UK / West End Theater Reviews

Review: THE TRIALS AND PASSIONS OF UNFAMOUS WOMEN, Brixton House Theatre
by Niamh Jones - June 18, 2024

A courtroom is a place of tradition, of cold reason rather than emotional responses. This is a fact which is highlighted in The Trials and Passions of Unfamous Women, a new play produced by LIFT, Brixton House and Clean Break, a company which works to bring the stories of women who are criminalised ...

Review: THE BOUNDS, Royal Court Theatre
by Cindy Marcolina - June 18, 2024

Written by Stewart Pringle, The Bounds takes punters to 1553, “the true Golden Age of English football”, when matches could last hours or days and rules were, though relaxed, quite severe. While people are playing in the distance, our protagonists of humble Northumbrian origins end up debating a lot...

Review: SISTER ACT THE MUSICAL, Dominion Theatre
by Aliya Al-Hassan - June 18, 2024

After a gruelling few years of cancellations and Covid, Bill Buckhurst's production of Sister Act The Musical was first enjoyed at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2022. Having opened in March 2024 at the Dominion Theatre, a new cast continues the success of this pacy, slick and hugely enjoyable production...

Review: A CHILD OF SCIENCE, Bristol Old Vic
by Tim Wright - June 14, 2024

Ultimately, A Child of Science offers a vivid portrayal of the intersection between scientific pursuit and human longing. It’s a testament to the extraordinary efforts behind ordinary miracles. And how the path to creating life can be as intricate and moving as the lives it aims to bring into the wo...

Review: SWAN LAKE IN-THE-ROUND, Royal Albert Hall
by Vikki Jane Vile - June 14, 2024

Derek Deane’s Swan Lake has quite the reputation. First premiered in 1997 it became known for its corps de ballet of 60 swans (with freelancers hired to beef up ENB’s ranks) and then in 2010, a BBC documentary tracked its rehearsals and opening night, not always depicting everyone in the most flatte...

Review: GIFFORDS CIRCUS: AVALON, Chiswick House and Gardens
by Kat Mokrynski - June 15, 2024

Written and Directed by Cal McCrystal, Avalon is the 2024 show for Giffords Circus, a village-green travelling circus that follows the belief of ther founder, Nell Giffords, that “Art is Love.” The tents and caravans feel as though they have been pulled from a classic movie....

Review: L'AMORE DEL CUORE (HEART'S DESIRE), Coronet Theatre
by Cindy Marcolina - June 14, 2024

The Coronet might be the most internationally inclined venue in London. From hosting Japanese companies to putting on an entire programme of Taiwanese work, they stage remarkable projects. Once the home of the Italian Theatre Festival, the theatre is now presenting a translation of one of Britain’s ...

Review: ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, Formosa Gardens
by Kat Mokrynski - June 17, 2024

All’s Well That Ends Wells, a production by Shakespeare in the Square and directed by Sioned Jones, is a touring version of Shakespeare’s work, being performed in gardens across the UK. The tale tells the story of Helena, a young woman living under the guardianship of the Countess of Roussillon who ...

Review: VEGETABLES, Secret Location In Clerkenwell
by Cindy Marcolina - June 13, 2024

Either the immersive industry is floundering, or the craze has passed. Only last year, the most simple in-the-round staging was deemed immersive. These days, we’ve returned to a reduced scene, with only Punchdrunk hitting the news and Phantom Peak continuing its winning streak. Something smaller and...

Review: TWELFTH NIGHT, Shakespeare North Playhouse
by Sarah OHara - June 12, 2024

Award winning Theatre company Not Too Tame return with their latest production - William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night - and I can say without a doubt, that it is the best Shakespeare production you will see this year....

Review: KATHY AND STELLA SOLVE A MURDER!, Ambassador's Theatre
by Alice Cope - June 11, 2024

A delightful comedy murder mystery musical that expertly blends humour, intrigue, and heartfelt friendship....

Review: MISS JULIE, Park Theatre
by Cindy Marcolina - June 12, 2024

Max Harrison’s production is a beautiful textbook revival that, while leaning into the comic side of the text (translated here by Michael Meyer) accordingly tips into the opposite range of emotional distress. This Miss Julie is funny one second, horrid the immediate next. ...

Review: CIRQUE: THE GREATEST SHOW, Leicester Curve
by Franco Milazzo - June 11, 2024

With its live singers, superb clowning and disappointing vaudeville acts, The Entertainers’ Cirque: The Greatest Show is bringing its dazzling show around the country....

Review: MEDEA ON THE MIC, Oran Mor
by Natalie O'Donoghue - June 11, 2024

Join everyone’s favourite princess-sorceress for one hell of a good time as she shares stories of when she was Scottish and swaggered into the wonderlands of Berlin, Tehran and New York. Other guests on the mic include her bitter ex Jason (of the Argonauts) and old pal the Chariot Queen....

Review: BEING MR WICKHAM, Jermyn Street Theatre
by Kat Mokrynski - June 12, 2024

Written and performed by Adrian Lukis and directed by Guy Unsworth, Being Mr Wickham brings us into the world of the infamous Pride & Prejudice character after his 60th birthday, having withdrawn from the festivities to a quiet space. But, suddenly, Wickham looks into the audience, acknowledging us ...

Review: JAZZ EMU: KNIGHT FEVER, Soho Theatre
by Kat Mokrynski - June 12, 2024

Knight Fever sees the return of the narcissistic pop star character, Jazz Emu, this time vying for a Knighthood at the Royal Variety Show. The character, created and played by Archie Henderson, has done several shows in the past and has gone viral on social media for his hilarious and catchy songs....

Review: BABIES A NEW (BORN) MUSICAL, The Other Palace
by Cindy Marcolina - June 13, 2024

Real life is looming right after the end of Year 11. Entrusted with a robotic newborn, a group of students need to survive a week in their new roles as parents while their GCSEs get closer and closer. The school is trying to teach them responsibility and warn off any unwanted pregnancies - but the t...

Review: MOFFIE, Riverside Studios
by Alice Cope - June 10, 2024

The powerful story of a tender and gentle human forced into a brutal environment filled with hate and toxic masculinity....

Review: SARASOTA BALLET GALA - ASHTON WORLDWIDE, Royal Opera House
by Matthew Paluch - June 10, 2024

The final Ashton Worldwide bill at the Royal Opera House (23-24 season) was a Gala programme performed by the Sarasota Ballet in the Linbury Theatre...

Review: MY FAIR LADY, Leeds Playhouse
by Gary Naylor - June 08, 2024

Two terrific leads will delight audiences, but the source material's misogyny proves too much to simply sweep aside...

Review: ASHTON CELEBRATED - PROGRAMME 2, Royal Opera House
by Matthew Paluch - June 10, 2024

We're back for more Ashton, with a variation on the initial Royal Ballet programme...

Review: MARIE CURIE, Charing Cross Theatre
by Cindy Marcolina - June 08, 2024

She was exceptional, but the musical written about her is anything but. It tends to be old-fashioned and traditional in structure, willing itself to be a majestic epic, but never reaching that stage. Her life story feels rushed and vague, the songs are run-of-the-mill, standardised, lacking that big...

Review: CLOSER TO HEAVEN, Turbine Theatre
by Mica Blackwell - June 10, 2024

The talented cast and creatives can only do so much to elevate the musical’s inherent camp, but Jonathan Harvey and the Pet Shop Boys' script and songs feel underbaked with characters who aren’t able to be fleshed out. With this in mind, it feels closer to hell....

Review: IVO GRAHAM: CAROUSEL, Park Theatre
by Kat Mokrynski - June 10, 2024

Ivo Graham: Carousel is a step in a new direction for Graham, who is most well-known for his standup comedy, having been performing since the young age of eighteen. In this show, he “invites you onto his own carousel,” bringing you into his world through an hour of remembrance....

Review: DIVA: LIVE FROM HELL, King's Head Theatre
by Kat Mokrynski - June 10, 2024

DIVA: Live From Hell has arrived at the King’s Head Theatre. With a book and characters by Nora Brigid Monahan and music/ lyrics by Alexander Sage Oyen, the one-man musical brings us into the eternal punishment of Desmond Channing, a high schooler from Florida who is forced to reenact the final few ...