Buyer and Cellar review " an adventure in Barbra Streisand's basement by Michael Billington

Menier Chocolate Factory, LondonThis US show about an out-of-work actor employed to service Streisand's subterranean mall takes its star-obsession several notches too far Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:43am on March 20, 2015☆⚑

Still centre stage at 90: Peter Brook, human earthquake of modern theatre by Michael Billington

70-year career of a director with a touch of the showman who has always sought to bring reality to the stage Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:57pm on March 19, 2015☆⚑

The Royale review " a pulsating, expressionist vision of the boxing world by Michael Billington

Bush theatre, LondonThis knockout drama " based on the life and times of the first African-American heavyweight champ, Jack Johnson " hits hard but has balletic graceMarco Ramirez is not the…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:56am on March 19, 2015☆⚑

The Cutting of the Cloth review " well-tailored Savile Row drama by Michael Billington

Southwark Playhouse, LondonThis revival of Michael Hastings's 1973 play immaculately captures the rhythms and tensions inside a tailor's workshop in the 1950sWork is not only a four-letter w…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:07am on March 18, 2015☆⚑

Shrapnel review " Anders Lustgarten's short, sharp play about the Roboski massacre by Michael Billington

Arcola theatre, LondonThe arms trade and the Turkish government are targeted in this piece about the bombing of 34 unarmed Kurds, mistaken by a US drone for terrorists Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:56am on March 17, 2015☆⚑

Singin' in the Rain review " a big splash on the Paris stage by Michael Billington

Théâtre du Châtelet, ParisA stylish and intelligent re-imagining of the classic MGM movie by a mainly British team drives audiences wildWho would have thought it? The French have fall…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:25am on March 16, 2015☆⚑

Play Mas review " funny, informative account of parties and politics in Trinidad by Michael Billington

Orange Tree, RichmondMustapha Matura's sharp 1974 satire is richly informative and offers a potent metaphor for the post-colonial process. It's also very funny Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:00pm on March 15, 2015☆⚑

The 2000 Year Old Man review " 'Christ? He was a nice boy. Wore sandals' by Michael Billington

JW3, LondonIn this remake of a classic routine by Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner, a very old man recalls brushes with Jesus, Shakespeare and Helen of Troy's sister Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:13am on March 13, 2015☆⚑

Radiant Vermin review " Philip Ridley's nightmare tale of a dream home by Michael Billington

Soho theatre, LondonA couple must murder their way to a perfect property in this morality play about a materialistic world where enough is never enough Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:43am on March 12, 2015☆⚑

Nicholas Hytner at the National: the top 10 productions " in pictures by Michael Billington

As Nicholas Hytner leaves the spotlight at the National Theatre, Michael Billington presents a subjective selection, in chronological order, of the 10 best shows during his tenure as its dir…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:08pm on March 10, 2015☆⚑

Bravo! Why Nicholas Hytner's National Theatre deserves a standing ovation by Michael Billington

Did he duck the big issues? Did he capture the diversity of today's Britain? And were his choices a bit blokey? As Nicholas Hytner's 12-year reign as director of the National Theatre ends, M…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:03pm on March 10, 2015☆⚑

Olivier awards 2015: who's missing from the nominees? by Michael Billington

Startling omissions include Ben Miles as Thomas Cromwell and Enda Walsh's Ballyturk. Even Dirty Rotten Scoundrel Robert Lindsay can't charm his way on to the shortlistThere are some things o…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:04am on March 9, 2015☆⚑

The Armour review " captures the erotic intensity of hotel plays by Michael Billington

Langham hotel, LondonBen Ellis's ingenious three-parter, tracing the history of this luxury London abode, tracks power found and lost at a luxury hotel Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:23am on March 8, 2015☆⚑

Antigone review " unusual, puzzling and profound re-imagining of Sophocles by Michael Billington

Teaming Juliette Binoche with A View From The Bridge director Ivo van Hove, along with Anne Carson's fine translation, creates a prestige show Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:39pm on March 5, 2015☆⚑

King Lear review " Jonathan Miller keeps it all in the family by Michael Billington

Viaduct theatre, HalifaxIn the director's wonderfully lucid period production for Northern Broadsides, starring Barrie Rutter, Shakespeare's tragedy becomes an intimate domestic drama Contin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:23am on March 5, 2015☆⚑

Game review " sex, snipers and social outrage in Mike Bartlett's shocking play by Michael Billington

Almeida, LondonThis experimental piece about tourists who pay to fell a young couple with tranquilising shots is certainly disturbing " but what's the aim?There is an element of voyeurism in…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:00pm on March 4, 2015☆⚑

The Rise and Shine of Comrade Fiasco review " fear and loathing in a Zimbabwean prison by Michael Billington

Gate, LondonAndrew Whaley's play is well directed by Elayce Ismail but demands a familiarity with the country's history that obscures its allegorical meaning Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:30am on March 3, 2015☆⚑

Lippy review " a sombre exploration of silence and suicide by Michael Billington

Young Vic, LondonA relentlessly bleak look at a suicide pact made between four women in a small Irish town leaves us no wiser about their motivations Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:25am on February 27, 2015☆⚑

Multitudes review " a vigorous debate about British Islam by Michael Billington

Tricycle, LondonThe debut play from actor John Hollingworth uses a divided Bradford family and a Tory party conference to confront the problems facing Muslims in Britain Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:23am on February 26, 2015☆⚑

Man and Superman review " Ralph Fiennes masters Shaw's contrary male by Michael Billington

Lyttelton theatre, LondonSimon Godwin's modern-dress revival sprinkles fun on the social debate as it reduces a very masculine hero to helplessness in the face of feminine seduction"My metho…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:04am on February 26, 2015☆⚑

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical review " a tapestry of greatest hits by Michael Billington

Aldwych, LondonThis West End musical's attempts to weave King's songs into her life story leaves you none the wiser as to who she wasFans of the singer-songwriter Carole King may be happy ju…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:00pm on February 24, 2015☆⚑

Closer review " as powerful and pertinent as ever by Michael Billington

Donmar Warehouse, London David Leveaux's fine production featuring an expertly balanced cast shows Patrick Marber's play is much more than the product of its time Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 5:00pm on February 23, 2015☆⚑

Farinelli and the King review " Mark Rylance stars in a celebration of music by Michael Billington

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, LondonClaire van Kampen mixes story and song superbly in a tale about the celebrated castrato Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:30am on February 23, 2015☆⚑

Fireworks review " child actors light up Gaza crisis by Michael Billington

Royal Court, LondonThe young leads in Dalia Taha's play about family life in Gaza paint a frightening picture of lost innocence Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:39am on February 20, 2015☆⚑

Eugene Onegin review " lovestruck and snowblind in St Petersburg by Michael Billington

Barbican, LondonRimas Tuminas's production, though witty and full of memorable, inventive imagery, misses some of Pushkin's deft lightness Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:50am on February 19, 2015☆⚑