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Reviews
Blood on Your Hands by Grace Joy Howarth. Southwark Playhouse, the Little, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 03 February 2024. 2** William Russell.
“There is blood all over the place in this slaughterhouse drama.’”
Photo Credit: Charles Flint.
Afterglow by S Asher Gelmann, Southwark Playhouse, the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 10 February 2024. 3***: William Russell.
“Things that come in threes seldom end well.”
Photo Credit: Darren Bell.
Leaves of Glass by Philip Ridley. Park 90, 19 Jan to 10 Feb 2024. 5****: William Russell.
“That ‘other country’ that is the past devastatingly exposed.”
Photo credit: Mark Senior.
Cowbois by Charlie Josephine. The Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London SW1 to 10 February 2024. 3***: William Russell.
“A right carry on set in the wild west with lots to say about gender.”
Photo Credit: Ali Wright.
Don’t Destroy Me by Michael Hastings. The Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 to 03 February 2024. 3***: William Russell.
“Half forgotten Michael Hasting’s first play written when he was 18 is resurrected.”
Photo Credit Philip Gammon
The Good John Proctor by Talena Monahon. Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, London SW1 to 27 January 2024. 4****: William Russell.
“A disturbing, perceptive look at the girls who dreamt up the witches of Salem.”
Photo credit : Jack Sain.
Waiting for Hate Mail by Mark Akrill. Seven Dials Playhouse, Tower Street, London to 20 January 2024. 3***: William Russell.
“A tale of love and hate mail and betrayal dazzlingly told.”
Photo Credit : Steve Gregson.
1979 by Michael Healey. The Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 to 27 January 2024. 2**: William Russell.
“Turgid drama about Canadian politics.”
Photo Credit: Simon Annand.
Fair Maid of the West Isobel McArthur, after Thomas Heywood, RSC, The Swan, Stratford Upon Avon, till 14 January 2024. 4****: Roderick Dungate.
“A Seasonal Rom Oozing with Good Will and Good Cheer.”
Photo: Courtesy of RSC, Stratford-upon-Avon.
This Much I know by Jonathan Spector. Hampstead Downstairs, Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, London to 27 January 2024. 4****: William Russell.
“Bewildering but intriguing and well performed last play of the year.”
Photo Credit:The Other Richard.
The Motive and The Cue by Jack Thorne, The Noel Coward Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London to 23 March 2024. 4****: William Russell.
“Mark Gatiss and Johnny Flynn magnificent account of how Richard Burton’s Hamlet reached the stage.”
Production Photo: Mark Douet.
Rock ‘N’ Roll by Tom Stoppard. Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, London NW3. 3***: William Russell.
“Strongly cast revival of a play which for all its interest time has maybe not been kind to.”
Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan.
Moth by Matt Wilson. The Hope Theatre, Upper Street, Islington to 02 December 2023. 2**: William Russell.
“Interesting, complicated, over-long sci fi drama.”
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
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti. The Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, London to 17th February 2024. 4****: William Russell.
‘Shakespeare in grief handsomely staged and well performed.’
Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan
Merchant of Venice: William ShakespeareThe Swan, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford Upon Avon. Runs: 2h 10m , one interval. 5*****: Roderick Dungate.
‘Firm hands, sharp intellects, frightening clarity.’
MacBeth: William Shakespeare RSC, Stratford Upon Avon. Performance: Audio described performance Runs: 3h 15m, one interval, till 14 October, 2023. 2 **: Roderick Dungate.
‘A production that looks for the effect of everything but finds the value of nothing.’
As You Like It, William Shakespeare RSC: Main House, Stratford Upon Avon , till 05 August, 2023. 5*****: Roderick Dungate.
A clever idea reveals the play in a gentle and moving performance.