The Lives of Others is not fit for the stage
The Lives of Others is a peculiar play about obsession and voyeurism based on a 2006 movie set in east…
My answer to the shoplifting epidemic
Shouts in the street caught my attention. As I rounded a corner, I saw the aftermath of a botched supermarket…
A musical for mothers with teenage daughters – males avoid
High School Musical is a stage version of the 2006 Disney TV film set in a fictional seat of learning,…
A fascinating curiosity at the National Theatre
Helen Edmundson has given her new play an ingenious title, Some Woman. The phrase may be admiring, ‘that is some…
Cure cancer? Easy.
Fresh eyes can see a solution the experts may miss. At school I discovered the cure for cancer aged 13.…
Don’t miss this Cherry Orchard
Where are we? That’s the question raised by Ian Rickson’s version of The Cherry Orchard adapted by Conor McPherson. The…
Rent has not aged well
Rent is a show about mortality haunted by the untimely death of its author, Jonathan Larson. On the eve of…
What’s a Britain First rally really like?
The far right are on the march so I decided to take a look. I travelled to a market town…
The Standard of Living didn’t make me feel anything
James Graham’s new play is a biography of John Maynard Keynes, known as ‘Mennid’ to his friends, which feels like…
The problem with Sting’s musical
The Last Ship, a musical written by and featuring Sting, is touring Europe, Australia and America. The show is a…
London’s one unforgiveable crime
Everyone knows the rules. London invented trains that run underground as well as the protocol that makes the system bearable.…
One for hardcore fans: Golden Boy reviewed
Golden Boy, written by Clifford Odets in 1937, feels like a Norman Wisdom movie. A talented boxer wants to become…
A sumptuous set that’s too good for the play
The Children by Lucy Kirkwood is a life-or-death drama about three ageing boffins invited to fix a broken atomic power…
Never trust a happy jogger
What is it for? Jogging means being in a hurry to get nowhere in particular as fast as possible. And…
Why has the National chosen to put on this cumbersome old play?
The National Theatre’s latest show, written in 2003, has bundles of energy and ideas. A thrusting young reporter, Yvonne, investigates…
Marilyn Monroe was a bore
Who Killed Marilyn? is a new show about an old subject. Sharleen Cooper Cohen’s play examines the circumstances surrounding Marilyn’s…
My radical plan for the House of Lords
A neighbour betrayed me to her 16-year-old son. ‘Lloyd knows about politics,’ she told the youngster. ‘He can help you…
A classic Alan Ayckbourn that’s made for Roger Allam
How the Other Half Loves is the play that established Alan Ayckbourn’s name as a writer of farce. Frank and…
The star of the Fringe
Attention spans at Edinburgh are brief. With thousands of shows on offer, the punters have to make a split-second decision…
Confessions of a dog hater
‘Do you like animals?’ asked the woman at the door, collecting for a zoo. ‘No, I hate them, they keep…
The slow death of the Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Fringe is getting bigger. Last year’s total of 3,893 shows is surpassed this year by 4,206 productions. More…
Zack Polanski reveals his instant soup politics
Zack Polanski enjoyed a cosy conversation with Iain Dale at the Edinburgh festival yesterday. They sounded and acted like old…
An enjoyable circus show masquerading as education
Brainiac Live! is a ‘family science’ show based on a popular Sky TV programme. It’s ideal for children under 12…
My friend the failure – and the star
‘Altogether Elsewhere.’ The title page of an unpublished travel book caught my eye during a recent clear-out. The author, Matthew…
The Trainspotting musical is made for cruise ships
Plenty of critics have mocked Trainspotting – the musical (with lyrics and music by Irvine Welsh and Stephen McGuinness, respectively)…
