Marriage, mothers and miners on strike 

Confident, thoughtful, watchable.

The Brockley Jack: Kes adapted Robert Alan Evans: Flies straight to the heart

London

PLASTIC
By Kenneth Emsom.
3***

The Old Red Lion theatre, 418 St John Street, Angel, London EC1V 4NJ to 21 April 2018.
Tues-Sat 7.30 pm Mat Sat & Sun 3pm.
Runs 1 hr 15 mins No interval.

TIUCKETS: 0333 012 4963
www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk
Review: William Russell 6 April

The happiest days of your lives?

London.
TWANG
Music by Lionel Bart Book by Julian Woolford.

1*

The Union Theatre, 229 Union Street, London SE1 0LR to May 2018.
Tues-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat & Sun 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 20 mins One interval.

TICKETS: 020 7261 9876
www.uniontheatre.biz
Review: William Russell 18 April.

Twang aint what it used to be

London
BAT OUT OF HELL
Book, music & lyrics by Jim Steinman
5*****

The Dominion Theatre, 268-269 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7AQ booking to 27 October 2018.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm.
Runs 2hr 40 mins One interval.

TICKETS: 020 7927 0900
www.nederlander.co.uk/dominiontheatre
Review: William Russell 19 April.

Loud, exciting and a great night out

London.
THE GOLDEN F**KING YEARS
by Adrian McLoughlin.

4****

The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London SE4 2DH to 28 April 2018.
Tues-Sat 7.30pm.
Runs 95 mins No interval.

TICKETS:
www.brockleyjack.co.uk
Review: William Russell 20 April

Hilarious look at sex and the senior citizen

London
TONIGHT AT 8.30
by Noel Coward.

4****
Jermyn Street Theatre, 16B Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6ST to 20 May 2018.
The nine plays are divided into three groups – Bedroom Farces, Secret Hearts & Nuclear Families. All three are done on Saturday and Sunday. 11.30am. 2.30pm and 7.30pm/
Individual groups are performed from Wed to Friday at 7.30pm.
Running times vary up to 2hr 30 mins and there is an interval.

TICKETS: 020 7287 2875.
www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk
Review: William Russell April 22.

Little gems?

London
MOORMAID
by Marion Bott
2**

The Arcola Studio, 24 Ashwin Street, London E* 5DL to 19 May 2018.
Mon-Sat 8pm Mat Sat 3.30pm
Runs 1 hr 45 mins One interval.

TICKETS: 020 7503.
www.arcolatheatre.com
Review: William Russell 23 April.

Possibly a play for today

London.
THE PRUDES
by Anthony Neilson.

4****

Jerwood Upstairs, the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London SW1W 8AS to 2 June 2018.
Mon-Sat 7.45pm Mat Th & Sat 3pm.
Runs 1 hr 15 mins No interval.

TICKETS: 020 7565 5000.
www.royalcourttheatre.com
Review: William Russell 25 April

A stag at bay in a blistering comic battle

London.
MASTERPIECES
by Sarah Daniels.

4****
The Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9ED to 19 May 2018.
Tues-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat & Sun 3pm.
Runs 2hr One interval.
TICKETS: 01223 387 851.
www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Review: William Russell 26 April

A magnificent, provocative play for today from yesterday

London
TOMORROW AT NOON
Three one act plays by Morna Young, Emma Hardin & Jenny Ayres
4****

Jermyn Street Theatre, 16B Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6ST to 15 May 2018.
7, 8, 14 & 15 May at 7.30pm Mat 8 & 15 May 3.30pm. In repertory with Noel Coward’s Tonight at 8.30.
Runs 2hr 15 mins One interval.

TICKETS: 0207 287 2875.
www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk
Review: William Russell 1 May.

Three witty and intriguing pieces inspired by the Master.

London
A Gym Thing by Tom Vallen
4****

The Pleasance (Short walk from Caledonian Road tube station)  To  13th May
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/gym-thing-1#overview
1 hour, no interval

Review Info: Veronica Stein, 3rd May, 2018.

Brought me out in a sweat

London.
GROTTY
by Izzy Tennyson.
4****

The Bunker, 53a Southwark Street, London SE1 1RU to 24 May 2018.
Tues-Sat 7.30 pm May Sat & Sun 5pm

Runs 100 mins No interval.

TICKETS: 0207 234 0486.
www.boxoffice@bunkertheatre.com

Review: William Russell 3 May

A fascinating world of women at war over women

Rigby (Izzy Tennyson) is a pretty little puppy with a penchant for older women with nice flats. She works as an intern on something or other – the cast’s diction in the early stages of press night left a lot to be desired – and is always up for it, even when it turns out to be getting to wear a dog collar and be pulled about at the end of a lead or use one of those shut your mouth balls that get strapped in. She has a couple of special friends played By Rebekah Hinds and Grace Chilton who, it being a small world, know one another and seem none to thrilled at sharing Rigby.

It is very funny at times, more so probably if you are a lesbian judging by the audience response and, since theatre should open the door to other worlds, left me wiser in the ways of women and their vaginas. It makes a change from the seemingly endless number of plays one sees with gay men doing much the same.

The performances are terrific - Anita-Joy Upwajeh as various other women in Rigby’s life has a nice line in being cool, but Clare Gollop Rigby’s Mum is kept waiting in the wings for far too long. There is no denying that Ms Tennyson can hold the stage and an audience in the palm of her hand, but a little more clarity of diction and rushing things less would add to that.
Director Hannah Hauer-King exploits the Bunker space cleverly, ditching characters in the audience occasionally, and Anna Reid has designed a set with a lot of mirrors which seem to be there for no purpose but probably are. Either way it looks good.

Rigby: Izzy Tennyson.
Toad/Kate: Rebekha Hinds.
Witch/Elliot: Grace Chilton.
Natty/Josie/Dr Alexandra: Anita-Joy Uwajeh.
Mother: Clare Gollop

Director: Hannah Hauer-King.
Designer: Anna Reid.
Lighting Designer: Zoe Spurr.
Composer & Sound Designer: Alexandra Faye Braithwaite.

Grotty, 4****

London
KES
by Robert Alan Evans.
Based on the novel A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines.

5*****
The Brockley Jack Studio 410 Brockley Road, London SE4 2DH to 19 May 2018.
Tues-Sat 7.30pm.
Runs 60 mins No interval.

TICKETS: 0333 666 3366
www.brockleyjack.co.uk
Review: William Russell 4 May.

Flies straight to the heart

London
The Game of Love and Chai by Nigel Planer adapted from Marivaux
4****
Tara Theatre (short walk from Earlsfield station) until 24 March, 2018
https://www.tara-arts.com/whats-on/the-game-of-love-and-chai
2 Hours including a 20 minute interval

Veronica Stein, 7th March, 2018.

Feel good, feel better

London

4****

Richmond Theatre, Richmond, London TW9 1QJ to 9 March 2018.
Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 2.20pm and touring until 28 July details www.somemothersdoaveem.com

Runs 2 hr One interval.
TICKETS: 0844 871 7651.
www.atgtickets.com
Review: William Russell 7 March.

The funniest show in town