Luis Rivera Lopez, Griselda GambaroDirected by Luis Gayol ★★  Pros: Learning about events in Argentina’s political history. Cons: The first of the two short plays is very weak and without the programme, I would not have understood the context of the play. Performances varied in quality. Our Verdict: Though this double bill raises awareness about a seldom-discussed atrocity of recent history, the plays are not strong enough to do the subject justice. Courtesy of Calder Bookshop and Theatre Theatre 4 Identity ...

Kate Tempest is an intelligent and mesmerizing storyteller. Her unique brand of theatre is well worth seeing.

Cherise CrossDirected by Amy Draper★★★★ Pros: During this psychological thriller, one is never bored or frustrated at not having all the information to hand. Cons: If you like everything spelt out for you, you might find the mystery more irksome than intriguing. Our Verdict: An intelligent and thought-provoking production that takes a potentially cerebral subject matter and gives it a soul. Courtesy of 8fold theatre company The Door is the type of the play for which going into detail would ...

Sarah Daniels Directed by Bryn Williams ★★★ Pros: The strength of the play is in the three patients. By presenting individual stories it personalises the issue of mental health, which is otherwise too easy to ignore. Cons: A tough watch but it wouldn’t be succeeding if it didn’t make you squirm and question the judgement and treatment of such issues. Our Verdict: Written in the early 1990s it did feel a little dated. But maybe it makes for such uncomfortable ...

An ambitious production that promised unfettered excitement but which ended up erring more on the side of plodding and predictable.

Chalk Farm is a thought-provoking social commentary that should not be missed. Period.

Written and directed by Lisa McMullin★★★ Pros: The live music, and some strong performances, particularly in the final act. There is also fun and clever wordplay in the script, providing lightness to what is a rather grim look at love and life. Cons: If you haven’t exercised in a while, this play is a workout. Be prepared to walk up and down the stairs of the theatre, as this two-hour play has intervals a plenty. Our Verdict: It gets better ...

Part of the DYSPLA Festival Devised through the WHITEBOX Development Process  Directed by Pete Cain, Chryssanthi Kouri & Gary Thomas ★★★ Pros: Thought-provoking, with good use of projections and media.  Cons: The timings are not very clearly billed. Our Verdict: A play and festival which champions a worthwhile and thought-provoking message about the creativity of dyslexic practitioners. Courtesy of DYSPLA Y&P (formerly known as The Taliban Don’t like my Knickers) is a devised piece of theatre developed by dyslexic writers. ...

Presented by Smoking Apples Theatre & Little Cauliflower Theatre Company ★★★★ Pros: Extraordinary puppetry creates a real affection for Ted and I followed his story with interest and emotion. Cons: Some slight prop mishaps disrupted the magic temporarily. Our Verdict: A refreshing and un-judgmental look at disability and the effect it has on someone’s life. Courtesy of Smoking Apples Theatre Within a maze of streets behind Marylebone station is The Cockpit Theatre. The entrance reminds me slightly of a school ...

An original plotline, but not a gripping piece of drama. Missing a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’.