The Turn of the Screw review – Henry James’s classic ghost story with added jump scares
This slick production of Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s adaptation is hampered by its own cleverness
June 2026
A Fine Idea review – international development drama laden with number-crunching
Despite some strong satire, there is too much telling and not enough showing in Christine Bacon’s play exploring global inequality
May 2026
Quartet in Autumn review – Samantha Harvey gives new life to Barbara Pym tale of imminent retirement
The play that changed my life
The play that changed my life: Jack Shepherd’s dazzling jazz drama was somethin’ else
April 2026
Dear Jack, Dear Louise review – wartime courtship by letter delivers intimate love story
Writer Ken Ludwig’s heartfelt and funny romcom draws the audience into every step of Jack and Louise’s developing affection, their longing deepened by physical separation
March 2026
Ukraine Unbroken review – five searing dramas about the history and horror of Russia’s invasion
Nicolas Kent directs a cycle of short plays by British and Ukrainian writers giving devastating vignettes from the conflict
January 2026
A Grain of Sand review – a child’s eye view of the horror in Gaza
Safe Haven review – Kurds left on the sidelines of diplomat-driven drama
December 2025
Ms Holmes and Ms Watson – Apt 2B review: mysterious case of the joke-cracking Sherlock
This riff on Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective stories has flashes of promise but its comedy and purpose never land
November 2025
Petty Men review – understudies plot their own version of Julius Caesar
Hanging around backstage while their chances to play Brutus and Cassius fade, two unnamed actors start to act out their own drama
October 2025
This Little Earth review – audacious romantic odyssey untethered by a talking penguin
Crocodile Fever review – sisters’ wild revenge has a taste for chaos
June 2025
54.60 Africa review – a freewheeling, weeklong tour around the continent
The Reckoning review – shattering stories of invasion in Ukraine
March 2025
Cry-Baby, the Musical review – John Waters’ teen rebels will have you in tears of joy
Dear Martin review – darkly comic prison pen-pal drama lacks bite
January 2025
As Long As We Are Breathing review – unblocking the horrors of the Holocaust
Tarantula review – extraordinary portrayal of the aftermath of senseless violence
December 2024
Hold on to Your Butts review – Jurassic Park redone with DIY dinos
This recreation of Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic is frenetic fun, with the dinosaurs brought to life using physical comedy – and traffic cones
November 2024
Distant Memories of the Near Future review – dating dystopia makes you glad to be alive now
Four interwoven stories set in 2043 explore love, connection and AI. The ideas are beautifully written but dramatically truncated