2026

“How The Other Half Loves” at the Old Vic Theatre

Like any farce, Alan Ayckbourn’s 1969 hit needs strict direction and with Phillip Breen at the helm of this revival, the necessary precision is achieved. An inventive in-the-round staging, which you’d think would be tricky for this kind of comedy, generates theatrical excitement. And, while there’s no pretending the show isn’t dated, there’s a lot of fun and truly wonderful performances to enjoy.

The plot is a pretty standard sex comedy: two troubled marriages, one affair and a third couple drawn into events when they are used as a cover story. The thrills come from a script bursting with observations and misinterpretations arising from characters being literal. The twists are provided by Rob Howell’s set, which creates a ‘shared’ living room for all the action and plays with time and space in the way Ayckbourn intended.

Ayckbourn’s interest in class is present and correct but this is where you note how much times have changed. Frank and Fiona are proper posh, he’s the boss of the two other men, who provide different versions of the middle classes. But the world of work has changed so much, the trio make little sense. Slightly better, the sexual politics in How The Other Half Loves must have been objectionable all along and just get easier to laugh about (although the ‘fun’ around being a maid is a little too much for me).

The production works because of the cast more than the characters.

Ayesha Antoine and Rowan Polonski have a great time as a couple with a new baby. They bring passion to their on-stage relationship; Polonski makes a convincing lothario and it’s great to see Antoine bring such strength to her character. The couple drawn into their mayhem are played in a broader manner by Laura Elsworthy and Adam Gillen. The silly voices get laughs (with social anxiety another incongruously old-fashioned source of fun) but I wonder what the effect would be to have this final couple less exaggerated.

Dorothy Atkinson has a great time as Fiona, a frightful snob whose husband’s scattiness and pedantry have driven her to adultery. Atkinson’s depictions of frustration are consistent highlights. But the show belongs to Roger Allam, as Frank, who makes every line funny and manages to make the script seem easy. The character may be a bluff old fool, but Allam makes him sympathetic as well as infuriating. Frank’s attempts to work out what is going on, his incredulity about the “promiscuous” set he imagines himself among and his misguided attempts to help are all great fun, even if the production is working harder than the play to make it so.

Until 19 September 2026

www.oldvictheatre.com

Photo by Manuel Harlan

2026

“Mind the Güeco” at WAC Arts

A new show from a new company, this debut production is exactly the kind of thing that the Camden Fringe festival is for. Panela Combo is a ‘collective’ of artists from Colombia who have devised a piece based on their experience of moving to London. The group has a lot to say and says it in an interesting way.

The five performers – Mariana Habeych, María Manotas, Maria Jose Muñoz Rivera, Juliana Ruiz Torres and Paolo Zaccuri-Perez – work across disciplines. The show is heavily invested in dance and movement, and these are its highlights, with whimsical touches balanced by satire and emotional appeals.

The action is occasionally confusing. Centred on a group of friends in the pub, there are several stories being told at the same time, and this proves too much in such a short show. Each character could be explored in far more depth, as their individual histories are interesting. There are also issues of audibility – not the performers’ accents but the volume – and the show seems a little lost in the large space.

The bilingual nature of the piece is handled well and adds humour. The introduction of Marimonda – a carnival figure in Colombia – is excellent, with characters donning a mask or carrying him around to great effect. The group also tell us about key moments in Colombian history. Interesting stuff, but these brief references prove jarring; anger about the state of their nation is clear, but the connection between that history and the experiences of this young group is insufficiently developed, and the dialogue contains too many slogans.

The relationship between the personal and the political is not badly done – it’s just that there isn’t enough of either element. Taking on subjects such as displacement and cultural identity in under an hour needs a lot more focus. Many moments intrigue, but more detail is required. Too much feels slight, tokenistic even. It is as if themes of memory and what migrants miss become items on a checklist, leaving Mind the Güeco feeling more like a plan for a trip than a real journey.

Until 6 August 2026

www.camdenfringe.com

2026

“Deliver Us From Evil” at the Bridewell Theatre

K.S. Norris is on solid ground with this new play – witches always make good drama. Like Arthur Miller’s classic, The Crucible, and many plays inspired by it, there’s no doubt the topic is fruitful. The history is rich and including ‘Witch Finder General’ Matthew Hopkins as a character a strong idea; it’s all interesting stuff.

Striving for balance is an important move. Norris gives the accused, Elizabeth Clarke, her say – we’d expect that nowadays. But the piece takes time over her tormentor Hopkins, even if insight into the man is a little rushed. A lot rests on Anastasia Babich and Finton McCluskey who take these parts but, regrettably, struggle at times over the understandably manic touches. Babich laughs a little too readily while McCluskey’s character is too prone to panic. But there’s also time with Hopkins’ mentor, his mother and potential fiancé, nice roles for Rob Wallis, Emily Fellows and Nika Kamaeva, that prove to be highlights.

Unfortunately, the script does not help the performers. There are too many olde worlde flourishes. It’s not that they’re unbelievable—Norris has a clear sense of how the Bible filled her subjects’ lives—but the actors stumble over them. While the direction, from Norris and Davy Tennison, aims for control, it ends up slow with the drama and efforts at humour or romance uneven. And there are issues around audibility with too many lines lost. Atmosphere is left to the score from Finn Weston and, while this is strong, it is not enough.

The conclusion has impact, even if the sense of history repeating itself is pessimistic. Perhaps it is best to think of Deliver Us From Evil as an introduction to the topic. The setting and the arguments are clear and there’s plenty to ponder. But the play suffers from offering little that is new, whether in its storytelling, its historical insight or the perspective it offers.

Until 6 August 20226

www.khoasproductions.co.uk

2026

“Trainspotting” at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

The misadventures of heroin addict Renton and his friends from Irvine Welsh’s 1994 novel can fairly be called a phenomenon. Trainspotting is no stranger to film or stage. The idea of turning the piece into a musical presumably came from the integral role that songs have played in its popularity. Yet, despite Welsh clearly giving his approval to director and developer Caroline Jay Ranger, and working with Stephen McGuinness on the music and lyrics, the result here does not replicate that success.

For a start, there is the misguided marketing appeal to nostalgia: the boast that the show will “transport you back to the Nineties”. But what is being looked back on is pretty grim and, to his credit, Welsh has never tried to hide that. Unfortunately, in this iteration, the political point connecting poverty, crime and drug addiction feels thrown in. Time and again, characters simply comment on how awful life is in Leith. With little added beyond a string of tragic events, the show generates a bizarre lack of sympathy.

Welsh’s characters, with whom so many people seem intoxicated, are flattened. While Lewis Kidd brings great energy to the stage as Renton, he is far stronger as a narrator than when required to embody the horrors of drug withdrawal, creating an uncomfortable imbalance. Sheridan Townsley seems wasted as an underwritten Sick Boy – we are never given enough sense of where his contempt for other people comes from. And it is a major mistake in Ranger’s direction to allow performances to come so close to screen versions. Kieran Andrew and Frankie O’Connor both seem to be impersonating other actors rather than creating characters of their own.

It is welcome that the women in the piece are more prominent. But nothing can hide the fact that they live their lives through their relationships with boyfriends or sons. Yana Harris and Sophie Hutchinson find this too much of a demand to generate powerful performances, while Rosie Dignan is fortunate to have a more substantial role. The strongest acting comes from Rebecca McKinnis and Ashley J Russell, who play parents of the wayward youths, but their roles are written generically: their characters largely just bicker and moan. Frankly, everyone is a bit of a bore.

It is possible that the attempt to make the action more even-handed is intended to provide greater space for female voices – in the most literal sense. But here lies the production’s biggest problem: what is sung, and how it sounds, is simply not good enough. Although there isn’t much music in the show, what there is is mostly bad. The original compositions are generic or poor pastiches, the lyrics simple and crass. The pop songs everyone associates with Trainspotting are included, but they feel obligatory, making little sense within the action. Everyone knows the words, so when performers become lost in them it is painful and the show comes dangerously close to karaoke. But less fun.

Until 5 September 2026

www.trainspottingthemusical.co.uk

Photo by Matt Crockett

2026

“The Jonathan Larson Project” at the Southwark Playhouse

This tribute show to the titular composer is a must for musical theatre aficionados. With a revival of Larson’s smash hit, Rent, coming soon, the timing is spot on for perfecting your knowledge and picking up trivia. There are numbers from shows never staged and numbers dropped from those that were. Songs written for competitions, cabarets and reviews, and some pop songs too. This packed show offers plenty.

Conceived by Jennifer Ashley Tepper, the selection is varied, the biographical detail light. Each number is energetically directed by John Simpkins, aided by Taylor Walker’s movement direction and Sam Biondolillo’s lighting design. Little unites the show apart from Larson. That’s not necessarily a problem; there is a satisfying distance between the “project” and jukebox biographies.

Unfortunately, the quality is inconsistent. There are strong songs that show the writer’s vision. But too much is included for the sake of interest. You might enjoy the anger on offer from Larson the tyro. You could even make a claim for prescient satire (there’s a song about a 2076 presidential race, and plenty to say about consumerism). But not a lot of humour lands. The rare chance to hear these songs is welcome, but the ratio of those you want to hear again isn’t great.

What ensures success is the quintet of strong performers. Marcus Collins, Max Harwood, Natalie Kassanga, Michael Mather and Imelda Warren-Green all sound great. They make the most of the songs they get to lead. Warren-Green has a great time with ‘Bring on the Booze‘ and shows skill with a very tricky Sondheim-style song. Harwood is particularly well cast for angsty numbers like ‘Rhapsody‘. And even if the material isn’t strong—just too generic or try-hard—Collins and Mather bring great stage presence, while Kassanga makes everything sound stunning.

Highlights arrive when the group focuses on performing together, improving the songs by combining their voices under the skilful musical direction of Livi Van Warmelo. Which makes sense. After all, the choral numbers are the best part of Rent. It’s confirmation like this that fans love, and nice for the rest of us too. So is the show just for theatre buffs? Yes…but only just.

Until 22 August 2026

www.southwarkplayhouse.com

Photo by Danny Kaan

2026

“Arcadia” at the Duke of York’s Theatre

Transferring from the Old Vic into the venue soon to bear the playwright Tom Stoppard’s name, this revival of his 1993 play deserves its rave reviews. Spanning centuries, as well philosophy and culture, Arcadia is full of big ideas. Director Carrie Cracknell and her superb cast seem a little in awe of the piece, and you can’t blame them – the fusion of sex, science and culture is grand. Without doubt, the production is a first-rate affair. But it can be noted that it never questions Stoppard’s genius.

It’s hard not to be daunted, though. Stoppard’s knowledge is profound as well as extensive. A history of the Enlightenment and Romanticism in the historical sections of the play is reflected on in modern-day moments. Stoppard’s facility with language and his erudite characters make every line intelligent. Naturally, he is writing about a bunch of clever clogs who say a lot of things that make you think. It’s tough to admit, but, this can be tiring and the play, however great, is long.

The focus is an 18th-century maths prodigy called Thomasina, performed impeccably by Isis Hainsworth who manages (no easy task) to convey the girl’s youth as well as her brains. Her tutor Septimus is another smarty pants, and Seamus Dillane conveys his many attractions convincingly. Septimus is almost dangerously charismatic – he is a schoolfriend of Lord Bryon, who he makes seem a little tame – although you might wonder if more questions could be raised about his conduct.

In the present day, the couple are researched (kind of) by modern academics. Nikki Amuka-Bird and Oliver Chris get a good deal of fun from the rivalry between the two writers, while Stoppard’s structure, his provision of hindsight, is hugely rewarding. But while Chris can land laughs as the arrogant historian, the performance comes close to being a little too broad. Would his inflated ego really fool or impress anyone, especially in such rarefied circles?

All of the characters are interesting. Yolanda Kettle has a fine role as Thomasina’s mother, full of the kind of acerbic snobbery that’s great on stage, while Angus Cooper plays another maths whiz struggling with something complicated. Stoppard manages to explain a lot of ideas brilliantly and Cooper’s understated performance is a highlight. Everyone has plenty to say and there is humour and romance, the latter aided by Alex Eales’ stylish set.

Best of all, Cracknell and the staging convey a sense of wonder. There’s less melancholy than I remember from Matthew Warcus’ production in the same venue a decade ago. The focus is more on intellectual excitement, with discussions about physics and philosophy that are fascinating, if occasionally hard work. It’s hard to follow what Thomasina’s breakthrough actually is, the trials of the modern academics too. And if you wonder at least some of the time what it is they are all talking about, don’t worry – you’re not alone.

Until 12 September 2026

www.oldvictheatre.com

Photo by  Manuel Harlan

2026

“Archduke” at the Royal Court Theatre

We all know that the assassination of Franz Ferdinand was some kind of catalyst for World War I. But playwright Rajiv Joseph isn’t interested in any standard history, nor the man who gives his play a title. His novel take, like his characters, is “a bit messed up”. But Archduke is memorable for its surreal moments and mad figures.

Es Devlin’s excellent design takes us underground. The action starts in a tunnel, with strangers played by Stanley Morgan, Abraham Popoola and Chris Walley meeting with little idea they are part of a murderous plot. The trio seem a little… simple. Their stupidity is funny, if a tad cruel, and the cast brings some excellent physical comedy. None of the men has long to live – they all have tuberculosis – and their desperation suggest a biopolitical motive for events.

The humour continues as a mad mastermind lectures the men – recruited as his “boys” – about regicide (he has form) and nationalism. Max Wootton has a brilliant time in the role, taking us to a 19th-century manosphere, his influencing suitably over the top. Meanwhile an ailurophobic maid asks moral questions and makes a cake. In the role, Janice Connolly provides tension as well as getting laughs.

Archduke works a lot better than you might think. Lyndsey Turner’s direction is swift, Joseph’s writing sharp and, best of all, there are plenty of surprises. It is an achievement to cover such common ground yet command an audience to question what comes next.

The incompetence of the plotters deflates their sinister objective, despite the serious consequences. There are plenty of random events, as well as misinformed and ill-judged decisions. As a final twist, the action becomes, oddly, believable. Joseph complicates the idea of conspiracy by making chance, coercion and human frailty as important as ideology. In doing so, he may end up taking us closer to the truth.

Until 25 July 2026

www.royalcourttheatre.com

Photo by Helen Murray

2026

“The Truth” at the Apollo Theatre

There’s no doubt that Florian Zeller’s hit show is a strong play. Londoners have long enjoyed the Frenchman’s work, including this comedy of manners about adultery, and this revival of Lindsay Posner’s production goes all out to entertain.

The focus is Michel, who is having an affair with his best friend’s wife, Alice. The twists surrounding what their respective spouses know and the games both couples play lead to a lot of fun with some great lines – all impressively far from your average farce.

Being French, Zeller brings a philosophical flair to his writing. The quartet debates the value of the truth, weaponising the concept with varying degrees of success. Such concerns are tamed by Posner, possibly with an eye on his cast. How much the play suffers from this is up for discussion.

The material allows some bluntness, especially with the role of Michel, played by Stephen Mangan, who emphasises this. Michel is the arch hypocrite and a bit of a fool – in short, very much in Mangan’s theatrical wheelhouse. It works because he is good at this and because he is so well supported. Sarah Hadland allows his mistress a suitably forceful edge and is on fine comic form. Ardal O’Hanlon, as the cuckold and betrayed best friend, gives an impressively understated performance that gets big laughs. An underused Janie Dee oozes sophistication as Michel’s wife.

All the characters have secrets, and the skilled performances make the most of these. But defining them all in relation to Michel points towards a question. Has The Truth been turned into more of a star vehicle than might be wise? Mangan may strike you as too bumbling, too British, but he gets the laughs, the audience loves him and he deserves his time in the spotlight. Even if there’s the suspicion that the comedy could have more bite, it’s no lie to say that this is an enjoyable affair.

Until 12 September 2026


www.thetruthplay.com

Photo by Johan Persson

2026

“Hot Mess” at The Other Palace Theatre

What a grand idea! This new musical from Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote turns the relationship between the planet and people into a rom-com. The love affair between Earth and Hugh(manity) is a delightfully crazy conceit, deployed with a sense of fun as well as purpose. It’s so successful that the show should go global.

Danielle Steers takes the lead as a lonely planet Earth. Amour with amoebas doesn’t offer much reward. And as for a dalliance with dinosaurs, well, we know how that ends. From the start, Godfrey’s smart lyrics and pop tunes are well matched and Steers’ singing is strong. There’s a lot of scope for original rhymes and you sense a great deal of fun was had in the show’s making.

Soon Morgan Gregory arrives as Humanity, bubbling with energy and ideas. Coote’s book plays with making the courtship cute. Gregory has a harder role – how humanity is changing is the debate (as well as questions around sincerity) – and there are moments in Coote’s book that come close to a checklist. But a twist about travel is good and it isn’t the fault of Hot Mess that we know where the story is going.

Coote’s energetic direction makes up for the problem of predictability. Mankind probably gets too much credit – maybe that’s part of trying to keep the show positive for as long as possible. But preaching is avoided and a downbeat ending handled with humour so we don’t all leave the theatre depressed. With some fantasy, Earth does well in the end – as she should – and Steers is triumphant.

Until 6 September 2026

www.theotherpalace.co.uk

Photo by Pamela Raith

2026

“Pride” at the National Theatre

Director Matthew Warchus’ project to turn his 2014 film into a musical makes sense. The true story of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners group, which raised funds during the 1984 miners’ strike, has protests and parades, strong characters and political changes. Even better, bringing Pride to the stage adds something special: the music and lyrics by Christopher Nightingale and Stephen Beresford highlight passion and the potential for change in a way only musicals can. After all, shows about revolutions can work remarkably well.

There’s no doubt Warchus gets it. His handling of the action is superb: clear, energetic and capable of delivering both laughter and tears. His staging balances the nostalgia that threatens to overwhelm Beresford’s book, reminding us that these were not easy times for either the LGBT community or the miners on strike. There is less success with the sentimentality that can also be laid at Beresford’s door. Some moments are simply too sickly sweet and pass by too quickly to earn their emotional weight. Overall, Pride is far from perfect, but its characters power it through to deliver impressive results.

The show is slow to get started. The exposition that introduces the period, while necessary, is sure to depress anyone of a certain age and plods along terribly. The piece also drags towards the end, becoming hagiographic in its treatment of its lead, the inspiring activist Mark Ashton. Despite the nuance Beresford tries to introduce, Jhon Lumsden struggles to convey the character’s charisma. There is also a moment when Pride focuses on personal identity to the exclusion of broader politics. It’s nice that the character of Bromley, whose coming-out story provides an effective subplot, gets a strong song, and Lewis Cornay is excellent in the role, but this shift in focus feels uncomfortable and anachronistic.

Other characters fare better. Matthew Durkan has a fine time as the group’s administrator, Mike, giving a strong and effective performance. Courtney Stapleton stands out as Steph, getting a lot of laughs out of her lines. Ensuring plenty of attention is given to the mining community is a smart move and leads to excellent performances from Matthew Woodyatt and, particularly, Sarah Pugh as Siân James. Her vocals are superb and her solo number is one of the show’s strongest moments. Samuel Barnett also has a great time as Jonathan, a role that showcases his considerable talents. Jonathan’s flamboyance has a clear political purpose – he gets the first truly memorable musical number (although the wait for it is too long), and Barnett’s performance is fantastic.

The lyrics have a humour that could be encouraged; the jokes are the best moments. There’s a pleasing variety to the score, helped by the subject matter, and while ‘Bread and Roses’ is always going to steal the show, the arrangement demonstrates real skill. It’s a shame that the biggest numbers rely so heavily on their performers, as the songs themselves are not quite memorable enough. Lizzie Gee’s choreography disappoints, while Bunny Christie’s set may be too simple. Many audiences will want more from a musical, and it’s easy to spot where a few banners could have been added. At least we get flags.

Warchus brings an energy to the show that is contagious. Pleasing the crowd is an aim, but so is doing justice to the source material. Reaching a wide audience without compromise is tough and occasionally results in clunky storytelling and a few cheap jokes. But the real-life material remains compelling and, although the score never quite makes the show as inspiring as it aspires to be, there is enough humour and passion here for all involved to have a lot to be proud of.

Until 12 September 2026

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

Photo by Manuel Harlan