Gary Naylor - Page 57

Though not among Shakespeare's more gory tragedies (competition is pretty fierce after all), Othello is surely his most brutal, a slow motion car crash, in which love and trust go up against cynicism and venality - and lose.

It is (natch) quixotic to stage a version of the mighty chronicle of the unhinged Spanish knight in a North London basement, but what's life (especially theatre) for if not such dreams?

One of the joys of a gig like mine is precisely the opposite of this piece's predicate - I do not look forward to productions at all, simply rolling with the flow and seeing what might come up.

Gary Naylor finds out more about the riding star of the stand-up circuit.

Gary Naylor sees a salute to lost innocence, one hundred years on.

Gary Naylor previews London Theatre's start to the New Year.

Four lads bicker on stage in a multiplicity of languages - like a bad night in the Green Room at the Eurovision Song Contest. There's a slightly bossy one, a tall one, a sensitive one and a feisty little one. And on that familiar structure, Folds unfolds its extraordinary hour of circus, music, dance and wonder.

Like a giant teddy bear in a red nose, the Yellow Clown chases a balloon one minute, kicks through snow the next and, occasionally, clambers into the audience. He's a clown, but often a sad one, alone at first, until... Mayhem!

So, 109 shows reviewed in 2013 (with a couple more to come) - how to choose the best from that lot! Of course, I can't, as the variety and quality of London's theatre make comparisons invidious.

Slava's Snowshow is back for a third winter in London, having continued its worldwide success since its creator first came to London in 2011. BWW's Gary Naylor spoke to the show's mastermind, Slava Polunin, before his London debut a couple of years ago and here's what he had to say.

Gary Naylor sees another madcap laugh-a-minute disaster.

Gary Naylor sees a traditional Wimbledon panto blockbuster.

Gary Naylor sees another Christmas Show triumph from the Charles Court Opera Company.

Gary Naylor sees another opera done Opera-Up-Close style.

Gary Naylor sees a revival of the show that made the company's name.

Susie McKenna bites the bullet and gives a Puss in Boots that stays loyal to its complicated French story but still incorporates all the traditions of its madcap English format. It's a packed show, coming in at just over two and a half hours - fortunately the pace doesn't let up and the audience goes home well entertained having had their money's worth.

Gary Naylor enjoys a revival of an Ayckbourn Christmas play rather more than he did the first time he saw it.

Gary Naylor sees a show long on entertainment if a little short on plot

Gary Naylor sees another traditional panto at one of London's great panto theatres.

Robert Chevara explains why Joseph Strauss II's 'Three glasses of good champagne' is the ideal Christmas show