BWW Review: THE AWAKENING, Brockley Jack Theatre
Gary Naylor sees an award-winning play from DL Productions that makes its demands on the audience, but provides its rewards too.
UK / West End Theater Reviews
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BWW Review: THE INN AT LYDDA, Shakespeare's Globe, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 7 September 2016
Gary Nayloe sees a curate's egg of a play, at times exhilarating, at times too pleased with itself, at one of London's great venues.
BWW Review: ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, 6 September 2016
Writer Bob Eaton had previous success with 2-Tone Musical Three Minute Heroes at the Belgrade Theatre in 2014.
BWW Review: VANITIES THE MUSICAL, Trafalgar Studios, 6 September 2016
Adapted from Jack Heifner's 1970s stage play, Vanities the Musical makes its London debut at the intimate Trafalgar Studios.
BWW Review: LA BOHÈME, King's Head Theatre, 5 September 2016
Gary Naylor sees another triumphant boutique opera at the genre's spiritual home with all the thrills of operatic voices at close quarters and plenty of laughter and tears too.
BWW Review: REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN., Shoreditch Town Hall, 2 September 2016
I hope there's a time when we don't feel like Alice Birch's bold, blackly funny, uncompromising battle cry of a play is a necessary intervention.
BWW Review: WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT, St James Theatre, 1 September 2016
The show must go on.
BWW Review: HOME CHAT, Finborough Theatre, 1 September 2016
Gary Naylor sees a beautifully delivered comedy of manners performed for the first time in almost 90 years.
BWW Review: GIANNI SCHICCHI / PAGLIACCI, Arcola Theatre, 31 August 2016
Gary Naylor sees two short operas from Irrational Theatre that provide wonderful value for money and a fine introduction to the form.
BWW Review: THE ENTERTAINER, Garrick Theatre, 30 August 2016
The latest 2016 state-of-the-nation play has arrived - from 1957.
BWW Review: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, The reFASHIONed Theatre, Selfridges, 26 August 2016
Gary Naylor sees an ambitious and engaging all-through production of one of Shakespeare's best loved comedies.
BWW Review: THE ROUNDABOUT, Park Theatre, 25 August 2016
Gary Naylor sees a revival that invites comparisons between the Britain of the 1930s and 2010s, but runs out of narrative energy and character credibility
BWW Review: THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO, Almeida Theatre, 23 August 2016
How long does it take to cover the complex problems in the Congo, AKA the most dangerous place in the world? Adam Brace's play has a semi-joking educational sequence that attempts it in four and a half minutes - putting to bed the ubiquitous Um Bongo jingle - but the morass of conflicting informati
BWW Review: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, Gray's Inn Hall, 22 August 2016
Gary Naylor sees a fine addition to the Shakespeare 400 season with a return of The Comedy of Errors to its original venue but with a 1929 vibe.
BWW Review: BITCHES, Finborough Theatre, 18 August 2016
'If only the world loved black people as much as they love black culture' - an excerpt Bola Agbaje's powerful new piece, 'Bitches'
BWW Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, New Wimbledon Theatre, 23 August 2016
It is rare that you might see a Jewish florist, a sadistic dentist and a giant singing, flesh-eating plant on the same stage, but in Little Shop of Horrors, this is all part of the show.
BWW Review: 946: THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS, Shakespeare's Globe, 17 August 2016
Every year, the Globe hosts productions by writers other than Shakespeare - this year it sees the inclusion of Kneehigh Theatre's version of Michael Morpurgo's 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips.
BWW Review: GROUNDHOG DAY, Old Vic, 17 August 2016
It's deja vu all over again, as the Matilda dream team reconvenes to bring the beloved Bill Murray-starring 1993 movie to stage.
BWW Review: CHILDREN OF EDEN, Union Theatre, 16 August 2016
Gary Naylor sees a beautifully staged revival of a 1991 musical that's great on music, but not so good on making God likeable.
BWW Review: THERÈSE RAQUIN, Southwark Playhouse, 15 August 2016
Gary Naylor sees Zola's tale of lust and murder brilliantly staged and performed.
BWW Review: SIMON DAVID: VIRGIN, Hen and Chickens Theatre
Actor-musician Simon David revives his sell-out show, 'Simon David: Virgin' for the Camden Fringe Festival.
BWW Review: ALLEGRO, Southwark Playhouse, 12 August 2016
Gary Naylor sees a show that had been forgotten, but is thrillingly brought to the London stage for the first time
EDINBURGH 2016 - BWW Review: BRIEFS, Assembly Hall, 10 August
When it comes to cabaret, and especially camp cabaret, Australia reigns supreme.
EDINBURGH 2016 - BWW Review: CHEF: COME DINE WITH US!, Assembly George Square Theatre, 10 August
They say don't judge a book by its cover, and same can be said for Edinburgh Fringe show titles.
BWW Review: SISTER ACT, Curve Theatre Leicester, 11 August 2016
Based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act premiered onstage in the West End in 2009 starring Patina Miller as Deloris Van Cartier and Sheila Hancock as the Mother Superior.
