William Shakespeare Directed by Grassroots Shakespeare London ★★★★ Pros: A pacey, modern production with plenty of humour and excellent comic moments. There is a lot of really enjoyable character interpretation, which adds a colour and relevance to the script. Cons: In delivering the prose in modern voice and comic character, at times the diction was unclear and parts of the story were lost. The blind casting worked better for some characters than for others. Our Verdict: A very enjoyable version ...

William Shakespeare Directed by Grassroots Shakespeare London ★★★★  Pros: Say what you like about Shakespeare, but he knew how to write a play. Romeo is excellent and Juliet lends a bit of spice to a role that can be bland when performed with less skill. This production is energetic and entertaining. Cons: Not all performances were as strong as they might have been and the music was, at times, distracting. Our Verdict: When performed well, Romeo and Juliet is funny ...

Lila WhelanDirected by Lila Whelan★★★★ Pros: Dark, witty and with a strong cast, The Rules is a cross between a psychological thriller and an Elizabethan tragedy, with a couple of gags thrown in. Cons: Some of the delivery could be tightened and the lighting might benefit from some more subtlety, but these are minor criticisms in a very solid production. Our verdict: For fans of American Psycho, The Rules is a must-see. For everyone else, it is highly recommended. It ...

Patrice EtienneDirected by Rikki Henry★★★★ Pros: A good mix of humour and emotion, with a truly accessible storyline. Cons: Parts of it were a little slow, not helped by a boiling hot auditorium! Our Verdict: A raw and energetic production, with neat and innovative staging. Courtesy of Martyna Przybsz  I love a lot of things. I love wearing skinny jeans. I love the feel of moss on my face. I also love lying. But being in love – that’s a ...

Maurice Maeterlinck Directed by Benji Sperring ★★★ Pros: Maeterlinck’s The Blind and The Intruder are said to have contributed to his winning the Nobel Prize. Tarquin Productions do The Intruder justice. Cons: For me Maeterlinck is a poor man’s Pinter. His ideas have been far surpassed by both Pinter and Beckett. Our Verdict: Possibly worth seeing, as artefacts of theatre. These plays would have shocked back in the 1890s. Courtesy of Peter Langdown for The Guardian Maurice Maeterlinck’s The Blind ...

Ben AitkenDirected by Josh Roche★★★★ Pros: An all-round, very strong piece which deftly explores the harmony (or lack of) between self-identity and circumstance. Cons: I couldn’t see the benefits of making this show site-specific. Our Verdict: A very absorbing, intriguing narrative which is relevant to anyone living in Britain in 2013. Courtesy of The Old Red Lion Although the title refers to a place, this play is about people and the complex factors defining who we are. It delves into ...

This is a riotously fun show filled with huge energy, great gags and painfully funny performances.

Lila Whelan Directed by Claude Girardi ★★★★ Pros: An intelligent script with an excellent set of performances behind it. Cons: An emotionally involving play; the content can be hard to swallow. Our Verdict: Highly recommended if you are looking for gripping, poignant theatre, but not if you are looking for a light-hearted lark. Courtesy of Sprocket Theatre The Old Red Lion is a pub-theatre with a reputation for delivering great shows. It boasts several West End transfers, such as a ...

John Patrick Shanley Presented by Lightning Jar Theatre Company ★★★ Pros: A clever and deeply poetic script from a master playwright. Some very nice acting too. Cons: I struggled to keep focussed during the first half as the performances didn’t deliver enough energy to meet the requirements of the script. Our Verdict: This is an uneven production with a slow-moving and occasionally uninteresting first half. However, it then bursts into life after the interval, engaging the audience right to the end. Courtesy ...

Presented by BackHere! Theatre Company★★★ Pros: A really diverse mix of Christmas stories with a lot of interest and cleverly written twists. Excellent stage direction and use of the space and minimal set throughout, with some notably good performances. Cons: Not all of the writing is witty or tight enough to make these dramas about the nuances of everyday situations interesting and punchy; at times there are some slow moments therefore. Some of the acting is a little forced and ...