THEATRE REVIEW: A Christmas Carol
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Noel Coward Theatre
WHEN: 11/1, runs to 30/1
So why should you venture out to the theatre in January to see this when Christmas may feel packed away with your decorations in a cupboard?
THEATRE REVIEW
THEATRE REVIEW: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Gielgud Theatre
WHEN: 1/1, runs to 18/6
This production opened in the round at the National three years ago, transferred to the West End, won seven Oliviers and five Tonys and survived a roof collapse before moving to its current home. Has its power diminished?
THEATRE REVIEW: Sunny Afternoon
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Harold Pinter Theatre
WHEN: 26/12, booking to 16/4/16
We weren’t counting but there seemed to be at least 30 Kinks’ songs featured in this jukebox musical including the title track, Waterloo Sunset, Days, You Really Got Me, Lola and All Day and All Of The Night.
THEATRE REVIEW: Little Eyolf
WORTH A LOOK: ***
WHERE: Almeida Theatre
WHEN: 22/12, runs to 9/1/16
Henrik Ibsen’s Little Eyolf is exactly the sort of play one wouldn’t expect to be on at Christmas. But that’s no reason to dismiss this defiantly downbeat tale produced brilliantly here.
THEATRE REVIEW: Guys and Dolls starring next Harry Potter, Jamie Parker
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Savoy Theatre
WHEN: 20/12 runs to 12/3/16
Casting has been announced for next year’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and its hero is Jamie Parker, who is currently starring in Guys and Dolls in the West End.
THEATRE REVIEW: The Lorax
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
WHERE: Old Vic
WHEN: 17/12 runs to 16/1
We’ve been quite critical of Matthew Warchus’ tenure as Old Vic artistic director but this is his debut season’s first real success and it draws on much of which made his Matilda such a must-see.
THEATRE REVIEW: Les Liaisons Dangereuses
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Donmar
WHEN: 19/12 runs to 13/2, NT Live showing 28/1
This production sold out months before it opened but £10 front row tickets go on sale a fortnight in advance (details below).
THEATRE REVIEW: Hangmen
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHERE: Wyndham’s Theatre
WHEN: 15/12, runs to 5/3/16
What did hangmen do after the abolition of capital punishment in England in 1964? That’s the brilliant idea at the heart of Martin McDonagh’s new play although its, ahem, execution could be more compelling.
THEATRE REVIEW: Barbarians
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Young Vic
WHEN: 5/12 (matinee), runs to 19/12
‘If you treat people like animals, they’ll behave like them.’ It’s an observation by protagonist Paul (rising star Brian Vernel, menacing and brilliant here) referring to football clubs’ treatment of their fans as he waits ticketless outside the only game he’ll miss this season, the 1976 FA Cup final, but it references much else here. Read More
THEATRE REVIEW: Linda
WORTH A LOOK?: ** (on 28/11, **** potential later)
WHERE: Royal Court
WHEN: 28/11, runs to 9/1/16
Is it ever acceptable for a leading actor to carry their script with them while on stage and refer to it occasionally when they have clearly forgotten their lines?
