Tonight, this reviewer was invited to see a new play by Callum Pardoe, staged in the intimate theatre nestled on the second floor of a North London pub. The play presents a novel concept: an anthology of scenes from various fictional television programmes. Upon entering the space, the four cast members are visible on stage in pairs, facing the walls and engaged in what appear to be tense, frustrating conversations. The pre-show music and audience noise make it difficult to ca

For anyone who knows anything about The Rocky Horror Picture Show, you will know that it is, first and foremost, a cult favourite. Its appeal is fiercely niche, adored by devoted fans across the world, but leaving little room for newcomers - particularly at events like these. I am a newcomer. I reviewed the UK tour last year, which gave me a glimpse of the extraordinary love audiences have for this show, and I genuinely loved the atmosphere. But tonight was something differen

Twenty years after its West End debut, Avenue Q is back for an anniversary celebration at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Over the years, the show has received widespread acclaim, its name spoken with near-universal reverence among musical theatre devotees. Suffice it to say that expectations were high for this reviewer - and they were not disappointed. The story follows Princeton (played by Noah Harrison) - a fresh university graduate with a BA in English - as he moves to Avenue Q

“A Dashing Antidote for Life’s Sorrows” In recent years, West End stages have become a home to numerous musical revivals, some enchanting the loyal fans and the demanding London audiences more than the others. However, a recent addition to the mix, Kinky Boots directed by Nikolai Foster , with book by Harvey Fierstein , is without a doubt one of the former - a revival that will knock you off your feet and make you want to dance all night long! Kinky Boots tells the story o

Many a time has this reviewer been lucky enough to witness a famous classic musical for the first time. You know, those shows everyone raves about for years on end and you just can’t seem to fit into your schedule? Waitress is one of those shows for this reviewer. When I started reviewing in the summer of 2023, this show was just finishing a successful UK and Ireland tour (if I remember correctly). Never to be seen again. And yet, rumours of a much anticipated return filled s

Once in a while, we come across a piece of writing that is so masterfully crafted that it feels like nothing short of pure genius. Now, this doesn't happen often, and it is even more rare that this piece of writing unites the minds of its viewers in agreement with this assessment. This play by Kimberly Belflower is that piece of writing. John Proctor is the Villain is a one-in-a-lifetime production—a show that speaks to every generation alike. Handling topics as delicate as

Spitfire Girls shines a light on the unspoken heroes of the Second World War - the women who fought stereotypes and deep rooted misogyny to serve their country. The show follows two women as they enlist to join the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), flying planes from factories to deliver them to the Royal Air Force during the war. Whilst these women were not on the front lines of the fighting, their job was essential in assuring the security of the soldiers who were. Although t

There’s a quote in the show’s programme that reads “Our age is the age of the refugee, the displaced person, mass immigration.” We live in terrifying times. Uncertain and uncomfortable times. When the status quo is constantly being challenged, corruption is reaching far and wide and our reliance on human bonds is stronger than ever. A story like The Beekeeper of Aleppo perhaps never felt more relevant than it does right at this moment. It follows the story of Nuri ( Adam Sin

Recently, West End theatres have played host to a growing number of one-night-only concerts and musical premieres. These productions have received a wide range of responses—from standing ovations for last month’s revival of Once On This Island to more measured, and at times scathing, criticism for others. While the premiere of Rosie does not quite fall into the category of failure, it cannot comfortably be called a success either. This show follows the story of Miss Rosie B

Based on the beloved ITV series, this original story provides yet another case for Inspector Morse (played here by Tom Chambers ) to add to his repertoire. When a young actress suddenly dies during a performance of Hamlet , a gripping investigation begins, gradually uncovering elements from the inspector’s past. As with the television series that inspired it, the production attempts to balance an intricate mystery with a more introspective look at its central character. The p

Told through a series of monologues and duologues, this show follows Dodi and Ava as they attempt to cope with their separation. It is a touching story that places heart, grief and identity at its centre, developing the queer narrative seamlessly without it becoming an area of focus. It was particularly refreshing to see diversity present on stage without the need for it to be overtly explained or justified. By treating it as an unremarkable part of everyday life, the product

Based on the horror-mystery story by Charles Dickens, this play follows a traveller who encounters a signalman living and working at the mouth of an ominous tunnel. Over the course of several nights, the two men exchange sympathies, and the signalman confides that he is being haunted by spirits connected to past tragedies. The production is set entirely along the stretch of railway track where the signalman resides, his small hut overlooking the line. While the set design is

Once in a while, an avid theatre-goer encounters a production that leaves neither a "good" nor "bad" impression, but rather a lingering sense of displacement—the feeling that "this just wasn't for me." Such was the case with this reviewer and the latest staging of Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell . It is a strange experience to sit in a room full of laughter and feel like the only one missing the punchline, yet that dissonance is exactly what defined the evening. Jeffrey Bernard ( R

A 50-hour-long marathon of improvisation. Yes, you read that correctly: 50 hours. As this reviewer writes, people still have another 24 hours of complete and utter madness to sit through. The Pleasance puts on this event every year, and for regulars it seems to be an absolute highlight. This year, we find ourselves in Pleasanceville in the year 1980… something — a sort of makeshift parody of the Stranger Things universe. The event works in a very clever way: every odd hour (

All I want is a room somewhere I can listen to this music, all day, every day. Oh, wouldn’t that be loverly? Every theatre lover understands the deep affection for cinema — and more specifically, for movie musicals. From Bernstein’s iconic West Side Story to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel , or even Pasek and Paul’s La La Land , these are the stories where characters burst into song not out of realism, but out of emotional necessity. There is, one might argue, no feeling

*This review will focus on the filmed version that is set to hit cinemas early next month. Details at the end of this review. Based on the classic Shakespearean tragedy, this production of Othello brings a sort of modern adaptation to the stage. Whilst it is never specified when the show is set, the costumes and set design seem to hint at a relatively modern version. Othello is a high ranking army general who finds himself being manipulated by his subordinate, Iago, into beli

Maury Yeston ’s 80th birthday was marked with a concert that served not merely as a celebration, but as a vivid reminder of the singular voice he has brought to musical theatre. Drawing on a selection of his most acclaimed and beloved works, the programme illuminated the breadth of a career defined by musical sophistication, lyrical clarity, and an unwavering commitment to storytelling. Eliza Wilmot Through a series of recorded interview segments, Yeston shared everything fr

Theatre is subjective. Not every story will suit everyone; one is bound to find a piece that simply does not speak to them. I realise that beginning a review in this way does not bode especially well for the production in question. Whilst that instinct is not entirely misleading, there is, in truth, much here to unpick. It is only fair to preface any discussion by noting that this is a show steeped in blood and gore, and one which proves genuinely terrifying at points. Camill

This famous American psychological thriller follows the story of Thomas Ripley (played here by Ed McVey ), a young man tasked with persuading a fleeting acquaintance to return home from Italy at the request of his wealthy family. Ripley travels to Italy under the financial care of the Greenleafs, intent on completing what seems, at first glance, to be a straightforward assignment. Yet as he settles into the languid glamour of sun-soaked Italy, he finds himself drawn into a ti

Based on the notorious 1992 movie with Whitney Houston , The Bodyguard returns for yet another tour of the UK. It follow the fictional story of Rachel Marron, an international superstar, as she is being targeted by an anonymous stalker. Bodyguard Frank Farmer is subsequently employed to ensure Rachel’s safety, as well as that of her sister and 10-year old son. Having had its previous tour swept up in controversy surrounding audience behaviour in theatres, expectations for th