deeply meaningful script, raising questions of life and death whilst making a mockery of modern warfare. Star-filled cast makes it feel less Fringe and more West End. Cons: The dialogues don’t quite manage to glue together and some characters seem to appear just out of the blue. A handful of funny anachronisms. Our Verdict: A blood-soaked adaptation of a Greek classic with a stellar cast. Despite some plot gaps, ...

Hannah Silva Directed by Hannah Silva ★★★★ Pros: Brilliant and engaging performances and beautiful, if challenging, script. Cons: Structure was at times too abstract and lacked clarity. Our Verdict: A brave and forceful examination of mental illness that has its audience sinking into a confusing, troubling dream-like landscape. Courtesy of Hannah Silva Blog The Disappearance of Sadie Jones’ subject matter of a young woman struggling with her mental illness is a tough one to tackle, so kudos to writer and ...

Charles DickensPresented by Brother Wolf Adapted and Performed by James Hyland★★★ Pros: Incredible acting from James Hyland brings the story to life. I could visualise every scene despite minimal set. Cons: I expected a slightly different perspective on the classic tale as suggested by the production’s subtitle (“As told by Jacob Marley”) but found it to be a fairly traditional telling. Our Verdict: A classic tale, cleverly told with one actor portraying all the characters. However, room for further interpretation ...

Robert Louis Stevenson (Adapted by James Hyland) Directed by Phil Lowe★★★★★ Pros: This one-man show is incredibly demanding and physically taxing with multiple characters and non-stop dialogue. Award-winning actor James Hyland proves how talented he is, and sets a very high standard for theatrical performance. Cons: This not-to-missed production has a very short run: one night at the Tara Theatre. Our Verdict: James Hyland knows exactly what he’s doing and it’s a pleasure to watch someone with this incredible level ...