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Reviews
Pacific Overtures. Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by John Weidman. The Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, London SE1 to 24 February 2024. 4****: William Russell.
“A superb revival of a difficult Sondheim musical - not to be missed.”
Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan.
Infinite Life by Annie Baker. The Dorfman, the National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 to 13 January 2024. 3***: William Russell.
“Funny, sad, interesting piece about living with pain and seeking cures in dubious places.”
Photo credit: Marc Brenner.
£1 Thursdays by Ket Rose-Martin, the Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW18 to 23 December 2023. 4****: William Russell.
“Perceptive, funny play about two young girls growing up in Bradford and facing up to what lies in store. A real pre-Christmas treat.”
Photo Credit: Alex Brenner.
Sleeping Beauty takes a Prick by Jon Bradfield &Martin Harper. Songs by Jon Bradfield. Charing Cross Theatre, Villiers Street, London WC2 to 13 January 2024. 4****: William Russell.
“For those who like adult pantomimes – if not, stay home.”
Photo Credit: Oli Sones.
Odyssey – a pantomime by John Savournin & David Eaton. Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, London SW1 to 31 December 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
“Possibly the best Charles Court Opera Company pantomime ever!.”
Photo Credit: Alex Brenner.
Constella Music 10th Anniversary Concert. Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells, Roseberry Avenue, London EC1E. 4****: William Russell.
“A moving Holocaust story and a fascinating account about the decade long existence of Constella Music as it is now to be known.”
Photo Credit: Constella (image of Geyer)
Cinderella – book by Vikki Stone. The Lyric, King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 to 06 January 2024. 4****: William Russell.
“An audience pleasing pantomime.”
Photo Credit : Manuel Harlan.
Oh What A Lovely War by Joan Littlewood, Gerry Raffles & Charles Chilton. Southwark Playhouse – the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 09 December 2023. 4****: William Russell.
“Littlewood’s magic is lacking but for first time audiences this production should still work powerfully enough.”
Photo Credit: Alex Harvey-Brown.
Nineteen Gardens by Magdalena Miecznicka. Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, Eton Avenue, London NW3 to 09 December, 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
‘A searing play for our times – unmissable.’
Photo Credit: The Other Richard.
Mandy Patinkin in Concert. The Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D to 19 November, 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
‘Patinkin delivers a master class in the art of singing popular song.’
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus.
To Have and to Hold by Richard Bean. Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, London NW3 to 25th November 2023. 3***: William Russell.
‘A funny, episodic account of the end of days for a couple married some sixty odd years.’
Photo Credit: Marc Brenner.
7 Deaths of Maria Callas - an opera project by Marina Abramović, English National Opera, The Coliseum, London WC2. 3***: Clare Colvin.
‘Over the top with a drama of divas.’
Photo Credit: Tristram Kenton
The Time Traveller’s Wife. Book by lauren Gunderson. Music & Lyrics by Joss Stone & Dave Stewart. The Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1. 3***: William Russell.
‘A gloriously bonkers show for all who collect the unusual.’
Photo Credit: Johan Persson.
Lizzie by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer, Tim Maner & Alan Stevens Hewitt. Southwark Playhouse Elephant, Dante Place, London to 02 December, 2023. 2**: William Russell.
‘A show that needs as many whacks as possible.’
Photo credit: Pamela Raith.
Malevo. The Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, London WC2 to 04 November, 2023. 4****: William Russell.
‘Breathtaking Argentinian machismo impeccably drilled.’
Photo credit: Malevo.
Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell by Keith Waterhouse. The Coach and Horses, 26 Greek Street, London selected dates from 30th October. 3***: William Russell.
‘Jeffrey Bernard resuscitated – but why?.’
Photo Credit: Tom Howard.
BESS – The Other Houdini by Christine Foster. Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate Village , London N6 to 12th November 2023. 3***: William Russell.
‘The potentially interesting story of Houdini’s widow.’
Photo Credit: James Weisz
Influence – Collective Theatre, 2 Tiltman Place, London N7 to 2nd December 2023. 4****: William Russell.
‘You will be bewitched, bothered and bewildered.’
Photo Credit: Hana Kovacs
La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi The Coliseum, London WC2. 4**** Clare Colvin.
‘ENO’s gripping La Traviata is up to speed.’
Photo: Belinda Jiao
Antisemitism by Uri Agnon. Camden People’s Theatre, 58 Hampstead Road, London NW1 to 28 October, 2023. 3***: William Russell.
‘A flawed musical for today outstandingly performed.’
Photo Credit: Cam Harie