John Webster Directed by Owen Horsley ★★★ Pros: Interesting staging and style, with engaging character portrayal and genuinely eye-opening moments. Cons: A sense that it was a bit rushed and the cast a bit inexperienced in dealing with this kind of piece. Our Verdict: A visually arresting and memorable production that’s a great way into this classic play. Courtesy of Eyestrings Theatre Company Ah Malfi: sun, sea, sand. Crazy boat trips. Shaving-foamed bananas. Drunk kids lying blissfully in their own ...

The Fitting Room, Mat Burt, Directed by Martin LeonardBlind Date, Ziella Bryars, Directed by Georgia MurphyPenpals, Chloe Ewart, Directed by Faye MerrallsCasting Call, Alex Head, Directed by Jennifer BakstThornaby, Keziah Warner, Directed by David Aula★★★★ Pros: Very funny, and an evening of great story telling. The dialogue is very good across the board. Cons: There are so many great plays to see that it ends up being a bit lengthy. Our Verdict: A very enjoyable experience with great acting and great writing on display. Courtesy of Southwark Playhouse Descent are ...

Joel Horwood Directed by Jim Russell ★★★ Pros: Horwood’s four playlets are consistently funny, often poignant, and delivered by an enthusiastic and talented young cast. Cons: Some pieces were underdeveloped, causing confusion or requiring a little more length to be effective. Our Verdict: A charming and funny sequence of short plays which addresses experiences of loneliness from different angles and features a top notch ensemble.  Courtesy of Southwark Playhouse This month, the Southwark Playhouse presents an evening of short plays ...

Anton Chekhov in a new version by Anya ReissDirected by Russell Bolam★★★★ Pros: A dazzling cast of talented, dynamic actors with some excellent scriptwriting from a future legend (you heard it here first!). Also, the ice-cream served at the interval is worth the ticket price alone. Cons: I struggled with the first few scenes. This had more to do with the actors slowly getting into their roles than any issue with the script. Not a big deal, however, as the ...

John Van DrutenDirected by Anthony Lau ★★★★★ Pros: Great writing, great acting, great direction, great music, great costumes, great set design (I could go on!). Cons: I know I have to write something here but I’m struggling to think of anything. The herbal cigarettes were a bit stinky, I guess. Our Verdict: A fantastic evening with stunning performances. Hilarious, devastating and thought-provoking. “I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking.” Credit: Nicolai Kornum I Am A ...

Alexander WrightDirected by Dominic Allen★★★★  Pros: A thoroughly engaging performance by Jethro Compton. Cons: Not the best from Belt Up and may have lost some audience members along the way. Our Verdict: An intimate and moving evening of theatre, offering something entirely different from the norm. Courtesy of Belt Up Theatre Sat on a sofa in a dimly lit study, watching two characters struggle with each other as one tries to have sex with the other, it occurred to me ...