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 ...

This is a fun idea that is perhaps limited by resource.

A thoroughly British play and production with a charming cast, but the text feels outdated.

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

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 ...

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.

Cheap and cheerful: an easy and fun night out for kids and grownups of all ages.

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 ...