Eva de Valk runs down the big theatre news of 2017.

If you've ever wondered if there is a price to pay for having a smart phone, this is the play to see.

Rodney AcklandDirected by Matthew Dunster★★★ Pros: Some very funny characters, and excellent performances. Cons: The comedy was much more brilliant than the deeper character moments. Our Verdict: Certainly worth the trip for a fun evening out. Credit: Keith Pattison Having recently consumed four whole seasons of the IT Crowd, I found myself wondering why Katherine Parkinson (who plays Jen Barber absolutely brilliantly) has slightly disappeared off the map, in particular in comparison with the astounding successes of her co-leads. So ...

William ShakespeareDirected by Dominic Cooke★★★★ Pros: A wonderful cast and a fun, modern staging. Surprisingly emotional ending.  Cons: Not the funniest ever staging of the play, the set definitely dominates at times. Our Verdict: Plenty of laughs and plenty of reasons to go see it beyond the appeal of seeing Lenny Henry. Courtesy of Johan Persson for the Daily Telegraph It has been a while since I last queued at 7.30am for National Theatre tickets and I had almost forgotten ...