Kes review a bustling production that speaks directly to its audience by Lyn Gardner

Cast, DoncasterA heartfelt take on the Barry Hiness classic has its moments, but the impact of the story is diluted by a lack of pace and focus Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:56am on September 10, 2014☆⚑

Mind your language: the trouble with theatre surtitles by Lyn Gardner

Great translations make foreign productions accessible, but poor ones are a distraction. Should surtitles sometimes be shown the stage door? Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:28am on September 10, 2014☆⚑

Land of Our Fathers review coal-mining drama plumbs depths of human spirit by Lyn Gardner

Trafalgar Studios, LondonPlaywright Chris Urch's impressive debut about a band of pitmen trapped by an electrical blast is gruelling but always watchable Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:55am on September 9, 2014☆⚑

From Martha and George to the Porters: best and worst stage marriages by Lyn Gardner

Matrimony has been explored by playwrights including Shakespeare, Chekhov, Williams and O'Casey. Which stage unions have fascinated you? Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 4:00am on September 9, 2014☆⚑

The White Whale review a delightful dystopian twist on Moby-Dick by Lyn Gardner

Leeds DockStaged on boats and floating platforms, this ambitious, thoughtful production asks big questions about our responsibility to each other and the planet Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:01am on September 8, 2014☆⚑

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

Openings this week range from a classic about life in the trenches during the first world war to an exploration of sheep-farming on a Snowdonia hill farm Continue reading...

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

Titus Andronicus review visually striking but flawed by Lyn Gardner

Bold Tendencies Car Park, LondonA swaggering take on Shakespeare's goriest tragedy is both helped and hindered by its urban setting Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:35am on September 5, 2014☆⚑

Kes the right show in the right place? by Lyn Gardner

A new revival of that old favourite, Kes, underlines the dilemma facing regional theatres: whether to put on plays that will shift tickets or maybe change lives Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:41am on September 5, 2014☆⚑

Chicken Shop review masculinity, muesli and Mum's girlfriends by Lyn Gardner

Park theatre, LondonAnna Jordan's stilted early play about parenting and sexual exploitation struggles to find its focus in this lacklustre production Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:34pm on September 4, 2014☆⚑

Autobahn review Neil LaBute's playlet cycle gets under your skin by Lyn Gardner

King's Head, LondonThis evening of unrelated scenes, all staged in the front seat of a car, is watchable though a little samey and stop-start Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:45am on September 3, 2014☆⚑

Why UK theatre should look beyond its borders by Lyn Gardner

As belts are tightened in the UK, international partnerships such as Simon Stephens's remarkable Three Kingdom will make British theatre far richerAt an Edinburgh fringe industry breakfast l…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:02am on September 2, 2014☆⚑

Punishment Without Revenge review a fitfully enjoyable Spanish drama by Lyn Gardner

Shakespeare's Globe, LondonRakata return with a Spanish-language drama by a playwright who made Shakespeare seem like a slacker Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:25am on September 2, 2014☆⚑

Wingman review mending a father-son relationship with rhyme by Lyn Gardner

Pleasance Dome, EdinburghRichard Marsh's pat but often funny two-hander asks if a feckless father deserves a second chance Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:34am on September 1, 2014☆⚑

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

Headlong's 1984 hits Glasgow, the astonishing Grounded goes out on tour from Birmingham Rep, and the Unlimited Festival pushes boundaries at London's South Bank Continue reading...

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

Mat Ricardo: Showman review a slick and artful juggling act by Lyn Gardner

Pleasance Dome, EdinburghThis gloriously old-fashioned celebration of the juggler harks back to the golden age of variety and vaudeville Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:40am on August 29, 2014☆⚑

Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope: Edinburgh festival 2014 review pithy wit under a blue-rinse wig by Lyn Gardner

Gilded Balloon, EdinburghThe legendary 'stately homo', who found fame after the 1975 TV adaptation of his autobiography, is stylishly brought back to life by Mark Farrelly in this entertaini…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:51am on August 25, 2014☆⚑

Edinburgh festival 2014 review: Freak vivid, funny and sad by Lyn Gardner

Assembly George Square, EdinburghA play that sometimes feels exploitative rather than subversive is kept on the rails by Anna Jordan's highly effective writing Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:47am on August 25, 2014☆⚑

Edinburgh festival 2014: the Tourette's hero highs and Nancy Dell'Olio lows by Lyn Gardner

The fringe is over for another year, so here's 2014's unofficial bouquets and brickbats Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:20am on August 25, 2014☆⚑

Edinburgh 2014 review: Front a harrowing collection of wartime voices by Lyn Gardner

Royal Lyceum, EdinburghLuk Perceval's 'vocal orchestra' brought the experiences of people caught up in the first world war vividly to life, but was a punshing experience all told Continue re…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:00pm on August 24, 2014☆⚑

Edinburgh 2014 review: A Slight Ache Pinter's struggles lack power by Lyn Gardner

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghHarold Pinter's radio psychodrama loses its sense of mystery as Simon Munnery's match-seller is revealed on stage Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:54pm on August 22, 2014☆⚑

Edinburgh 2014 review: Bromance engaging and likable circus by Lyn Gardner

Underbelly Topside, EdinburghBarely Methodical adopt a thematic approach to their exploration of male friendship that bodes well for the company's future Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:54am on August 22, 2014☆⚑

Edinburgh festival 2014: a big hand for the audience by Lyn Gardner

Edinburgh audiences deserve a round of applause for the enthusiasm with which they queue they offer an upbeat reminder that theatre is alive and well Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:56am on August 22, 2014☆⚑

Edinburgh festival 2014 review: Circa Beyond opens the door to a secret world by Lyn Gardner

Underbelly, Bristo SquareImprobable sights and feats loom large in a circus show that turns on the performers' pronounced sense of the ridiculous Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:28am on August 22, 2014☆⚑

Edinburgh 2014 review: Kim Noble exploring the sweet sadness of existence by Lyn Gardner

Traverse theatreNoble's guerilla theatre piece runs the gamut from the unethical and troubling to random acts of kindness and real tenderness Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:18am on August 21, 2014☆⚑

Edinburgh festival 2014 review: Circus Incognitus a little beauty by Lyn Gardner

New Town theatre, EdinburghJamie Adkins' one-man marvel of a show blends clowning and vaudeville in ways that are subtle, clever and moving Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:42am on August 21, 2014☆⚑