A festive take on a Shakespeare favourite that embraces the play’s darker undertones as well as the fizzy fun.

Brendan Cowell Directed by Robert Shaw ★★★ Pros: This play has it all: comedy, drama, ups and downs. It will have you laughing at one moment and in tears the next. It is impossible to be bored. Cons: It takes a while to really understand the whys and hows of the characters. Until the pieces fall into place it feels a bit hard to let the play sink in.  Our Verdict: A completely different theatrical experience with multiple innovative elements. ...

Joe PenhallDirected by Roger Michell★★★ Pros: Trustworthy actors perform a compact piece with big laughs at the expense of gender stereotypes. Cons: Slightly unclear what Penhall’s point (if there is one) is! Our Verdict: A play which hopes to question the roles in childbirth, it’ll make the audience think but not too hard. An overall positive experience! Courtesy of Alastair Muir for the Daily Telegraph The Royal Court is a brilliant theatre. Situated on Sloane Square, it is well known ...