By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
WHEN?: 20 January through to 1 April 2023 RUNTIME: 95 minutes (no interval)
Quietude – what if you could only speak 140 words a day?
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: 15 January through to 16 April 2023 RUNTIME: 115 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)
One of the joys of Steven Moffat’s (BBC 1’s Inside Man) first stage comedy is its no-nonsense precision.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Saturday 14 January, runs through 28 January 2023 RUNNING TIME: 180 minutes (with 20-minute interval)
This production of As You Like It by director Josie Rourke is her 1st theatre work for more than 4 years since Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure and it is absolutely bursting with ideas
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHEN?: Tuesday 10 January (press ticket), runs to 4 February 2023
RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
We cast our eye across the audience at this 200-seat venue and we can see Beverley Knight, David Morrissey, Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar.
By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: *** RUNTIME: 180 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
WHEN?: Saturday 3 December (matinee), runs to 21 January 2023
Director Clint Dyer told the New York Times of his 1st visit to this venue in the 80s when he saw a picture in the auditorium of Laurence Olivier in blackface in the title role of this play in the 60s that broke his heart.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: Tuesday 20 December, opens 12 January, runs to 4 February 2023 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (including 20-minute interval) UPDATE: Transfers to the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End for 6 weeks from 20 March 2023
Director Rebecca Frecknall (Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre) takes to the stage before curtain up to explain that its leading lady Patsy Ferran stepped into the production with 4 days’ notice to replace Lydia Wilson who had to withdraw.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Sunday 18 December (matinee), runs to 29 January and then tours until 11 March 2023 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
The best reason to see this energetic and fun pantomime is that its Oscar-nominated star Sir Ian McKellen is having a ball and it’s infectious.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2 RUNTIME: 80 minutes (no interval)
WHEN?: Saturday 10 December (matinee), runs to 23 December 2022
We’re in the front row here because Mohammed (2nd from left above) is very funny as part of the ensemble in Apple TV’s hilarious Ted Lasso and stars here while also writing the book and lyrics.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
WHEN?: Sunday 11 December (matinee), runs to 15 January 2023
We’re in the 4th row behind a group of women who are finding Julian Clary’s character The Spirit Of The Beans uproariously funny and even taking sneaky pictures of his very many costume changes.
By Aline Mahrud
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHEN?: Monday 28 November, runs to 25 February 2023 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)
Emma Corrin identifies as non-binary and, as such, their portrayal of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando would perhaps have the celebrated author cheering from the stalls were she still alive.
monstagigz 