Jonathan SaltDirected by Sam Conway★★★★ Pros: A look at World War Two from a slightly different angle that doesn’t remove any of the awful-ness of period whilst allowing a man’s love and honour to shine through. Cons: Focus is a little broad which left me wanting to know more about the man; technical design not quite level with the artistic performance. Overall: Poignant monologue told through a well-scripted play that attempts to combine the horror of the time with the ...

Gloria WilliamsDirected by Ellie Joseph★★★★ Pros: Consuming, innovative, and lyrical writing delivered by a strong, passionate, and talented performer. Cons: The central conflict wavers toward being cliché; noise from the pub downstairs proved distracting throughout. Our Verdict: A great one-woman show, certainly worth your time and (small amounts) of money! Courtesy of the Etcetera Theatre I should start by saying that I’ve never seen a one-actor production that I enjoyed as much as Freedom Tongues’ Monday at the Etcetera Theatre ...

Martin ShermanDirected by Andrew Keates★★★★ Pros: Top class writing and charming performances make for a very enjoyable evening. Cons: A few rough bits but nothing too bad. Our Verdict: Another great production from the Finborough. Courtesy of the Finborough Theatre We have a certain fondness for the Finborough here at Everything Theatre. It has produced some truly remarkable work in recent years and as a result this cozy fringe venue regularly sells out faster than many big name West End ...

Sarah Goddard Directed by Phil Willmott ★★★★ Pros: A very clever script with an engrossing tale – you don’t want the story(ies) to stop! Cons: The vocals in the singing components are a little shaky at the beginning, as were the sound cues which didn’t quite do justice to the original score. Our Verdict: This is rich story-telling with a skillful blend of fantasy and reality; well worth seeing. Courtesy of the Cockpit Theatre A Broken Rose doesn’t give much ...

Stanley HoughtonDirected by Bethan Dear★★★★★ Pros: Expertly produced, expertly performed, expertly designed, and a fantastic script. Cons: I would be clutching at straws if I were to try and formulate any genuine criticism. Our Verdict: If you can get your hands on a ticket, it’s a must. Courtesy of the Finborough Theatre Just to confirm: the Finborough is a truly magical place, an opinion of ours that anyone who has read our reviews before will know. About ten minutes’ walk ...

Fat-Git Theatre, adapted from the novella by Peter MortimerDirected by Josh Roche★★★ Pros: Dark, quirky comedy, well acted, smooth and simple design. Cons: Sometimes hard to follow. Thought provoking, but ultimately unrewarding. Our Verdict: An equally entertaining and unsettling piece inviting questions about the safety and dangers of solitude, but failing to create a completely connected story line. Courtesy of Fat-Git Theatre It’s not an uncommon trope in modern theatre to have actors, like scenery, preset onstage as the audience ...

The MatchmakersPaula Fleming YolkNatalie Cheary Directed by Ng Choon Ping★★★ Pros: Interesting new writing, not far off being very good; committed performances. Cons: Slightly more development needed by both the script and the acting in places, felt slightly like a first draft of something excellent. Our Verdict: An enjoyable showcase of two shows and two writers with real potential that isn’t fully realised on this occasion. Credit: Jon Cartwright This visit to the RADA Studios was a first for Everything ...

Presented by MayDay Theatre ★★ Pros: A funny, talented all-female cast with lots of great humour. Cons: A lot of it just didn’t make much sense and the show had very little depth given the subject matter. Our Verdict: Nice comedic performances from an undoubtedly talented cast, but ultimately let down by an undeserving script. Courtesy of Oxford House Theatre The 21st December 2012 is thought to be the final date on the 5,125-year-long Mayan calendar. There are currently hundreds ...

John Van DrutenDirected by Anthony Lau ★★★★★ Pros: Great writing, great acting, great direction, great music, great costumes, great set design (I could go on!). Cons: I know I have to write something here but I’m struggling to think of anything. The herbal cigarettes were a bit stinky, I guess. Our Verdict: A fantastic evening with stunning performances. Hilarious, devastating and thought-provoking. “I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking.” Credit: Nicolai Kornum I Am A ...

Tom StoppardDirected by Madeleine Loftin★★★★ Pros: Outstanding script, some cracking performances and strong production values. Cons: A couple of slip-ups here and there, but nothing that won’t get fixed as the run progresses. Our Verdict: Buy your tickets now, you won’t regret it! Courtesy of the Tabard Theatre As an ex-West Londoner, I always used to feel a certain sense of regret at never having ventured to the Tabard Theatre. Situated around the corner from Turnham Green station (and I ...