Scuttlers review " mills, thrills and soul-ache in Rona Munro's Manc gangs saga by Lyn Gardner

Royal Exchange, ManchesterThis drama about 19th-century rivalry between Manchester's street gangs is full of cacophonic poetry Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:17am on February 12, 2015☆⚑

Blasted review " unflinching revival of Sarah Kane's prescient horror show by Lyn Gardner

Sheffield Crucible StudioDirected unwaveringly by Richard Wilson, the controversial drama retains its power to shock two decades onTwenty years after it opened to critical incomprehension an…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:40am on February 11, 2015☆⚑

Boa review " Harriet Walter and Guy Paul's passionate heartbreaker by Lyn Gardner

Trafalgar Studios, LondonClara Brennan's play about privileged partners who just can't be happy is lifted by nuanced performances from its real-life husband-and-wife starsClara Brennan's Spi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:33am on February 10, 2015☆⚑

True Brits review " play presents alternative narrative for young Asian men by Lyn Gardner

Vault festival, LondonThis coming-of-age tale loudly asks questions about identity and race in the shadow of 7/7 and the 2012 Olympics Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:50am on February 9, 2015☆⚑

Stars miss performances of Women on the Verge " no cause for a breakdown by Lyn Gardner

You paid a fortune for the tickets, you've been waiting for months and when you turn up on the night the leads are indisposed. But understudies can give a production new vim and vigour Conti…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:22am on February 9, 2015☆⚑

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

Watch as a bridge in Bristol disappears in a cloud of fog, relinquish your mobile phone in Lincoln and Lancaster, and see Juliet Stevenson return in Happy Days in LondonOwen McCafferty's lat…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:02am on February 9, 2015☆⚑

Macbeth review " irreverent Shakespeare best when it's bleak and noisy by Lyn Gardner

Vault festival, LondonWitches like sound technicians cackle to hell and back while murder happens through a baby monitor in Filter's wintry take on the blood-stained tragedy Continue reading…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:00am on February 8, 2015☆⚑

The Forsythe Sisters review " musical about mediums makes spirited debut by Lyn Gardner

Norwegian church arts centre, CardiffMind-reading tricks, bumps in the night and a gorgeous score pile on the atmosphere in this imaginative work in progress Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:00pm on February 5, 2015☆⚑

Non Zero One: 'We've finally created something my mum won't be scared to come and see' by Lyn Gardner

They're famous for headphone-based shows demanding audience interaction, but the company's new piece, Mountaineering, takes a gentler and more personal approach as it explores the nature of …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:00am on February 5, 2015☆⚑

Merit review " gripping drama made from Spain's unemployment crisis by Lyn Gardner

Drum, PlymouthThe moral questions raised in Alexandra Wood's play about a graduate who bags a sought-after job deliver a punch in the age of austerity Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:42am on February 4, 2015☆⚑

New plays are outnumbering revivals " but theatres must hold their nerve by Lyn Gardner

There has been an explosion of new work on UK stages. Theatres must now continue to nurture young artists as the impact of cuts is yet to be truly feltTwo pieces of research into UK theatre …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:03am on February 4, 2015☆⚑

Fat Man review " retold myth makes Orpheus a standup comedian by Lyn Gardner

Vault festival, LondonThe fabled musician cracks jokes to an audience of gods in this modern-day version that gives Eurydice a real voice Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:03am on February 4, 2015☆⚑

Sadler's Wells could teach the RSC a thing or two about future audiences by Lyn Gardner

The dance house is putting work for children at the core of its programme and committing to it long-term. Why don't other theatres do the same? It always surprises me how few theatres realis…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on February 3, 2015☆⚑

The Separation review " stuttering divorce-themed debut by Lyn Gardner

Theatre 503, LondonA few one-liners and a pair of sharp performances are the only saving graces of this improbable kitchen-sinker set during the 1995 Irish divorce referendum Continue readin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:57am on February 2, 2015☆⚑

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

There are ghostly goings-on in Cardiff, the Museum of Water takes up residence in Lancaster, and Zinnie Harris tackles recent European history at the Royal CourtThe Manipulate festival is in…

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

Arthur's World review " an overloaded plot but plenty of tension and energy by Lyn Gardner

Bush Theatre, LondonThis new play about a hermit-like man and the intruders that come in and shake up his world is far from perfect, but shows real promise Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:31am on February 1, 2015☆⚑

No theatre is too big to fail by Lyn Gardner

As Hull Truck receives yet more emergency funding, we should re-examine the idea that it is bricks and mortar, rather than art, that must be saved at all costsThe news that Hull Truck theatr…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:00am on January 31, 2015☆⚑

Hello/Goodbye review " romance with all the depth of a coffee advert by Lyn Gardner

Hampstead theatre, LondonTwo strangers move in together, flirt and fall in love in this pointless romcom that raises questions about Hampstead's new-writing policyNerdy Alex (Shaun Evans), a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:17am on January 30, 2015☆⚑

Bristol arts scene is set to suffer 'for a few extra thousand pounds a year' by Lyn Gardner

If arts outfit Residence loses its bid to win the lease on its longtime home in the city centre, it won't just hurt Bristol's theatre scene " it will damage the city's growing reputation as …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:53am on January 26, 2015☆⚑

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

Blanche McIntyre revives Tom Stoppard's Arcadia for a nationwide tour, playwrights from Caryl Churchill to Mark Ravenhill consider freedom of expression in the arts, and The Nether transfers…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on January 26, 2015☆⚑

The Diary of a Nobody review " relentless comedy and no compassion by Lyn Gardner

King's Head, LondonDetermined to deliver laughs, this production misses the original's affection for its figure-of-fun hero, Charles Pooter Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:00pm on January 25, 2015☆⚑

Out of the Cage review " munitionettes drama fails its hard-working cast by Lyn Gardner

Park theatre, LondonAlex McSweeney's play about a wartime factory explosion is packed with information but lacks tension Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:03am on January 23, 2015☆⚑

New Atlantis review " climate-change dystopia lets audience choose solution by Lyn Gardner

The Crystal, LondonHow to deal with global warming? This 2050-set drama asks us to decide but you could learn more from spending 80 minutes online Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:38am on January 21, 2015☆⚑

It's showtime! But do you want to know when the play will finish? by Lyn Gardner

Ever been astonished at the brevity of a performance, or stunned to learn you're in for a long haul? It's better to find out the running time before you take your seatOver the Christmas brea…

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

Institute review " Gecko's Kafkaesque puzzle is both beautiful and bewildering by Lyn Gardner

Linbury Studio, LondonThis fascinating show about a strange office of troubled men packs a visual " and visceral " punch Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:38am on January 19, 2015☆⚑