Fat Ham, RSC, Stratford review - it's Hamlet Jim, but not as we know it by Gary Naylor

★★★★ FAT HAM, RSC A raucous, raunchy Pulitzer Prize-winning re-imagining for our times An entertaining, positive and contemporary blast! $8.2B. That's what can ha…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 6:54am on August 28, 2025☆⚑

The Two Gentlemen of Verona, RSC, Stratford review - not quite the intended gateway drug to Shakespeare by Gary Naylor

★★★ THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, RSC, STRATFORD Youth-oriented version of youthful play Shakespeare trying out lots of ideas that were to bear fruit in the future I have…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 4:48pm on August 13, 2025☆⚑

Top Hat, Chichester Festival Theatre review - top spectacle but book tails off by Gary Naylor

★★★★ TOP HAT, CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE Lovely to look at, but don't think too much Glitz and glamour in revived dance show based on Fred and Ginger's movie Af…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 6:12am on August 1, 2025☆⚑

Maiden Voyage, Southwark Playhouse review - new musical runs aground by Gary Naylor

★★ MAIDEN VOYAGE, SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE All women crew sail around the world, singing, grouching and bonding Pleasant tunes well sung and a good story, but not a good show As th…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 2:42pm on July 29, 2025☆⚑

Brixton Calling, Southwark Playhouse review - life-affirming entertainment, both then and now by Gary Naylor

★★★★★ BRIXTON CALLING, SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE The story of two men & one venue is a delight Nostalgic, but the message is bang up to date What a delight i…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 2:32pm on July 28, 2025☆⚑

The Winter's Tale, RSC, Stratford review - problem play proves problematic by Gary Naylor

★★★ THE WINTER'S TALE, RSC, STRATFORD Bleak production that skewers male jealousy Strong women have the last laugh, but the play's bizarre structure overwhelms everything T…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 2:32pm on July 28, 2025☆⚑

Don't Rock the Boat, The Mill at Sonning review - all aboard for some old-school comedy mishaps by Gary Naylor

★★★★ DON'T ROCK THE BOAT, THE MILL AT SONNING Sound of shared laughter excuses flaws Great fun, if more 20th century than 21st Now 45 years in the past, its dazzling …

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 3:18pm on July 21, 2025☆⚑

Poor Clare, Orange Tree Theatre review - saints cajole us sinners by Gary Naylor

★★★★ POOR CLARE, ORANGE TREE THEATRE Chira Atik's award-winning comedy packs a punch Funny and clever show illuminated by a dazzling debut from Arsema Thomas What am …

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 9:12pm on July 17, 2025☆⚑

Girl From The North Country, Old Vic review - Dylan's songs fail to lift the mood by Gary Naylor

★★★ GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY, OLD VIC Conor McPherson's smash hit is looking dated already Fragmented, cliched story rescued by tremendous acting, singing and music Well…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 7:48am on July 10, 2025☆⚑

Hercules, Theatre Royal Drury Lane review - new Disney stage musical is no 'Lion King' by Gary Naylor

★★★ HERCULES, THEATRE ROYAL Show aimed at a family audience delivers enough, but no more Big West End crowdpleaser lacks punch and poignancy with join-the-dots plotting …

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 3:18pm on June 27, 2025☆⚑

Showmanship, Hampstead Theatre review - lip-synced investigation of words, theatricality and performance by Gary Naylor

★★ SHOWMANSHIP, HAMPSTEAD THEATRE Dickie Beau's one-man show is lost in too large a venue  Technically accomplished production with Dickie Beau never settles into a coheren…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 6:36am on June 24, 2025☆⚑

North by Northwest, Alexandra Palace review - Hitchcock adaptation fails to fly by Gary Naylor

★ NORTH BY NORTHWEST, ALEXANDRA PALACE Too small a show in too large a venue Emma Rice's storytelling at fault in misconceived production Older readers may recall the cobbled togeth…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 2:24pm on June 15, 2025☆⚑

Hamlet Hail to the Thief, RSC, Stratford - Radiohead mark the Bard's card by Gary Naylor

★★★★ HAMLET HAIL TO THE THIEF, RSC Music drives the prince to madness in spectacular show An innovative take on a familiar play succeeds far more often than it fails …

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 8:48pm on June 13, 2025☆⚑

The King of Pangea, King's Head Theatre - grief and hope, but no connection, in new musical by Gary Naylor

★★ THE KING OF PANGEA, KING'S HEAD THEATRE - Highly personal American musical fails to land in London Heart and soul proves insufficient in world premiere of therapeutic show The…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 8:48pm on June 12, 2025☆⚑

This is My Family, Southwark Playhouse - London debut of 2013 Sheffield hit is feeling its age by Gary Naylor

★★★ THIS IS MY FAMILY, SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE Play with music engenders a familiar warmth Relatable or stereotyped - that's for you to decide MOR. Twee. Unashamedly crowdpleas…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 9:02pm on May 29, 2025☆⚑

The Frogs, Southwark Playhouse review - great songs save updated Aristophanes comedy by Gary Naylor

★★★ THE FROGS, SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE Pantomimeish adaptation of classic play Tone never settles, but Sondheim's genius carries the day As a regular theatregoer, you learn pre…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 7:32am on May 28, 2025☆⚑

The Gang of Three, King's Head Theatre - three old Labour ghosts resurrected to entertain and educate by Gary Naylor

★★★★★ THE GANG OF THREE, KING'S HEAD THEATRE The big beasts banter 50 years ago Beautifully written and equally well acted play resonates down the decades There…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 2:54pm on May 7, 2025☆⚑

Conversations After Sex, Park Theatre review - pillow talk proves a snooze by Gary Naylor

★★ CONVERSATIONS AFTER SEX, PARK THEATRE Nudity, but nothing new in UK debut Award-winning Irish play fails to reach a memorable climax In Dublin, a city that has changed more th…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 8:24am on May 7, 2025☆⚑

Much Ado About Nothing, RSC, Stratford - Messina FC scores for new production by Gary Naylor

★★★★ MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, RSC, STRATFORD Medieval court's mores translates uncomfortably well to modern football Garish and gossipy, this new production packs a…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 3:03pm on April 28, 2025☆⚑

Ghosts, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre - turns out, they do fuck you up by Gary Naylor

★★★★★ GHOSTS, LYRIC HAMMERSMITH - Ibsen screams into 2025 in this perfect reimagining Ten years on, Gary Owen and Rachel O'Riordan top their triumphant Iphigeni…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 9:18pm on April 17, 2025☆⚑

Midnight Cowboy, Southwark Playhouse - new musical cannot escape the movie's long shadow by Gary Naylor

★ MIDNIGHT COWBOY, SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE Ambitious project overwhelmed by challenges  Two misfits misfire in misconceived show It seems a bizarre idea. Take a pivotal film in America…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 9:03pm on April 12, 2025☆⚑

The Importance of Being Oscar, Jermyn Street Theatre review - Wilde, still burning bright by Gary Naylor

★★★★ THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING OSCAR, JERMYN STREET THEATRE One man play from 1960 given a compelling revival Alastair Whatley honours his subject in a quietly powerful…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 2:48pm on April 2, 2025☆⚑

Stiletto, Charing Cross Theatre review - new musical excess by Gary Naylor

★★★★ STILETTO, CHARING CROSS THEATRE Castrato finds comfort by the canals Quirky, operatic show won't please everyone, but will delight many That friend you have wh…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 3:42pm on April 1, 2025☆⚑

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - The Musical - production based on the old trickster's TV series isn't a screaming success, at least not yet by Gary Naylor

★★★ ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS - THE MUSICAL, THEATRE ROYAL BATH Ambitious new musical isn't slaying 'em in the aisles  1950s America feels a lot like 2020s America in…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 10:54pm on March 28, 2025☆⚑

Edward II, RSC, Swan Theatre, Stratford review - monarchs, murder and mayhem from Marlowe by Gary Naylor

★★★★ EDWARD II, SWAN THEATRE Rapid and racy adaptation draws on its writer's legend Putsch in the palace brings down a king who chose the wrong person to love "Do…

SOURCE: The Arts Desk at 3:06pm on March 9, 2025☆⚑