Culture Whisper: Culture Whisper

Hope has a Happy Meal. Photo: Helen Murray

Theatre In the Know

Hope Has a Happy Meal: promising but messy

Shows real promise but structurally messy

Published on 21/6/2023

Kate O'Flynn in All of it at the Royal Court. Photo Manuel Harlan

Theatre Tried and Tested

all of it: Alistair McDowall's monologues at the Royal Court

All of it gets progressively more interesting

Published on 9/6/2023

For Black Boys... Royal Court Theatre review. Photo: Ali Wright

Theatre Book Now

Don't miss 'For Black Boys...' on the West End

Powerful and poetic

Published on 12/4/2023

Fay Ripley (Kerry) and Gavin Spokes (Warren) in Kerry Jackson at the National Theatre. Photo: Marc Brenner

Theatre In the Know

Kerry Jackson: skewers the British class divide but doesn’t roast it

Fay Ripley from Cold Feet fame adds sparkle to an otherwise ill-thought through class comedy at the National Theatre

Published on 9/12/2022

Giles Terera (Othello) and Rosy McEwen (Desdemona) in Othello at the National Theatre. Credit: Myah Jeffers

Theatre In the Know

Othello review: sleek but too surface level

An illumination of the systemic racism and misogyny in society

Published on 1/12/2022

The Boy With Two Hearts review. Shamail Ali centre, Ahmad Sakhi, Houda Echouafni, Farshid Rokey and Dana Haqjoo. Photo: Jorge Lizalde

Theatre Book Now

The Boy With Two Hearts: heartfelt and empathetic

Heartfelt and empathetic

Published on 7/10/2022

Theatre

Review: Jews. In Their Own Words.

Factually stimulating but dramatically flat

Published on 29/9/2022

Handbagged at the Kiln Theatre. Abigail Cruttenden (Liz), Kate Fahy (T), Marion Bailey (Q), Naomi Frederick (Mags). Photo: Tristram Kenton

Theatre Book Now

Review: Handbagged at the Kiln Theatre

A crowd pleaser full of laugh-out-loud moments

Published on 19/9/2022

Best of Enemies, Young Vic theatre review. Photo: Wasi Daniju

Theatre Essential

James Graham's Best of Enemies moves to West End

James Graham’s Best of Enemies gets a West End transfer

Published on 7/9/2022

Theatre

All of Us review: a coup for disability programming

Immensely moving and emotionally raw

Published on 5/8/2022

Oh Mother, Soho Theatre review. Photo: The Other Richard

Theatre Essential

Award-winning RashDash present Oh Mother

RashDash dissect the complexities of motherhood

Published on 25/7/2022

Christina Modestou, Kirstie Skivington and Renee Lamb in Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World. Photo: Pamela Raith Photography

Theatre Essential

Fantastically Great Women... is empowering for kids

Empowering for kids

Published on 24/6/2022

Siena Kelly and Jake Davies in This Is Not Who I Am at the Royal Court. Photo: Manuel Harlan

Theatre Book Now

That Is Not Who I Am: multiple deceptions at the Royal Court

Deeply chilling and hyper real

Published on 20/6/2022

Theatre In the Know

Britannicus review

‘Histrionics without the stakes’

Published on 4/6/2022

The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs. Photo: Helen Murray

Theatre Essential

Review: The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs

A much-needed queer narrative exploring intersectional lesbian lives

Published on 16/5/2022

Theatre

Review: Middle at the National Theatre

Attempt at relatability becomes distancing

Published on 5/5/2022

Velile Tshabalala in Running with Lions. Credit: Jahvin Morgan Photography

Theatre Essential

Running With Lions review: overflowing with grief and joy

A tearjerker overflowing with grief and joy

Published on 16/2/2022

Anthony Ofoegbu in Conundrum. Credit: Marc Brenner

Theatre

Review: Conundrum at the Young Vic

The writing’s not on the wall, it’s on the floor

Published on 20/1/2022

Little Women the Musical, Park Theatre review. Photo: Tristram Kenton

Theatre Book Now

Review: Little Women the Musical

Sweet, sentimental and soft-boiled

Published on 18/11/2021

Abigail Weinstock (Her/Baba), Tom Mothersdale (Him/Man) in Love and Other Acts of Violence, Donmar Warehouse. Credit: Helen Murray

Theatre

Review: Cordelia Lynn's Love and Other Acts of Violence

Bleakness abounds in this grave drama on love, loathing and societal deterioration

Published on 18/10/2021

Nathaniel Parker as Henry VIII in The Mirror and the Light. Credit: Marc Brenner

Theatre

The Mirror and the Light shines on stage

Double Man Booker prize winner Hilary Mantel masters the art of playwriting in her adaptation of The Mirror and The Light, the third instalment of her Wolf Hall series

Published on 7/10/2021

Is God Is, Royal Court Theatre review. Photo: Adelayo Adedayo, Tamara Lawrance. Credit: Tristram Kenton

Theatre Essential

Review: Is God Is at the Royal Court

Inherited family trauma brings laughter, tears and bloodshed

Published on 17/9/2021

Theatre

Review: Winsome Pinnock's Rockets and Blue Lights

Winsome Pinnock provides poignancy and fury in her epic on slavery, legacy and representation

Published on 3/9/2021

Theatre In the Know

and breathe... Almeida theatre review

Olivier award-winning director Miranda Cromwell and BBC/HBO’s Industry star David Jonsson tap into the universality of grief in and breathe… at the Almeida Theatre.

Published on 23/6/2021

David Mitchell in Upstart Crow, Gielgud Theatre. Photo by Johan Persson

Theatre Book Now

David Mitchell plays William Shakespeare

From Peep Show to world's greatest playwright

Published on 18/2/2020

Cancelled

The Visit, National Theatre. Photo by Johan Persson

Theatre Essential

Bitter revenge comedy is updated at The National

How far will people go for money?

Published on 14/2/2020

Cancelled

Endgame: Daniel Radcliffe returns to the Old Vic

Theatre Essential

Endgame at The Old Vic closes early

The Harry Potter star dabbles in the absurd

Published on 6/2/2020

Cancelled

Swive [Elizabeth], Sam Wanamaker Playhouse review

Theatre In the Know

New play explores sex and power in Elizabethan era

Ella Hickson explores the relationship between sex and power in Elizabeth I's reign

Published on 13/12/2019

Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Rhashan Stone and Nicola Hughes in Fairview. Photo by Marc Brenner

Theatre Book Now

Fairview astonishes at the Young Vic

Fairview comes to the Young Vic

Published on 6/12/2019

Theatre Book Now

Grime reigns at the Royal Court

Theatre gets woke with new show combining grime, movement and poetry

Published on 17/10/2019

Glass: Rebekah Murrell. Photo by Johan Persson

Theatre In the Know

Caryl Churchill's contemporary myths

The prolific playwright returns

Published on 26/9/2019

Cecilia Noble (Hazel) in Faith, Hope and Charity. Image by Sarah Lee

Theatre In the Know

Austerity cuts deep in Faith, Hope and Charity

Alexander Zeldin's trilogy of potent stories about society's most vulnerable people concludes with Faith, Hope and Charity

Published on 18/9/2019

Natasha Sutton Williams

Loves all things theatrical, especially female led stories. Early jazz songs run through her veins.

Hope Has a Happy Meal: promising but messy

all of it: Alistair McDowall's monologues at the Royal Court

Don't miss 'For Black Boys...' on the West End

Kerry Jackson: skewers the British class divide but doesn’t roast it

Othello review: sleek but too surface level

The Boy With Two Hearts: heartfelt and empathetic

Review: Jews. In Their Own Words.

Review: Handbagged at the Kiln Theatre

James Graham's Best of Enemies moves to West End

All of Us review: a coup for disability programming

Award-winning RashDash present Oh Mother

Fantastically Great Women... is empowering for kids

That Is Not Who I Am: multiple deceptions at the Royal Court

Britannicus review

Review: The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs

Review: Middle at the National Theatre

Running With Lions review: overflowing with grief and joy

Review: Conundrum at the Young Vic

Review: Little Women the Musical

Review: Cordelia Lynn's Love and Other Acts of Violence

The Mirror and the Light shines on stage

Review: Is God Is at the Royal Court

Review: Winsome Pinnock's Rockets and Blue Lights

and breathe... Almeida theatre review

David Mitchell plays William Shakespeare

Bitter revenge comedy is updated at The National

Endgame at The Old Vic closes early

New play explores sex and power in Elizabethan era

Fairview astonishes at the Young Vic

Grime reigns at the Royal Court

Caryl Churchill's contemporary myths

Austerity cuts deep in Faith, Hope and Charity