Watermill theatre, NewburyPam Gems's play with music sacrifices depth as its small cast play multiple characters " and musical instruments " but its star brings it all together Pam Gems's Pi…
Live theatre, NewcastleFrom dodging bombs to dancing in nightclubs, Syrian theatre-maker Hamzeh Al Hussien enacts the story of his life "This is who I am." Hamzeh Al Hussien stands before us…
New Vic, Newcastle-under-LymeGrounding fantasy in emotional reality, director Theresa Heskins and her joyous 14-strong ensemble make the David Niven-starring film fly on stage The 1940s hit…
Theatre Royal Stratford East, London; York Theatre Royal Azuka Oforka's bold, ambitious play confronts the horrors of slavery, while Emma Rice takes on Hitchcock's classic, sidelining suspen…
Royal Lyceum, EdinburghA Glasgow country-singing ex-con single mother dreams of the big time in Nicola Taylor's new musical, directed by John Tiffany Rose-Lynn is twentysomething and wild, f…
Swan theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonDaniel Raggett's hit-and-miss Marlowe production has wonderful moments but errs on the side of excess in its staging of the king's doomed love affair Edward …
Sherman theatre, Cardiff The remarkable true story of how the resident of a Cardiff institution and a student revolutionised supported living is told with agit-prop energy and via superb per…
Watermill theatre, NewburyA fine, multitasking cast of three deliver laughs aplenty in Ian Hislop and Nick Newman's adaptation of a 1930s satire, though the cad's true malice is lacking On p…
Royal Exchange, ManchesterThese two short plays offer differing pleasures " one in the acting, the other in its subtle meditation on mourning Escaped Alone (2016) is first in this double bil…
Fruitmarket, Edinburgh Multi-art form company Magnetic North celebrate 25 years with a drifting musical journey that moves from isolation to belonging Scottish theatre company Magnetic North…
Theatre Royal BathShaw conveys both the public and private Thomas More in a period-perfect if patchy production of Bolt's 1960 play of power and corruption A "monstrous baby whom none dared …
The Pit, Barbican, LondonFrench company La Pendue's MimeLondon curtain-raiser reimagines a Brothers Grimm tale with puppets and a one-man band The poet Pierre Quillard, defending the symboli…
Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonShakespeare's fleet-footed romance is somewhat constrained by Prasanna Puwanarajah's direction, yet there are memorable moments Life and death; …
Stephen Joseph theatre, ScarboroughA stand-in Genie saves the day in a magical production of the age-old story that has audience members young and old suspending disbelief Audience participa…
Hull Truck TheatreThe audience sees above and below the floorboards " with a little help from puppets " as Mark Babych's production cleverly plays with scale A family forced to flee their ho…
New Vic theatre, Newcastle-under-LymeTheresa Heskins's Dumas adaptation provides fantastic action yet reduces the scheming servant Milady to a plot device Flashing swords, swirling capes and…
Pitlochry Festival theatreThis captivating production of the evergreen musical is a fitting swansong from Pitlochry's outgoing artistic director, Elizabeth Newman Light breaks through darkne…
Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, SheffieldHolden and Ed Stambollouian's one-man drama based on a real-life murder in 80s America uses film tropes to great effect " but it plays with the facts t…
Theatre Royal, BathMen struggling to hide their feelings are uncloaked in James Dacre's astute revival of the playwright's Table Number Seven and The Browning Version Director James Dacre pr…
The Other Place, Stratford-upon-AvonTwo American strategists compete to influence an eastern European election in a nuanced new play that suffers from tackling too many subjects In the 21st …
Birmingham RepTerry Ronald's true-life tale of a bullied gay teenager who prevails in the school production of Oliver! is performed with affecting verve Today, Terry Ronald is a successful w…
Bristol Old VicFussy filmic visuals hobble fine performances in the European premiere of the Inheritance writer's study of three characters struggling for connection London-based American wr…
The Dipping House, Stoke-on-TrentClaybody Theatre's show about a famed flying saucer sighting on a housing estate is whimsical fun Back in 1967, the most extraordinary thing about Bentilee w…
Everyman, LiverpoolMartin McDonagh's black comedy about a violent republican terrorist can feel like a parody of 007 in its action but it is hard to be stirred by the dully repetitive scenes…
New Vic theatre, Newcastle-under-LymeChoreography accentuates the otherness of the creatures in a fluid take on the dark coming-of-age fable Form thrillingly matches content in this new stag…