THEATRE REVIEW: The Spoils starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kunal Nayyar & Alfie Allen

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE: Trafalgar Studios

WHEN: 3/6, runs to 13/8

Standing ovations at the end of West End shows are nothing new but the enthusiasm with which this audience appreciated this play from the pen of Hollywood star Jesse Eisenberg and in which he also stars surprised even us.

  • Read on for more observations from the centre of the front row at the Trafalgar Studios

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Threepenny Opera starring Rory Kinnear and Rosalie Craig

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: National (Olivier Theatre)

WHEN: 21/5, runs to 1/9

Rory Kinnear must be a dream of an actor to work with. Instead of dominating this adaptation of Brecht and Weill’s classic as Captain Macheath he takes a step back to allow the entire cast to shine.

  • Read on for why Rosalie Craig is the real reason to see The Threepenny Opera

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THEATRE REVIEW: This Is Living starring Michael Socha & Tamla Kari

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Trafalgar Studios 2

WHEN: 17/5 runs to 11/6

Stage fright is the ailment one might normally associate with the theatre but here we were far more worried about the probability of trench foot affecting the cast.

  • Read on for why Michael Socha could follow in Jack O’Connell’s Hollywood steps

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THEATRE REVIEW: Elegy starring Zoe Wanamaker, Barbara Flynn & Nina Sosanya

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Donmar Warehouse

WHEN: 29/4, runs to 18/6

At just 75 minutes long Elegy feels like the obvious follow-up to author Nick Payne’s biggest hit Constellations, an exploration of free will and quantum physics, which opened on Broadway over a year ago starring Jake Gyllenhaal after a West End transfer.

  • Read on for which celebrity was in the audience for our performance

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THEATRE REVIEW: Dr Faustus starring Kit Harington

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

WHERE: Duke Of York’s

WHEN: 9/4, runs to 25/6

Kit Harington is onstage only in tight white boxer shorts showing off his muscles and reveals his bare bottom to whoops of delight from this audience at this first preview.

  • Read on for all the gossip from the 1st preview of Doctor Faustus

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THEATRE REVIEW: People, Places and Things starring Denise Gough

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Wyndhams Theatre

WHEN: 11/4, runs to 18/6 Returns to Trafalgar Theatre 3 May through 10 August 2024 Tickets

Denise Gough’s electrifying performance as a recovering drug addict in this original production which debuted at the revitalised National Theatre deservedly won her a best actress Olivier Award this month.

  • Read on for reasons to catch Gough in this West End run

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THEATRE REVIEW: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starring Sharon D. Clarke

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: National Theatre

WHEN: 16/4, runs to 18/5

A look of bemusement sweeps across our young waiter’s face as he asks us the title of the play we’ve just seen – and we tell him.

  • Read on for detail of how this Olivier Award-winning revival is still winning matinee standing ovations

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Caretaker starring Timothy Spall, Daniel Mays & George MacKay

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE: Old Vic

WHEN: 2/4, runs to 14/5

It’s 19 years since star Timothy Spall last acted on stage and just over one since his tremendous grumbling titular turn in Mike Leigh’s biopic Mr Turner inexplicably failed to earn him a best actor Oscar nomination.

  • Read on for reasons why this is director Matthew Warchus’ first five-star Old Vic triumph

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THEATRE REVIEW: Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Coliseum

WHEN: 1/4, runs to 7/5

The home of the English National Opera bursts into a round of spontaneous applause as the biggest star in the West End takes to the stage.

  • Read on for more observations from the second row including Close’s co-star’s painted-on abs

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