Nick Danan on vampires and critics for Christmas.

A beautiful picture of a bleak northern USA in the 1930s.

A very good piece of theatre which will satisfy your craving for good drama, but might leave you wanting a Guinness by the end of it.

Conor McPhersonDirected by Josie Rourke★★★★ Pros: A relatable script, great cast and a beautiful set make this a theatrical experience that draws you in and makes you feel like you are in a country pub in Ireland, eavesdropping on the locals.Cons: No real negatives to mention – it’s funny, touching and enjoyable but not very exciting or dynamic. There is nothing really to challenge or chew over. Our Verdict: This is a lovely, quiet, funny, heartfelt play that seems to ...

Written and directed by Conor McPherson ★★★★ Courtesy of National Theatre Well, we have just entered the first few days of October, which means that the grueling period of Hallowe’en is upon us. Yes, entire aisles of supermarkets dedicated to low-grade costumes, children banging on your door, asking for the sweets which you inevitably have forgotten to buy (they never seem satisfied with apples or stale digestive biscuits), and, perhaps worst of all, the incessant playing of “Monster Mash” by ...