REVIEW: Shebeen (Theatre Royal Stratford East) ★★★
The Theatre Royal Staratford East, despite its boarded-up appearance due to refurbishments, is certainly still open as usual. Writer Mufaro Makubika, winner of the Alfred Fagon for best play 2017, brings us ‘Shebeen’. Set in 1950s Nottingham, the play follows Pearl and George, a Jamaican couple who hold secret, illegal parties in their house to […]
REVIEW: DOUBLE ACT (Polka Theatre) ★★★★
Vicky Ireland’s charming adaption of Jacquline Wilson’s Double Act lights up the stage at the Polka Theatre once more as the popular children’s book is brought to life. Double Act follows the various adventures of identical twins Ruby and Garnet as they deal with the death of their mother, their ageing gran (Erika Poole) moving […]
REVIEW: Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella (New Victoria Theatre) ★★★★★
Having never been to the Ballet, I warned my mother that if I fell asleep, she needed to wake me up. She didn’t need to bother. The most striking aspect of this production for me was the setting – the London Blitz in 1940. Lez Brotherston’s set is truly a thing of magic and splendour, […]
REVIEW: Legally Blonde The Musical (New Wimbledon Theatre) ★★★★
Omigod You Guys, Legally Blonde The Musical is back! Having premiered on Broadway in 2007, it opened to rave reviews and was nominated for seven Tony Awards and received ten Drama Desk nominations. Following this breakout success the production was filmed for MTV and a reality television programme was created showing the audition process for […]
REVIEW: It’s Only Life (Union Theatre) ★★★★★
I laughed, I cried but most importantly I thought. It’s Only Life at the Union Theatre is a powerful celebration of life and living the journey. John Bucchino’s lyrics are witty and touching. The songs speak to real people, he has a raw and simple way of putting things that make you catch your breath. […]
REVIEW: Beirut (Park Theatre) ★★★
This 1986 play by American writer Alan Bowne is an intense two-hander starring Louise Connolly-Burnham as Blue and Robert Rees as Torch. Torch is living in a squalid room on the Lower East Side; an area nicknamed Beirut. A lethal blood disease is spreading through New York City, a viral infection spread through all bodily […]
REVIEW: Guy – The Musical (Bunker Theatre) ★★★★
Guy is a new musical premiering at The Bunker starring Brendan Matthew in the titular role. Guy is trying to navigate the trials and tribulations of dating and friendship both on and off line. His lack of confidence in his own looks leads him to use photos of his best friend on Grindr leading to […]
REVIEW: Kiss Chase (The Bunker) ★★★★
An hour of innovative, immersive, interactive theatrical speed dating! Confused? You will be! The Bunker is a new off-west end theatre situated in an old car park! Squeezed between The Mernier Chocolate Factory and The Flat Iron Square, it is part of the improvement of this previously rather grim stretch near London Bridge. Upon entering […]
REVIEW: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Donmar Warehouse) ★★★★
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is Muriel Spark’s best-known novel, which now plays as newly structured adaptation by playwright David Harrower and directed by Polly Findlay at the Donmar Warehouse. A young reporter (Kit Young) interviews Sandy (Rona Morison) about her treatise just before she swears a vow of silence and becomes a nun. […]
REVIEW: Andrew Lloyd Webber – Musical Celebration at Live At Chelsea ★★★★★
Andrew Lloyd Webber is the most successful composer of musical theatre in history with professional productions of his shows alone having sold more than 330 million tickets worldwide. In 2017 when Sunset Boulevard joined School of Rock, Cats and The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber became the only person to equal […]