John Van Druten Directed by Tricia Thorns ★★★★★ Pros: A sparkling, fast-paced, hilarious and heart-warming show that still manages to get you thinking. Majestically directed and perfectly executed with meticulous attention to detail and splendid period costumes.  Cons: Do let us know if you think of any! Our Verdict: Another triumph from the Finborough. Head to Earl’s Court before you end up having to pay West End prices to see this one! Courtesy of the Finborough Theatre Admittedly, going to ...

Isley Lynn Directed by Chelsea Walker ★★★★ Pros: Brave and faultless performances in a show that addresses a tricky subject, helped by the seemliest script. Cons: None myself, although some may find it difficult to watch the violent scenes at the end of the play. Our Verdict: Look in your diary. Find a spare 90 mins. Get yourself to the Tristan Bates Theatre. A brave and bold script which deserves not to be passed over just because of the subject ...

Pamela Carralero Directed by Zuri Warren  ★★★ Pros: An intelligent script with an interesting look at human rights, environmental issues and the military. Cons: The script is far too large and cinematic to be performed in a freezing shoebox theatre in Hackney. Our Verdict: This clever show felt cramped and stifled by a space which cannot provide the stage, lighting, sound or special effects required to make this truly effective. Credit: Harriet Armstrong for Encompass Productions Situated on Vyner Street, ...

Omar El-Khairy Directed by Carissa Hope Lynch ★★★★ Pros: A story delivered in a mesmerising social media context with a wonderful twist. The strong central performances are enjoyable and the discussion of sexuality, religion and politics is gently confrontational. Cons: May not be relevant to those not so conversant with social media. The in-the-round staging poses some issues with delivering the dialogue clearly to all audience members. Our Verdict: This is a very contemporary drama in every way. It is ...

William ShakespeareDirected by Rae Mcken★★★ Pros: The spoken text is crystal clear while the modern day setting, with mobile phones and such, makes the Bard’s renaissance comedy relevant and accessible to present day audiences. Cons: The small space could barely contain the heightened action of the story and an occasionally overcrowded stage distracted from an otherwise polished production.Our Verdict: This is an entertaining production, successfully showcasing a talented young cast and proving, once again, the relevance and accessibility of classics in ...

Matt ThomasDirected by Sarah Elaine Stewart★★★★ Pros: A well-researched, funny performance which balances serious discussion of religious views with lots of good humour.Cons: Sometimes the performer looked a little uncomfortable on the stage. Our Verdict: A refreshingly non-aggressive look at religion which felt thoroughly well-researched, considered and balanced. Courtesy of Canal Cafe Theatre If you’re a regular to this blog or if you’ve read anything else by my fellow reviewers, you may have noticed that we are generally a nice bunch of ...

Based on the novella by Henry James Adapted by Rebecca Lenkiewicz Directed by Lindsay Posner ★★★★ Pros: A top class show with terrific production values, brilliant character development, extraordinary performances and genuinely terrifying horror effects. Cons: I have no issue with the production itself, however, the novella, written in 1898, suffers from decades of screen imitations, making a once original plot seem clichéd at times. Our Verdict: Everything about this play is top notch from the stunning set and wonderful ...

William Shakespeare Directed by James Williams ★★★ Pros: A high-energy, creative take on Shakespeare for the whole family. Cons: Drastic script cuts sometimes lead to confusion. Our Verdict: A family-friendly, mostly accessible version of Shakespeare with a multi-talented cast and a clever design. Courtesy of Watford Palace Theatre It’s no secret that Shakespeare can be difficult and inaccessible to modern audiences – and not just for young people who are still mastering language and poetry, but for the rest of ...

A showcase of monologues ★★ Pros: A great platform for new work, and a real mixture of different genres and tones. Cons: The four shows together make the evening quite long, and some scripts that would benefit from further workshopping. Our Verdict: A nice and worthwhile survey of different styles of theatrical work and a peek into some upcoming talent, but not fully polished and a bit lengthy. Courtesy of The Space Programme B Deirdre and Me, Rachael Halliwell  Woman ...

John Patrick Shanley Presented by Lightning Jar Theatre Company ★★★ Pros: A clever and deeply poetic script from a master playwright. Some very nice acting too. Cons: I struggled to keep focussed during the first half as the performances didn’t deliver enough energy to meet the requirements of the script. Our Verdict: This is an uneven production with a slow-moving and occasionally uninteresting first half. However, it then bursts into life after the interval, engaging the audience right to the end. Courtesy ...