THEATRE REVIEW: Future Conditional
WORTH A LOOK: ***
WHERE: Old Vic
WHEN: 5/9, previews to 10/9, runs to 3/10
The story at the heart of Future Conditional has similarities to the life of Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.
THEATRE REVIEW
5 reasons to see McQueen at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
- Stephen Wight
monstagigz last saw Stephen Wight in the West End in The Ladykillers in 2011 but we love him more for his turn in BBC3’s Bluestone 42. Tonight he couldn’t be further from either performances and is the spitting image of Alexander McQueen. Don’t buy tickets for McQueen to see Wight unless you’re prepared to have him transform in front of your eyes, as the best actors do. It’s a mesmeric performance, brave to be there from the moment the audience enters the auditorium but ultimately the best reason to see this. Astonishing.
First Kinky Boots preview and last High Society night
WORTH A LOOK: ****/*****
WHEN: 21/8 and 22/8
WHERE: Adelphi Theatre and Old Vic
We had the pleasure of being in the front row for the closing night of High Society at the end of Kevin Spacey’s 11-year-run as artistic director of the Old Vic on Saturday night.
THEATRE REVIEW: Splendour
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Donmar Warehouse
WHEN: 17/8 runs to 26/9
Four women in one room: waiting for the return of a dictator in the opulence of a presidential palace. A photojournalist, a translator, the dictator’s wife and her best friend are all wondering why he is so late.
THEATRE REVIEW: Bakkhai starring Ben Whishaw and Bertie Carvel
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Almeida Theatre
WHEN: 15/8 runs to 19/9
‘Another night at the Almeida – and still no set,’ observes a neighbouring theatregoer to a friend as the (metaphorical) curtain is about to rise.
THEATRE REVIEW: The Beaux’ Stratagem
WORTH A LOOK: ***
WHERE: National Theatre
WHEN: 6/8 runs to 20/9
Beaux Aimwell (Samuel Barnett) and Archer (Geoffrey Streatfield), down on their luck and planning to fleece heiresses, are the best reasons to see this adaptation of George Farquhar’s 1707 comedy.
THEATRE REVIEW: Hamlet starring Benedict Cumberbatch
WORTH A LOOK? ****
WHERE: Barbican
WHEN: 5/8 runs to 31/10
‘F**k!’ A stage manager has just told an exasperated Cumberbatch that tonight’s production must be halted an hour or so in because of a faulty trap door. Hamlet’s just been visited by the ghost of his father and his out-of-character expletive says it all.
THEATRE REVIEW: The Motherf**ker with the Hat
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Lytellton Theatre, National Theatre
WHEN: 9/7 and 1/8, runs to 20/8
There are only a dozen or so performances of this unexpected gem left and, as we’ve seen it twice already, we’d urge you not to miss out.
THEATRE REVIEW: The Trial starring Rory Kinnear
WORTH A LOOK? *****
WHERE: Young Vic
WHEN: 1/8 runs to 22/8
Have you ever seen a play set on a travelator? The biggest triumph in this fantastic Kafka adaptation is Miriam Buether’s design, combining a Generation Game-style conveyor belt surrounded by jury-style benches where the audience sits.
THEATRE REVIEW: The Elephant Man
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Theatre Royal Haymarket
WHEN: 25/7/15 running until 8/8/15
How should one rate a three-star play featuring a five-star performance at its heart?
