Disability arts left hanging by a thread by Lyn Gardner

The London 2012 Paralympics opening ceremony marked a moment when disability arts came of age in the UK. Two years on, cuts to Access to Work threaten all that has been achieved Continue rea…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:23am on July 29, 2014☆⚑

Porgy and Bess review exquisitely sung Gershwin in the fresh air by Lyn Gardner

Regent's Park Open Air theatre, LondonThe singing is easy but life is hard in Timothy Sheader's refreshingly spare production Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:32am on July 29, 2014☆⚑

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

Thérèse Raquin commits crimes of passion in Bath and London, while the fringe gets underway in Edinburgh and Camden Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on July 28, 2014☆⚑

The Last Days of Limehouse review enjoyable and heartfelt by Lyn Gardner

Limehouse town hall, LondonThis unsentimental show about east London's historic Chinese community is made with love and acted with vigour Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:18pm on July 27, 2014☆⚑

Holy Warriors review did medieval meddling lead to the 'war on terror'? by Lyn Gardner

Shakespeare's Globe, LondonDavid Eldridge's drama about the fate of the Middle East is bold and ambitious but feels short on detail Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:49am on July 24, 2014☆⚑

Why aren't there more pop-up theatres in the West End? by Lyn Gardner

Want to take a show into Theatreland? You'll be up against high rents, difficult old buildings and lack of availability of venues. So is there a different way? Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:49am on July 24, 2014☆⚑

This Was a Man review first ever outing for Coward's once-banned play by Lyn Gardner

Finborough, LondonThere's much to enjoy watching the bad behaviour of a generation swigging cocktails in the wake of the first world warEveryone in London knows that Carol, wife of society p…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:09am on July 23, 2014☆⚑

What theatre can learn from Latitude by Lyn Gardner

This year's Latitude festival provided a powerful lesson for theatre programmers audiences are braver and more adventurous than they might thinkIt is early morning in the arena at Latitude …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:50am on July 21, 2014☆⚑

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

Helen McCrory does Medea at the National or head to Liverpool for the latest giant spectacular from Royal de Luxe or Glasgow to celebrate the Commonwealth Games with plenty of theatreThe ann…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on July 21, 2014☆⚑

Latitude festival review embracing smaller spaces a must by Lyn Gardner

Henham Park, SuffolkFree hugs, guilt-disposal, and a delicate piece about the terrors of hitting 30 were among the low-key theatrical treats at this year's Latitude Review: Latitude theatre,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:02am on July 20, 2014☆⚑

Latitude festival review theatre of seduction, fantasy and dreams by Lyn Gardner

Henham Park, SuffolkIlotopie's fiery jousting and singed angels were eclipsed by Mark Power, Made in China and GetinthebackofthevanFrench company Ilotopie know how to walk on water. Their wo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:26pm on July 18, 2014☆⚑

Leviathan review Moby-Dick with too much visual blubber by Lyn Gardner

Hackney Downs studios, LondonLiving Structure's immersive staging of Melville's whale of a novel has lots of style, but little theatrical substance The walk-through whale making waves in a H…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:22am on July 17, 2014☆⚑

Latitude: the festival that encourages theatre-makers to be braver by Lyn Gardner

Getting out of theatres and into a festival environment is good for companies, and provides an opportunity to engage with different audiences tooHeading to Latitude this weekend? If you are …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:45am on July 17, 2014☆⚑

Kafka's Dick review Alan Bennett's one-liners come thick and fast by Lyn Gardner

Theatre Royal, BathIn David Grindley's revival, this absurd take on literary lives builds up a strong comic momentumLiterary genius and genitals both figure in Alan Bennett's 1986 comedy, wh…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:04am on July 16, 2014☆⚑

Shutters review US triple bill focused on women lacks cohesion by Lyn Gardner

Park, LondonThese plays on American women's lives and history lack spark, except for Trifles, understated and poignant, from 1916Susan Glaspell's 1916 feminist short play Trifles is like fin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:44am on July 14, 2014☆⚑

Staging a new musical is risky - so should reviewers take it easy on them? by Lyn Gardner

Musicals are expensive and risky, as the producers of the new Adrian Mole adaptation well know. But that doesn't mean critics should feel duty-bound to support themAre critics too hard on ne…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:18am on July 14, 2014☆⚑

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

Maxine Peake pedals on with Beryl, medieval mystery plays get a modern makeover in Sheffield and a carnival of flying and falling takes place over GlasgowMondayIt's your last chance this wee…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:30am on July 14, 2014☆⚑

Dumbstruck review wistful charm and foot-tapping energy by Lyn Gardner

Battersea Arts Centre, LondonThis story of reclusive research and rock'n'roll is at its best when communicating through music and songThe 52-hertz whale has been called the loneliest whale i…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:37am on July 13, 2014☆⚑

'Go forth and fight': how to stage an arts funding revolution by Lyn Gardner

At the In Battalions festival, theatre-makers came together to consider how best to collectively influence government and change a dismal funding landscape Why won't Arts Council England tak…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:35am on July 11, 2014☆⚑

Whistleblower review a timely first staging of Edward Snowden's story by Lyn Gardner

Waterloo East theatre, LondonThis informative look at Snowden's decision to blow the whistle gains a thriller-like momentumAs the UK government, with cross-party support, began hurrying legi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:19am on July 11, 2014☆⚑

Wot? No Fish!! review immensely affecting, often comic by Lyn Gardner

This eloquent portrait of a loving East End Jewish marriage gets personal and political starting with a collection of shoeboxes This is a show about love that has been made with love. A few…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:43am on July 9, 2014☆⚑

Daytona review Maureen Lipman's performance is the one surprise by Lyn Gardner

Theatre Royal Haymarket, LondonIn the vast Haymarket, this intimate three-hander flaps around like a minnow stranded in the glare of the hot sunTheatreDaytona Theatre Royal Haymarket, London…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:30am on July 8, 2014☆⚑

Beyond Caring review compelling exploration of zero-hours working by Lyn Gardner

The Yard, LondonDevised by the cast and director Alexander Zeldin, this piece on the emotional fallout of minimum-wage lives is quietly devastating Director Alexander Zelddin on the working …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:24am on July 7, 2014☆⚑

In the building: why don't more women run our theatres? by Lyn Gardner

Women are highly visible in non-traditional fields of theatre, such as live art, outdoor and children's work. So why not in venues?A few weeks back I went to a platform event at Queen Mary's…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:38am on July 7, 2014☆⚑

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

Martin Freeman plays Richard III in London, Rupert Everett stars in Shaffer's Amadeus in Chichester, and Cambridge's Hotbed and Bristol's Ferment push at boundaries of theatreAt the start of…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:48am on July 7, 2014☆⚑