Beccy Smith Directed by Darren East ★★★ Pros: Intimate setting, the original musical compositions and the beautiful, magical moments the show created. Cons: The performance was somewhat ephemeral, and both the narrative and the characters could have been stronger. In this instance, less might have been more. Our Verdict: A piece with great potential that needs further development in order to be truly immersive and captivating. Credit: TouchedTheatre Blue is an interactive mystery show that allows a small audience to ...

There is no story but for my money, that doesn’t matter. The singing is stunning, the dancing incredible and I dare anyone to come out of the theatre without a spring in their step and a smile on their face.

Erich SegalBook and lyrics by Stephen Clark Music and additional lyrics by Howard Goodall Directed by Joseph C. Walsh and musical supervision by Rob Archibald ★★★★  Pros: Evocative music, beautiful performances, symbolic and ingenious staging–the cast takes turns to play a piano that breaks to form the elements of stage. Cons: Too much profanity? (not even!). Our Verdict: Elegant and heart-breaking music, lyrics and performances –this production has it all! Courtesy of Tony Nandi ‘What can you say about a girl…? ‘ Based ...

Written and performed by Louise Orwin ★★★★  Pros: The serious and contemporary subject matter that affects all of us.  Cons: The show dragged at times, becoming repetitive and overstating points.  Our Verdict: A timely, powerful performance exploring the brutal digital world of teenage girls.  Courtesy of Louise Orwin The question “am I pretty or am I ugly?” is the premise of Louise Orwin’s Pretty Ugly, which explores a disturbing online trend in which teenage girls post videos and photos of ...

Somalia SeatonDirected by Dawn Reid★★★ Pros: Crowning Glory is dynamic, versatile, and unapologetic in its exploration of beauty and identity. Cons: The show concentrates on very specific experiences and may at times feel alienating to some audience members. Our Verdict: Crowning Glory is a worthy and polished navigation through topics of beauty and identity, combining humour, passion, and style with expertise. Courtesy of TRSE and Sharron Wallace Somalia Seaton’s Crowning Glory is a play about owning yourself. Through a series ...

Nic Green ★★★★ Pros: Nic Green’s absolute vivacity; a ferocious performer, sparkling with creativity and life. Cons: On a practical level, having a group of audience members reading previously unseen lines in unison meant that the words were sometimes unclear, and some of the meaning gets lost. Our Verdict: One to see if you like feeling fully immersed in a very personal performance. Credit: Battersea Arts Centre Every trip to Battersea Arts Centre is an adventure. They say it themselves ...

Michael Bradford  Directed by Prav MJ★★★ Pros: A cleverly constructed play in a great venue that may have you longing to visit Spain to soak up some history and culture. Cons: I would have liked more detail and depth in the depiction of Lorca but all the facts and characters presented were necessary to illustrate the events so maybe it’s a good incentive to go and do some personal research. Our Verdict: A well-rounded, entertaining and informative evening that somehow ...

James Martin CharltonDirected by Terence Mann★★★★ Pros: An enthralling and colourful look into the private life of one of the most well-known and celebrated actor/playwrights of the 20th century. Excellent characterisation by all three actors, particularly of Noël Coward himself (played by Jake Urry). Cons: As a speculation about Noël Coward’s life and not a biographical dramatisation, there were certain story elements that, while adding to the sympathy for certain characters, did not make immediate sense in the over all ...

A very impressive one-man show that is funny, smart, and moving.

William Shakespeare Directed by Zoé Ford  ★★★★ Pros: A bold production bursting with energy.  Cons: At times, amidst the shouting, the actors’ words were lost. Our Verdict: A visceral experience that will stay with you forever.  Credit: Adam Trigg The play Titus Andronicus hasn’t always been revered by the critics and public. Arguably the first play that Shakespeare wrote, it followed the fashion of the time of revenge plays with violence and high body counts. You could say that Shakespeare ...