★★★★★ MEASURE FOR MEASURE, RSC STRATFORD Crystal clear storytelling in a (surely) landmark production Shakespeare, in this adaptation, is at his most percept…
★★★★ GET DOWN TONIGHT, CHARING CROSS THEATRE KC and the Sunshine State If you love the songs of KC and the Sunshine Band, Please Do Go! In a fair few bars around t…
★★★ 50 FIRST DATES: THE MUSICAL, THE OTHER PALACE Forgettable, but comforting Date movie about repeating dates inspires date musical About halfway through this world …
★★★★★ THE HARDER THEY COME, STRATFORD EAST Great story, songs and performances Natey Jones and Madeline Charlemagne lead a perfectly realised adaptation of t…
★★★ REUNION, KILN THEATRE New play brings a family's old enmities to the surface Beautifully acted, but desperately grim drama If you ever wanted to know what a mash up…
★★★★ THE PRODUCERS, GARRICK THEATRE Musical mayhem in Mel Brooks' meisterwerk You probably know what's coming, but it's such great fun! Unexpectedly, there's a sly…
★★★★ 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…
★★★ 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…
★★★★ 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…
★★ 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…
★★★★★ 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…
★★★ 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…
★★★★ 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 …
★★★★ 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 …
★★★ 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…
★★★ 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 …
★★ 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…
★ 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…
★★★★ 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 …
★★ 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…
★★★ 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…
★★★ 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…
★★★★★ 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…
★★ 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…
★★★★ MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, RSC, STRATFORD Medieval court's mores translates uncomfortably well to modern football Garish and gossipy, this new production packs a…