Enda Walsh: 'Theatre animal' explores our roles, solitude and the void below by Michael Billington

Lauded Irish playwright and screenwriter mixes physical comedy and verbal energy to delve into the sub-text of lonely lives Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on September 18, 2014☆⚑

The Wolf from the Door review brutal whismy mars middle-England road trip by Michael Billington

Royal Court, LondonRory Mullarkeys play about overthrowing the establishment has its moments, but doesnt achieve the Swiftian irony it aims for Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:42am on September 17, 2014☆⚑

Hamlet review Maxine Peake stresses character with a caustic Prince by Michael Billington

Royal Exchange, ManchesterA mixed production that even at three-and-a-half hours omits a good deal, but goes out of its way to avoid cliche Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:16pm on September 16, 2014☆⚑

The Flouers OEdinburgh review a lively slice of post-union Scottish satire by Michael Billington

Finborough, LondonSet in 18th-century Edinburgh, Robert McLellans 1948 comedy gets a lively English premiere even if its hard to know what the play proves Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:41am on September 16, 2014☆⚑

Donald Sinden: a great comic actor and a delightful man astonished by life by Michael Billington

Despite his versatility, stage comedy was the natural preserve of a gifted man whose sense of fun permeated his life and his work Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:26am on September 12, 2014☆⚑

King Charles III review a 21st-century Shakespearean tragedy by Michael Billington

Wyndhams, LondonTim Pigott-Smith gives the performance of his career in Mike Bartletts intelligent meditation on the pressures and purpose of monarchy today King Charles III: a West End trea…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:50am on September 12, 2014☆⚑

The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd review a cracking DH Lawrence revival by Michael Billington

Orange Tree, RichmondPaul Miller gets off to a fine start as the Orange Trees new director with this intense version of Lawrences hard-hitting working-class tragedy Continue reading...

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

Juno and the Paycock review classic with the twinkliness stripped away by Michael Billington

Bristol Old VicThis powerful production with Naimh Cusack is a stark portrait of a divided house and country Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:35am on September 11, 2014☆⚑

Rudys Rare Records review Lenny Henrys reggae romp has the audience roaring by Michael Billington

Birmingham RepStuffed with gags and overflowing with an easygoing, laid-back liberalism, this comedy about a vinyl-shop owner fighting developers has the feel of a stonking hit Continue read…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:53am on September 10, 2014☆⚑

Breeders review playing the baby blues for laughs by Michael Billington

St James, LondonBen Ockrent's comedy about a same-sex couple trying to conceive a child has sparky dialogue, cracking gags and a quartet of attractive performances Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:40am on September 9, 2014☆⚑

The Comedy of Errors review a near-perfect production by Michael Billington

Shakespeare's Globe, LondonBlanche McIntyre handles Shakespeare's beautifully crafted farce with delight, humour and a touch of magic Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:50pm on September 5, 2014☆⚑

Little Revolution review reading of the riots captures rifts but not the rage by Michael Billington

Almeida, London Alecky Blythe's verbatim theatre exposes Hackney's class apartheid without showing what has changed since the riots Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:55am on September 4, 2014☆⚑

Regeneration review right time to bring Pat Barker's war novel to stage by Michael Billington

Royal and Derngate, Northampton Predominant note is of infinite sadness at the idea of men being "cured" in preparation for near-certain death Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:08pm on September 3, 2014☆⚑

Retiring, the Telegraph's theatre critic Charles Spencer? You must be kidding by Michael Billington

For a quarter of a century, my Telegraph colleague has been writing forthright and fearless reviews his candour will be sorely missed following his decision to quit Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:54am on September 1, 2014☆⚑

Toast review Bread-factory drama brings out the best in Bean by Michael Billington

Park theatre, LondonRichard Bean vividly captures the blitz spirit of earning a crust, with strong performances from Matthew Kelly, Simon Greenall and John Wark Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:30pm on August 31, 2014☆⚑

Pitcairn review what happened after mutiny on the Bounty by Michael Billington

There are problems in paradise in Richard Bean's ingenious look at a failed attempt to create an island utopia Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:05am on August 29, 2014☆⚑

Hay Fever review hysteria rules as Felicity Kendal does Coward by Michael Billington

Theatre Royal, BathThis faithful revival of Noël Coward's durable comedy of bad manners is smartly performed by Kendal and Michael Simkins Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:00pm on August 27, 2014☆⚑

Bad Jews review scalding rhetoric between hissing cousins by Michael Billington

Ustinov Studio, BathJoshua Harmon's provocative play raises questions about what it means to be Jewish in today's global culture Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:55am on August 13, 2014☆⚑

Sommer 14: A Dance of Death review engrossing and controversial war play by Michael Billington

Finborough, LondonThe German writer Rolf Hochhuth blames Winston Churchill for the sinking of the Lusitania in this skilful and provocative piece Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:28am on August 12, 2014☆⚑

Edinburgh festival 2014 review: The James Plays Munro's trilogy is full of topical resonance by Michael Billington

Festival theatre, EdinburghThe Killing's Sofie Gråbøl rules the stage in Rona Munro's stories about James I, II and III Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:34am on August 11, 2014☆⚑

Edinburgh festival 2014 review: The War art theatre with a vengeance by Michael Billington

The staging is ingenious, the music fiercely eclectic, but it's hard to make out the central ideas in Vladimir Pankov's hyper-stylised first world war spectacular Playwright breaks Russian s…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:37am on August 10, 2014☆⚑

Thérèse Raquin review Pippa Nixon seems destined for stardom by Michael Billington

Theatre Royal, BathEmile Zola's feverish, intense novel is exactly realised in this ultra-theatrical production Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:43am on August 8, 2014☆⚑

The White Devil review putting the patriarchy on trial by Michael Billington

The Swan, StratfordMaria Aberg update of the Webster play foregrounds its gender politics but ultimately loses as much as it gains Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:36am on August 7, 2014☆⚑

My Night With Reg review fine revival for caustic study of gay manners by Michael Billington

Donmar Warehouse, LondonKevin Elyot's breakthrough 1994 piece is well played, catching the secret fears and surface buoyancy of a group of companions 'His subject was the longing for love': …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:07am on August 6, 2014☆⚑

Dessa Rose review too complicated for its own good by Michael Billington

Trafalgar Studios, London Ahrens's treatment of race relations is more exhausting than spiritually enlightening Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:42am on August 1, 2014☆⚑