James McLure Directed by Naomi Wirthner ★★★★ Pros: A funny and sad performance that is very well thought-out. Cons: An ending that could have been shorter, and sharper. Our Verdict: A very poignant look at the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the destruction left behind both physically and emotionally.  Courtesy of the Barebones Project PVT wars takes place in one of my favourite London venues, The Space, a lovely former church in Mudchute. The always-friendly staff and bar staff ...

Hope Murphy-NantonDirected by Hope Murphy-Nanton★★★ Pros: If you like jazz standards played live, you’ll like this show. Cons: Some practical matters, such as sightlines, don’t seem to have been thought out completely. Our Verdict: An interesting, if uneven, love letter to ‘Lady Ella’. Courtesy of The Space Anyone who’s been to Edinburgh will recognise the one man/woman show where the actor addresses the audience. This show’s unique selling point is that the lead character relates how she met and was ...

William Shakespeare Adapted and Directed by Tom Latter ★★★ Pros: A dynamic and enjoyable adaptation of the classic Shakespeare comedy with some very good acting and innovative use of space. Fun costumes and an excellent theatre space. Cons: Some rushed transitions and a bit more running around than necessary detracted from the overall experience. Our Verdict: The 1950s Shakespeare East London adaptation is a great idea that gives this classic comedy a new life. The performance is fast and dynamic ...

Go and see this if you like the utterly bizarre. It wonderfully meanders round a residential area and makes it magical, but I found that there was too little narrative for me to make sense of it.

Hayley GogginDirected by Justyna Ziarek and Kaitlin Argeaux★★★ Pros: The dancing is exceptional – powerful, moving and, at times, breath taking. The acting is also very good with The Space as a wonderful backdrop to the piece. Cons: The ending didn’t resolve the piece enough, and there seemed to be a few organisational issues, which led to the production getting off to a late start.Our Verdict: This is a show with a strong message and exceptional choreography. Courtesy of The Space The Dagger ...

Directed by Danielle McIlvenSpace Productions ★★★★ Pros: Space Productions revel in the rapidly fluctuating emotions of the play, keeping the audience consistently on the edge of disgust, laughter, anger and overwhelming sympathy. Cons: A few brief moments of unconvincing characterisation. Our Verdict: A highly tense yet enjoyable piece which, for the most part, had me on the edge of my seat.  Taken from the Danish film of the same name (The Celebration in English), Festen is an intense family drama ...

Donald Churchill Directed by Franko Figueiredo ★★★ Pros: Ingenious farce set-up, vibrant comedic performances and a fun sixties setting. Cons: The actors’ accents can difficult to understand, making it easy to miss jokes. Our Verdict: The difficulty in understanding the dialogue is a problem that can’t be overlooked. It is a shame that this issue obscured the fine comedic performances, but The Decorator is still a goofy, fun evening out. Courtesy of The Space The Decorator is classic English farce ...

William Shakespeare Directed by Nathalie Adlam ★★★ Pros: An atmospheric production. Fine performances that bring Shakespeare’s language to life. Cons: The complex plot is difficult to follow; the play’s disparate elements don’t cohere. Our Verdict: A valiant attempt at a problematic play. Courtesy of The Space I had never seen or read Cymbeline prior to attending this production by Les Foules Theatre. Yet, because the play features a mishmash of so many Shakespearian tropes, it felt familiar. There’s a love ...

Sarah Daniels Directed by David England ★★★★   Pros: A funny, hard-hitting and incredibly well written play.   Cons: The large space made for a tricky acoustic meaning some speech is lost every so often.    Our Verdict: A seriously fantastic play that, despite its Victorian setting, is incredibly relevant to society and women today.     Courtesy of The Space Victorian South East London: the docks are alive and buzzing with traders, ships and livestock ready to be sent to ...

Frances Hodgson-Burnett Adapted and directed by Eleanor Appleton ★★★★ Pros: A dynamic and enjoyable adaptation of a classic good-mood tale with some very good acting and use of space. Some great physical theatre and puppetry scenes. Cons: Props were bare but did their job. Some rushed transitions interrupted the magic flow at times. Our Verdict: A well-adapted, fast and uplifting play set in an interesting theatre space. Enjoyable all round. Credit: Estibaliz Moreno  There’s something special about attending a show ...