An old-fashioned, stagey adaptation that brings some humour to Turganev's original.

A gripping production which leaves the audience with food for thought, but might be a bit too close to the bone for some.

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.

William ShakespeareDirected by Phyllida Lloyd★★★★★ Pros: The fantastic stage setting, ingenious direction, innovative lighting, creative sound, intelligent interpretation of a classic tragedy…. They are all just an amazing backdrop for this first class all-female cast. Cons: None whatsoever. It’s a great script, an amazing cast and a sensational set. Our Verdict: There are so many reasons to see this production: the extraordinary dynamic of the all-female, top drawer cast; the representation of power, loyalty and conspiracy; the fantastic detail in ...

South DownsDavid HareDirected by Jeremy Herrin★★★ The Browning VersionTerence RattiganDirected by Angus Jackson★★★★ Pros: Strong performances, great set, excellent lighting. The Browning Version in particular is a true masterpiece from one of the greatest playwrights of all time. Cons: South Downs is a slightly less meaty script, and may leave you wondering what exactly happened towards the end. Our Verdict: An engaging introduction to the evening with South Downs followed by a flawless performance of The Browning Version. Courtesy of ...

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 ...

Anton Chekhov (translation by Andrew Upton)  Directed by Howard Davies ★★★ Courtesy of National Theatre Last year saw a huge revival of Chekhov productions to mark 150 years since the author’s birth. A highly influential, but notoriously difficult-to-read author, Chekhov is a polarising figure, especially in Theatre. While some praise his depictions of life in his works (his ‘theatre of mood’) others are frustrated by his lengthy and heavy plays. With this in mind, staging a Chekhov at the National ...