Are you sitting comfortably? Then let's hear it for the theatre ushers by Lyn Gardner

Well-trained front-of-house staff are vital to the theatregoing experience " especially, as at a recent performance of Beauty and the Beast, when there is a disruption in the stallsLet's hea…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:59am on December 23, 2014☆⚑

Arabian Nights review " a magical musical revival by Lyn Gardner

Sherman, CardiffThis rousing staging of Dominic Cooke's adaptation is a reminder of the power of storytelling Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:44am on December 22, 2014☆⚑

The Fourth Wise Man review " aimless trek through sandstorm and blizzard by Lyn Gardner

Unicorn, LondonThe story of man struggling with his midlife crisis seems oddly pitched at an audience as young as four Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:53am on December 21, 2014☆⚑

The Frozen Scream review " Sarah Waters' supernatural mystery is too creaky by Lyn Gardner

Wales Millennium Centre, CardiffWaters and Christopher Green take a disappointing stab at retelling CC Gilbert's long-forgotten tale of love and murder in the snowy wilderness Continue readi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:51am on December 19, 2014☆⚑

The Possible Impossible House review " a cerebral puzzle lacking in wonder by Lyn Gardner

The Pit, LondonForced Entertainment's first show for children is underplayed, so it is never quite thrilling or funny enough for its audience' A kids' show that looks good on paper Continue …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:41am on December 19, 2014☆⚑

Apocalypse Meow: Crisis Is Born review " a cocktail of self-loathing and wit by Lyn Gardner

Southbank Centre, LondonMeow Meow's kamikaze Christmas cabaret confirms her talents for cunningly controlled chaos' Interview: Meow MeowCatastrophe has never been quite so seductive as&…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:47am on December 18, 2014☆⚑

One Snowy Night review " beautifully pitched staging of the picture book by Lyn Gardner

Discover Centre, LondonThis show, based on Nick Butterworth's book about Percy the park keeper, is ideal for the three- to six-year-old age group Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:02am on December 17, 2014☆⚑

Right actor, wrong role: when stars are not aligned by Lyn Gardner

Ever seen a production with a performance so misconceived you've wondered how the actor was ever cast? Share your stories of actors mismatched to their partsReviewing Herbert Beerbohm Tree p…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on December 17, 2014☆⚑

Tiger Country review " surgeons on a knife edge in NHS drama by Lyn Gardner

Hampstead theatre, LondonIn her engrossing play, Nina Raine explores the life-and-death challenges faced every day on the frontline of the health serviceFor a surgeon, tiger country is when …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:30am on December 16, 2014☆⚑

Lyn Gardner's top 10 theatre of 2014 by Lyn Gardner

In the second of our Stage critics' top 10 lists, Lyn Gardner singles out Florian Zeller's devastating examination of dementia, The Father, and in no set order, chooses her other essential p…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on December 16, 2014☆⚑

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

There are plenty of shows to tide you over the festive period, including a snowy forest in Cardiff and Forced Entertainment's first children's showThere's a nifty cast including Imogen Stubb…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on December 15, 2014☆⚑

Horrible Christmas review " not quite gruesomely horrible enough by Lyn Gardner

Old Rep, BirminghamSidney Claus and his reindeer henchman are a little tame, a little lame but still good fun Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:03am on December 14, 2014☆⚑

New diploma for learning disabled actors has the power to change theatre by Lyn Gardner

Central's course for learning disabled theatre-makers is challenging, empowering and has seen alumni cast in professional productions already Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:58am on December 11, 2014☆⚑

Pay-what-you-decide theatre: a risk that's worth taking by Lyn Gardner

Stockton's ARC theatre is letting audiences choose what to pay after seeing the show. It's a bold initiative to support artists and audiences Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on December 10, 2014☆⚑

101 Dalmatians review " stage show with tail-wagging swagger by Lyn Gardner

Tobacco Factory Theatres, BristolSally Cookson's witty, grown-up version of Dodie Smith's canine caper is full of joie de vivre Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:11am on December 9, 2014☆⚑

Rumpelstiltskin review " wit, charm and great songs by Lyn Gardner

The Egg, BathWith a fierce and feisty heroine at its heart, the Grimm fairytale " rarely seen on stage " gets a radical, risk-taking makeover Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:43am on December 8, 2014☆⚑

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

Look out for a spiffing Christmas spoof in Ipswich, a dark satire set in Edinburgh New Town, and Mark Thomas telling a superb story of betrayal Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on December 8, 2014☆⚑

Christmas review " yuletide blues from Simon Stephens by Lyn Gardner

White Bear, LondonThere's little festive cheer in this affecting play set in a pub where the arrival of a stranger upsets the regulars Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:18am on December 5, 2014☆⚑

Why theatre should be a risky business by Lyn Gardner

If theatres want to increase attendance, they mustn't be afraid of alienating their established audiences Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:59am on December 5, 2014☆⚑

Merlin review " like a junior Game of Thrones by Lyn Gardner

Royal and Derngate, NorthamptonElla Hickson's coming-of-age play brings a twist to the Arthurian legend but over-complicated storytelling breaks the spell Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:48am on December 4, 2014☆⚑

Obama-ology review " reality bites in campaign-trail drama by Lyn Gardner

Finborough theatre, LondonA privileged graduate meets an untutored communicator in Aurin Squire's entertaining political satire Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:53am on December 3, 2014☆⚑

Nobody could sing and the cast got naked: the theatre shows with unwelcome surprises by Lyn Gardner

Theatre can provide exactly the right show for your current mood. But not always… Tell us about those occasions when the show hasn't delivered what you expected Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on December 3, 2014☆⚑

Mother Goose review " Hackney panto is well worth a gander by Lyn Gardner

Hackney Empire, LondonOlivier award-winners Clive Rowe and Sharon D Clarke lead the fun in this boisterous Faust-with-feathers panto' The best festive shows this Christmas' Lyn Gardner: chil…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:17am on December 1, 2014☆⚑

An Ideal Husband review " Patricia Routledge can't rescue Wilde revival by Lyn Gardner

Chichester Festival theatreA host of bankable stars weigh down an evening that is funereal in pacing and design Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:16am on December 1, 2014☆⚑

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

Neil Gaiman's Stardust gets a page to stage adaptation in Hampshire, Feydeau is relocated to 1970s Britain in Liverpool, and pirates set sail at the NT Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on December 1, 2014☆⚑