Reviews Archive
Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet. Sadler's Wells to 31 August . 5*****. William Russell
An unforgettable evening of dance which transforms Shakespeare's Verona to a world inside an institution for disturbed young people.
Go Bang Your Tambourine by Philip King. The Finborough Theatre, London SW10 to 31 August. 3***. William Russell.
Interesting and well acted London premiere of a forgotten, perhaps deservedly so, Philip (See How They Run) King play.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Benjamin Polya based on the novel by Victor Hugo. St Paul's churchyard, Covent Garden, London to 1 September. 2**. William Russell
A shambolic often inaudible production of a play based on Victor Hugo's famous novel with a gallant cast of six doing their best.
Islington's legendary fringe theatre, The King's Head, goes from strength to strength.
News about and new names at the famous London fringe theatre - The King's Head in Upper Street, Islington
Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner. The Arcola theatre, Dalston, London E 8 to 10 August. 4****. William Russell
An enthralling well sung version of the first part of the Ring Saga devised by Graham Vick and Jonathan Dove from Wagner's Ring Cycle
My Son Pinocchio Jr by Stephen Schwartz & David Stern. Southwark Playhouse, London SE1 to 14 August, 2**. William Russell
A youthful cast perform with commendable energy in this version devised by Stephen Schwartz & David Stern of the Disney story.
Shackleton's Carpenter by Gail Louw. Jermyn Street Theatre, London SW1 to 17 August & then on tour. 4****. William Russell.
Righting a wrong - fine performance from Malcolm Rennie as the man who helped Shackleton save the crew of his 1914 polar expedition.
Southern Belles - a Tennessee Williams double bill. The King's Head Theatre, 115 Upper Strreet, Islington N1. to 24 August. 3***. William Russell
Impressively acted Tennessee Williams one act plays open the King's Head theatre Queer Season.
The View Upstairs by Max Vernon. Soho Theatre, Dean Street, London W1 to 24 August. 3*** . William Russell
Very well performed musical about an arson attack on a New Orleans gay bar in 1973 - first rate cast led by Tyrone Huntley.
The Colour Purple. Music & Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Ailee Wilis & Stephen Bray. Book by Marsha Norman. Birmingham Hippodrome to 20 July. 4****. Rod Dungate.
True to the original book, well performed but needs some big musical numbers.
Games for Lovers by Ryan Craig. The Vaults Theatre, Leake Street, London SE1 to 25 August. 4****. William Russell
Hilarious war games in which a quartet of would be lovers from the Tinder generation battle it out to the bitter end.
Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams. Noel Coward theatre, St Martin's Lane, London WC2N to 28 September. 4****. William Russell
It is a long night, but splendidly performed and directed, one which survives quite the ugliest set of the decade,
Lunatic 19's - a deportational road trip by Tegan McLeod. The Finborough Theatre, London SW 10 to 3 August. 4****. William Russell
An illegal Latino immigrant living in the United States is taken for deportation in this fascinating road trip play.
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Rona Munro based on the novel by Louis de Bernieres. Harold Pinter Theatre, London SW1 Y to 31 August. 2**. William Russell
Turgid adaptation of Louis de Bernieres' celebrated novel done as well as the cast can manage in the circumstances but it does go on and on..and on.
Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner by Jasmine Lee-Jones. Jerwood Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre, London SW1 to 27 July. 4****. William Russell.
A twitter storm of a play which both infuriates and dazzles as Cleo, a young black woman, devises ever more grotesque forms of killing.
Bare: A Pop Opera by Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo, The Vaults,to 4 August. 3***, Veronica Stein
Grin and 'Bare' it: the new production at the vaults is stunning- the material is not.
Private Lives by Noel Coward. The Mill at Sonning, Reading to 3 August. 4****. William Russell.
Elyot and Amanda battle it out once again in Tam Williams' solid, well directed revival of one of Coward's most stylish plays.
Fiver by Alex James Ellison & Tom Lees. Southwark Playhouse, London SE1 to 20 July. 3***. William Russell
A musical about an errant £5 and how it affects the lives of those who acquire it - a promising work in progress.
The End of History by Jack Thorne. Royal Court Theatre, London SW1W to 10 August. 3 ***. William Russell.
Lesley Sharp and David Morrissey and a fine cast shine in an intriguing but ultimately unsatisfying play about a left wing family coping with change.
Merrily We Roll Along by Steven Sondheim & George Furth. Silk Street Theatre, Barbican, London EC2Y to 10 July. 4****. William Russsell
Guildhall final year students in slickly staged and very well performed tale of friendship told in reverse directed by Martin Connor.