As another year passes it's time to reflect on this years theatre trips. There have been some massive openings this year, a few well-deserved West End transfers and as always a few little ge…
We've had premieres, modern adaptations and watched some shows receive West End transfers " the Manchester stages have been truly brilliant this year. Here is Upstaged Manchester's round-up …
Following his current turn as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Rhys Ifans will return to the Old Vic Theatre in the new year to star in the world premiere of Joe Penhall's new stage play Mood M…
You know what time of year it is " so I've just been through my annual Mind the Advent countdown! As I've seen a personal best number of different shows this year, the sheer volume of actors…
Hamilton is slick, and lavish, and a glorious parade of movement and dance: Andy Blankenbuehler's seamless choreography is a constant athletic cavalcade.
"This is not a musical. This is not a concert. This is not a panto, or a play, or anything I can compare it to," so proclaims Tom Fletcher in the show notes. And he is quite right. While The…
'I just love the festive season anyway, it's something which doesn't take itself too seriously " you know what you're going to get with a pantomime.'
This production twists the Cinderella story a little too far for younger audiences who would be more suited to the traditional fairy tale version by Sir Frederick Ashton. As expected this is…
Simon Callow has joined forces with the celebrated Brighouse and Rastrick Band; the double album features the five-stave narration (backed by the band) on one disc, with the full versions of…
Between hosting The Chase, appearing in his regular Peter Pan panto and preparing to become one of the 13th Doctor's new companion, it's a wonder he's managed to find time to record a new al…
This entertaining show brings to life what it would have been like to see The Rat Pack performing live with great style and humour.
The play is performed in The Site, round the back at the Royal Court, a place you enter after walking through various staged abstract scenes " a lot filled with Christmas trees, a run-down g…
There are too many joys in the show to list them all. Be sure to look out for the arrival of Jefferson after the interval. Just try to get a ticket to the room where it happens and be ready …
Think Christmas and think kids and you think panto " but not anymore. It's not all about the dames and double entendres, thanks to Nonsense Room Productions.
The smash-hit Broadway musical has made its West End premiere in the newly refurbished Victoria Palace Theatre. Just how many five-star raves can one show receive? Is this unprecedented? Lov…
James Norton and Imogen Poots find disappointment as Americans In Paris, in Amy Herzog's shocking, disturbing and riveting drama, Belleville.
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
My verdict? A superlative debut play by Niall Ransome that taps into a very important issue, brilliantly written in verse " a must-see alternative Christmas production.
There's superlative work from Gyre & Gimble's puppetry, Loren O'Dair and James Alexander-Taylor's work with the wolf is exceptional, and the whole show is just as satisfying and challen…
This Young Vic and National Theatre co-production examines the stories of those who lived in The Jungle in Calais. It runs at the Young Vic until 9 January 2018. Here Love London Love Cultur…
As part of her ongoing post-show Q&A series, on Tuesday 30 January 2018 at London's Park Theatre, Mates co-founder Terri Paddock will talk to legendary Broadway lyricist Sheldon Harnick…
The beginning of the play is immediately evocative of John Masefield's The Box of Delights and Susan Hill's The Woman in Black, with Sylvia having an eerie and memorable train journey.
As part of her ongoing post-show Q&A series, on Wednesday 10 January 2018 at London's Finborough Theatre, Mates co-founder Terri Paddock will talk to the director and cast of Christophe…
My verdict? A top-class transfer of an all-American musical, spreading Alexander Hamilton's story ever further " you won't want to miss your shot to be in the room where it happens!
Change doesn't just happen, it has to be ushered in by visionaries determined to shake up the status quo to allow the rest of us to shuffle in in their wake.