Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond

Written and Directed by David Gooderson★★★ Pros: Solid performances from the cast, especially from Stuart McGugan in the lead role of Hector MacDonald. Cons: The objective of the play is a little unclear, although the script is good overall. Our Verdict: Not the best to come from this West London paradise, but well worth a watch nonetheless! Courtesy of the Finborough Theatre The Finborough Wine Café remains closed. However, the theatre has reclaimed the area which used to house the ...

Iain Finlay MacleodDirected by Russell Bolam★★★ Pros: Great movement and high production values throughout.Cons: The show is a little disjointed to begin with and doesn’t quite challenge the audience enough. Our Verdict: This is a play which goes some distance in tackling an important subject matter but sadly it doesn’t have quite enough depth. Courtesy of the Finborough Theatre Somersaults is a play which explores the importance of Scots Gaelic to our protagonist as his life in London begins to unravel. The writer Iain Finlay ...

Tom Morton-SmithDirected by Beckie Mills★★★★ Pros: Fascinating script and great acting. Cons: It’s a shame there is nowhere to have a drink before the show! Our Verdict: A great piece of new writing. Don’t miss this one. Courtesy of the Finborough Theatre It was with great regret that I arrived at the Finborough to find that the wine bar which used to be below the theatre has gone into administration (a less successful by-product of the Olympics we’re told). I ...

Louise MonaghanDirected by Louise Hill★★★ Pros: An absolutely amazing all-female cast and a passionate, intense, and unique story. Cons: A bit of a jumpy script – coherency sometimes took a backseat to valuable but heavy-handed morals. Our Verdict: A polished and fiercely performed show that was powerful but in the end maybe a bit too overpowering. Courtesy of the Finborough Theatre I didn’t go into the Finborough’s new play about race and politics expecting the setting to be a bridge ...

Shamser SinhaDirected by Tim Stark★★★ Pros: A brilliant and haunting ending, great performances from the female actors in particular and a noble script attempting to raise the profile of refugees. Cons: Often moments involving the male actors weren’t quite believable; dodgy accents in places didn’t help. Our Verdict: A show of two halves. It took a while for us to suspend that pesky disbelief, but the ending was tremendous. Courtesy of the Finborough Theatre Khadija is 18 marks the full-length ...

Chris DunkleyDirected by Ola Ince★★★★ Pros: The cast give a very strong performance of gritty subject matter and complex characters. The story is told in reverse which is a fantastic way to challenge the audience’s perception of the circumstances. It is particularly refreshing to be presented with an unconventional female lead. Cons: Domestic violence and abuse is confronted head on which some audiences may find unpalatable. Our Verdict: This is a powerful piece of drama, which resonates long after you ...

Hugh LeonardDirected by Eleanor Rhode★★★★ Pros: A remarkable script with a knock-out central performance. Cons: Not every actor can do the Irish accent convincingly which spoils the illusion at times. Our Verdict: A great revival of an underrated script. Courtesy of the Finborough Theatre A Life is a Tony award-nominated play from esteemed Irish playwright Hugh Leonard. The story centres around Desmond Drumm, an embittered civil servant, as he grimly faces his own mortality. Drumm also features as a minor ...

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 ...

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 ...

Jane WainwrightDirected by Abbey Wright★★★ Pros: Short, sharp and packs a modest punch. Cons: A little bit slow and not quite engaging enough to deliver a real emotional hammer-blow. Our Verdict: Perhaps not the best from the Finborough, but it’s still a slick and well-presented show which says a lot! Courtesy of the Finborough Theatre The Finborough is fast becoming one of my top London theatres. These days I’m just as excited to visit this friendly wine bar theatre as ...