Lucia's Chapters of Coming Forth By Day review " lets a silenced woman speak by Lyn Gardner

Theatre Royal, BrightonMabou Mines's piece about James Joyce's daughter " who was locked in a mental institution for 47 years " melds biography with snippets of Finnegans Wake and the Egypti…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:55am on May 8, 2015☆⚑

Quentin Letts 'banned' from The Audience? Why you can't " and shouldn't " freeze out critics by Lyn Gardner

Excluding reviewers betrays the unhealthy, unworkable and increasing desire of producers and their PR agencies to ensure sympathetic press coverageWhen, back in 1969, the Royal Court announc…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:14am on May 7, 2015☆⚑

Quentin Letts 'banned' from The Audience? Why you can't freeze out critics by Lyn Gardner

Excluding reviewers betrays the unhealthy, unworkable and increasing desire of producers and their PR agencies to ensure sympathetic press coverageWhen, back in 1969, the Royal Court announc…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:14am on May 7, 2015☆⚑

Carrie review " Stephen King shocker gets a High School Musical makeover by Lyn Gardner

Southwark Playhouse, LondonA mesmerising performance by Evelyn Hoskins as the flame-haired teenage avenger fires this revival of the RSC's slaughterhouse Cinderella Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:05am on May 7, 2015☆⚑

To beam or not to beam? How live broadcasts are changing theatre by Lyn Gardner

Screenings from the National Theatre and RSC serve a vast nationwide audience " but what is their effect on regional and touring productions?The audience for a single live broadcast of a Sha…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:01am on May 6, 2015☆⚑

Age cannot wither them: Derek Jacobi and the forever young Shakespeareans by Lyn Gardner

Kenneth Branagh's casting of the 76-year-old actor as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet boldly challenges our prejudices about age on stageThere was surprise last week when it was announced that …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on May 5, 2015☆⚑

Our Teacher's a Troll review " gleefully nasty kids' tale of triumph over adversity by Lyn Gardner

Roundabout theatre, BrightonSimple but cracking storytelling with lots of audience interactivity in the intimate Roundabout pop-up theatreHolly and Sean are the terrible twins who are so nau…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:32am on May 4, 2015☆⚑

Plan your week's theatre: top tickets by Lyn Gardner

Mother Courage is reimagined for the Valleys, democracy and the ballot box are centre stage at the Unity in Liverpool and the Donmar in London, and the Brighton festival is in full swingTher…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on May 4, 2015☆⚑

Feed the Beast review " Downing Street downfall of a warts-and-all PM by Lyn Gardner

Birmingham RepSteve Thompson's play about politics and the press follows a prime minister who believes 'honesty is all' Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:25am on May 1, 2015☆⚑

Emma Rice will have them swinging from the chandeliers at Shakespeare's Globe by Lyn Gardner

The straight-talking, no-nonsense and hugely popular Rice should be right at home in her new role as the Globe's artistic directorThe appointment of Kneehigh's Emma Rice as the artistic dire…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:49am on May 1, 2015☆⚑

The Heart of Adrian Lovett review " NHS show in need of a drama transplant by Lyn Gardner

Theatre Delicatessen, LondonA reality-TV star hopes to revive both his heart and his career in this underpowered issue play that isn't quite the immersive experience advertised Continue read…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:29am on April 30, 2015☆⚑

Eclipsed review " sisterhood and survival in Liberian war drama by Lyn Gardner

Gate, LondonDanai Gurira's exploration of four African women keeping body and soul together is a small, polished gem Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:05am on April 29, 2015☆⚑

King John review " candlelit Shakespeare is spine-tingling by Lyn Gardner

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, NorthamptonThis Globe co-production is a treat for the senses thanks to Orlando Gough's glorious scoreWhen Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northampton, returned from t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:02am on April 29, 2015☆⚑

In 10 years nothing has changed for female playwrights " it's time to act by Lyn Gardner

A decade ago, 30% of new plays produced in UK theatres were written by women. In 2013 it was 31%. How can we ensure real change in gender equality? Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:27am on April 28, 2015☆⚑

Outside Mullingar review " emotional bogginess in rural Ireland by Lyn Gardner

Ustinov, BathJohn Patrick Stanley's overwrought comic romance about neighbouring farmers is filtered though a haze of theatrical cliches Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:46am on April 28, 2015☆⚑

Stand review " direct-action dramas are a tonic for pessimists by Lyn Gardner

Battersea Arts Centre, LondonChris Goode's optimistic piece posits the benefits of uniting around progressive causes " and probes the motives of everyday activist heroes Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:37am on April 27, 2015☆⚑

Plan your week's theatre: top tickets by Lyn Gardner

Cheek by Jowl's Measure for Measure heads to Oxford, the wonderful Beyond Caring is at the National Theatre, and the Brighton festival and fringe have plenty to thrillKneehigh's version of D…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:00am on April 27, 2015☆⚑

Quality is crucial for disability arts: poor work fails artists and audiences by Lyn Gardner

An initiative for disabled artists, Unlimited, has announced bold shows including Liz Carr's Assisted Suicide: The Musical and Kaite O'Reilly's Cosy. The aim is to stop venues programming 't…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:49am on April 24, 2015☆⚑

A Translation of Shadows review " a Tokyo story from Stan's Cafe by Lyn Gardner

Warwick Arts CentreJean Baudrillard and benshi " the performers who supplied live narrations for Japanese films in the silent era " are the guiding spirits of this surprising piece Continue …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:33am on April 23, 2015☆⚑

Each His Own Wilderness review " a wordy, weary play by Doris Lessing by Lyn Gardner

Orange Tree, RichmondThough it touches intriguingly on female empowerment and liberation, this political drama of the 1950s is painfully stilted and lacks momentum Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:04am on April 23, 2015☆⚑

The Almeida is shattering and reimagining our notions of theatre by Lyn Gardner

Carmen Disruption reminds us how thrilling it can be to see a fresh take on a familiar tale. If we want to keep these old stories alive, we have to tell them in new waysTo the Almeida, north…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:42am on April 21, 2015☆⚑

Acelere review " Circolombia's show is a risky business by Lyn Gardner

Roundhouse, LondonThere is a sense of trust in every leap into the unknown in this latest creation from the Colombian circus company Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:27am on April 21, 2015☆⚑

Plan your week's theatre: top tickets by Lyn Gardner

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristin Scott Thomas and Jonathan Pryce are on stage in London, gay love in Uganda is explored in Manchester, and the Citizens theatre in Glasgow hosts a new play from Doug…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on April 20, 2015☆⚑

Measure for Measure review " punchy reminder that power corrupts by Lyn Gardner

Barbican, LondonDeclan Donnellan's Russian-language production has pleasing fluidity and some powerful moments Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:12am on April 19, 2015☆⚑

Alice's Adventures Underground review " the Wonderland of your imagination come to life by Lyn Gardner

The Vaults, LondonA lifesize Mad Hatter's tea party and playful design make up for power failures and flawed logistics in this updated version of Lewis Carroll's classic Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:23am on April 17, 2015☆⚑