THEATRE REVIEW: Vanya starring Andrew Scott at the Duke Of York’s Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2 RUNTIME: 110 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: Saturday 30 September, booking through 21 October 2023

Andrew Scott (Present Laughter, Old Vic) is 1 of this country’s finest actors but this intricate, multi-character Chekhov drama is ill-suited to a 1-man show.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was a valiant effort but not our favourite Vanya
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Song From Far Away starring Will Young at Hampstead Theatre

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 80 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: Saturday 1 July (matinee), runs through 22 July 2023

There are 2 moments during this monologue when Will Young as grieving hedge manager Willem interacts remarkably and seamlessly with his enrapt audience

  • Read on for reasons including whether Will Young kept his clothes on and if we think this could transfer to the West End
Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Blindness at the Donmar featuring the voice of Juliet Stevenson

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Donmar Warehouse RUNTIME: 75 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 8/8, matinee booking to 22/8/20, now extended to 5/9/20

Juliet Stevenson was supposed to be playing the lead in The Doctor in the West End this summer but here she stars as a character known only as the doctor’s wife.

  • Read on for reasons including how social distancing works during our first theatre visit for 21 weeks

Read More

Q&A and THEATRE REVIEW: Sea Wall starring Andrew Scott at the Old Vic

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Old Vic

WHEN: 21/6, runs to 30/6/18

RUN TIME: 30 minutes

Andrew Scott won our 2017 Best Theatre Actor monsta for his lead role in Hamlet (Almedia and Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End) and follows it up with a revival of this Simon Stephens monologue at the Old Vic.

  • Read on for reasons including how Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Zawe Ashton & Ian Hislop featured

Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: The Seagull starring Lesley Sharp, Brian Vernel & Adelayo Adedayo

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith

WHEN: 7/10, press night 11/10, runs until 4/11

Simon Stephens, who adapted this Chekhov classic, is an Artistic Associate at this venue and won an Olivier Award for his work on The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time.

  • Read on for reasons including why Adelayo Adedayo is a name to watch out for in the future

Read More

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

Read More

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?

Read More