Dream turned into a Nightmare

Shakespeare’s Globe

If you were thinking of treating the kids to the Globe’s first ever production of Shakespeare’s popular comedy about fairies, you may have to think again . Their website warns: ‘It contains loud noises, strong language, scenes of sexual content, drug use and gunshots.’  Headlong theatre’s Holly Race Roughan (with co-director Naeem Hayat) has found every dark element in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and then proceeds to darken it. The result pleased some critics and outraged others. Nearly all were shocked by the new violent ending. Danny Kirrane received praise for his coke-snorting, downtrodden Bottom.

[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]

4 stars ⭑⭑⭑⭑

Kate Wyver for The Guardian explained: ‘comedy and horror sit cheek by jowl, as director Holly Race Roughan conjures a nightmarish take on Shakespeare’s classic dream.’

Using the word ‘creepy’ more than once, Tim Bano at The Standard explained: ‘what is usually a summery froth of fairies and lovers (turns) into a crisp and frosty fairytale, a kind of sexed-up Narnia, twisting a Grimm story out of one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays.’ He ended: ‘(the) climax may not be for everyone, but the ride to reach it is wonderful, as Roughan rids the play of any trace of hazy summer, and turns it instead into a deeply unsettling winter’s tale.’

Holly O’Mahony for The Stage warned: ‘Nothing is quite as it seems. At court, the soon-to-be-weds Theseus and Hippolyta are at each other’s throats with knives and guns, while in the forest – which, on Max Johns’ set of crisp linen and polished white floor, offers no trace of woodland – there’s nothing playful about the sinister fairies, who hurl charms that land with the crack of a whip.’ She pointed out: ‘The text sometimes battles against Roughan and Hayat’s high-concept reframing, which takes considerable creative licence (…) But what becomes a mesmerisingly unusual reading ultimately wins out.’

Rachel Halliburton at The Arts Desk also endorsed the interpretation: ‘this is a sharply beguiling production, full of wit and vigour. Some might condemn it for trying too hard to shock, but there’s nothing we see on stage that isn’t in a text that I, personally, find more fascinatingly disturbing each time I read it. The Tarantino-style ending certainly makes jaws drop, yet there are plenty of real-life tyrants who would not hesitate to deal with outspoken individuals as callously as Marcus’s king does. Go, and bank on a wild time – it’s credible, clever, and you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.’

Alun Hood for WhatsOnStage found: ‘There are few laughs but plenty of chills, cruelty and intimations of some of the worst of human behaviour, from coercion to paedophilia. If you let go of the idea of traditional enchantment, it’s a compelling piece of theatre.’

3 stars ⭑⭑⭑

Time Out’s Andrzej Lukowski was confused, all the way to the changed end: ‘to me it felt like a cruel, capricious whim that snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, ending an enjoyably spikey Dream on a note of pure WTF.’

Julia Rank for LondonTheatre seemed taken aback by the ‘brutality’. She concluded: ‘Not everything in this production gels but it does lead to a genuinely shocking denouement. It isn’t easy to make amends and request the hand of friendship under such circumstances.’

2 stars  ⭑⭑

Kirsten Grant wrote in The Telegraph: ‘Headlong Theatre’s grim new production for the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse takes one of the few Shakespearean comedies that remains genuinely funny, and strips it of much of its romance, enchantment and humour.’ Her parting shot: ‘What a nightmare this Dream is.’

Ben Dowell for The Times called it: ‘a spare, pitch black ballet-themed spectacle full of spite and horror – with a needlessly shocking final scene that has to be seen to be believed.’ Not that he’s encouraging you to see it: ‘a summer dream becomes a wintry nightmare you’ll be glad to wake up from.’

Critics’ average rating: 3.3⭑

A Midsummer Night’s Dream can be seen at Shakespeare’s Globe until 31 January 2026. It will then tour to Shakespeare North (4–7 February), Leeds Playhouse (14–28 February), Bristol Old Vic (4–21 March), and Oxford Playhouse (24–28 March). For tickets go directly to shakepsearesglobe.com. For tour details, visit headlong.co.uk

If you’ve seen the Globe/Headlong production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, please leave your review/rating below

This little bear will run and run

Savoy Theatre

The critics’ hearts were captured by the little bear from Peru. Even those who found faults in the production still awarded four stars. For the majority who gave five star reviews,  it was not only the clever creation of the little chap but every aspect of the production pleased. This one could run and run.

[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]

5 stars ★★★★★

LondonTheatre’s Marianka Swain declared: ‘Paddington is pure theatre magic.’ To prove it, she pointed out many theatrical flourishes including: ‘There’s … thoughtful exploration of what family, home and belonging can mean, and how our capital thrives because it’s a cultural melting pot. That’s irresistibly expressed in “The Rhythm of London”, begun by Brenda Edwards’s Caribbean neighbour Tanya, and opened out to involve high-kicking Buckingham Palace guardsmen and bankers waving sparkly Union Jack brollies. Tom Pye’s wondrous design, a real love letter to London, also features an actual black cab and red telephone box, pastel-coloured Windsor Gardens, and full-size giraffes in the Natural History Museum.’

The Guardian‘s Arifa Akbar decided: ‘This is the new Mary Poppins: a well-known story imaginatively staged, immaculately performed and utterly winning.  Tom Fletcher’s songs are marvellous, Jessica Swale’s book earnest, Ellen Kane’s choreography vigorous.’

Olivia Garrett at Radio Times enthused: ‘Honestly, this show is exactly what it promised and more. Cutting right into your soul with its message of kindness, love and acceptance, it’s a musical we need now more than ever.’

‘This is a show with a heart as big and generous as Paddington himself’ raved Sarah Crompton at WhatsOnStage. She described Paddington on stage as ‘utterly real, his little grey eyebrows rising in surprise, his jaw dropping open when he is shocked, his nose wrinkling in search of marmalade.’

The Independent‘s Alice Saville explained: ‘The most immediately delightful thing about this show is that they’ve got Paddington absolutely spot on. Who wouldn’t give a home to this bear? (..) Inside this super-realistic (and no doubt quite warm) suit is 4ft tall actor Arti Shah, who gives him authentically bear-like movements while singer James Hameed lends his incongruously powerful vocals to punchy songs by Tom Fletcher (of McFly fame).’

Tim Bano for The Standard described some of the experience: ‘In just the first twenty minutes we get smoke, fire, explosions, collapsing furniture, rain, and whipped cream. It’s a multimillion pound piece of theatre that feels warm and fun and intimate, with no opportunity missed for a bit of extra silliness or a burst of theatricality.’

The i’s Fiona Mountford noted: ‘It is not only the bear design that is marvellous. Scenic designer Tom Pye makes stunning use of the high ceiling and proscenium arch of the theatre by flooding them with a changing mosaic of images that evoke Paddington’s homeland and the superhero cartoons that Mrs Brown designs. Every detail of this show is exquisite – and I confidently predict that this will be one proudly British export that will go on to conquer the world.’

The Mail’s Patrick Marmion reminded us: ‘let’s not forget, there’s also a musical attached to the costume, with comic, anthemic and shamelessly sappy songs by Tom Fletcher (of yesteryear’s boy band, McFly).’

4 stars ★★★★

The Telegraph‘s Dominic Cavendish almost got carried away: ‘Paddington Bear has been brought to life in a funny, feel-good, family-friendly musical that looks set to run and run (…) see the little visitor from Darkest Peru sing, dance (after a modest fashion) and bumble for Britain! Children will love him and adults will warm to his restorative sweetness’ until he stepped back and remembered he’s a theatre critic: ‘it’s a touch threadbare, and a little over-stuffed with songs, but fittingly, it’s still a very welcome addition to the British musical family.’

Similarly Time Out‘s Andrzej Lukowski liked it but wasn’t completely won over: ‘a fine creative team led by director Luke Sheppard has created a very enjoyable show indeed’ but ‘It’s a luxury musical that feels overstuffed at times.’

The Stage‘s Sam Marlowe stopped trying to be objective: ‘although there is plenty about this show that needs tweaking, rewriting and frankly doing away with altogether, there’s an overwhelming amount in Luke Sheppard’s production that is fundamentally just right. Save yourself some time and succumb – because resistance, trust me, is futile.’ She does list its many shortcomings, only to conclude: ‘whatever the faults of the show, it’s sweeter than a marmalade sandwich, and if the cuddly creation at its heart doesn’t make it a hit, I’ll eat his hat.’

Adam Bloodworth at CityAM wasn’t convinced by the hype: ‘What sticks is that the much-hyped animatronic bear’s mouth is fairly clunky, without the depth of movement to simulate real speech. When live lines are amplified from the side of the stage by designer-performer James Hameed, the mouth opens and closes more like a Sesame Street puppet than anything resembling ‘real’ speech.’ He pointed out: ‘Paddington the Musical at its core is actually a fairly analogue musical experience, a fairly conventional piece of musical theatre that is sustainably quality without relying on particularly viral moments, gimmicks or tricks. Instead Luke Sheppard’s overall show is a wholesome homage. Just nice songs and a decent ensemble held together by some brilliant writing. What more could you want?’

Critics’ average rating 4.7★

Value rating 49 (Value Rating is a combination of the critics’ rating and the typical ticket price)

Paddington The Musical can be seen at the Savoy Theatre until at least February 2027. Buy tickets directly from https://paddingtonthemusical.com

Click here to read Paul Seven’s review 

If you have seen Paddington The Musical, please leave a review and/or rating below

Warm reception for Cold War play

@sohoplace

The Chichester production of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, adapted by David Eldridge from John Le Carré’s novel and directed by Jeremy Herrin, transfers to London prior to a UK tour. Critics welcomed it despite many thinking it didn’t convey the depth of the original. Rory Keenan was praised in the lead role.

4 stars ⭑⭑⭑⭑

Andrzej Lukowski of Time Out enjoyed it for waht it was: ‘This is a slick and yes, maybe slightly MOR adaptation of Le Carre’s taut, brutal espionage yarn. But it’s a very good one, and Eldridge deftly crafts an intensely interior world, with us seeing the action unfold as much from within jaded spy protagonist Alec Leamas’s head as without.’

WhatsOnStage’s Sarah Crompton noted: ‘one of the many strengths of David Eldridge’s fluent adaptation for the stage … is that it emphasises the way in which this period piece is also a piercing play for today. It’s a serious and sobering examination of the shoddy accommodations of real politick, and their effect on the human heart.’

The Standard’s Nick Curtis called it ‘a propulsive, streamlined and reassuringly old-fashioned staging’. The Independent‘s Alice Saville called it ‘a lean, pacy adaptation’. She remarked: ‘Rory Keenan brings a rougher, more careworn energy to this story’s conflict-scarred star spy, Alec Leamas.’

Chris Dorrell for CityAM got over excited: ‘The production had everything you’d want from a spy thriller: great coats, a lonesome trumpet soundtrack, and enough drink-dropping twists to leave the person in front of you soaking (sorry).’

3 stars ⭑⭑⭑

Theo Bosanquet at LondonTheatre found: ‘a lot of the action is overly static, stilted by the understandably exposition-heavy dialogue, which lends it a radio play feel at times.’ However: ‘There is much to enjoy, particularly for Le Carré aficionados, and it’s a noble effort to show that his densely detailed novels are stageable. But those unfamiliar with the source material may feel somewhat left out in the cold.’

Clementine Scott for BroadwayWorld concluded: ‘This has still been a tale exhilaratingly told, and if it fails it fails for being too inventive in developing Smiley’s character, rather than not inventive enough. Leamas’s interiority is an issue for adaptations of this novel that needs puzzling out, but the solution is not just to have another character drily explaining his motivations.’

Claire Allfree for the Telegraph was disappointed: ‘Le Carré’s novel is a shocking slice of spiritual nihilism in which everyone is ultimately damned. At times, Eldridge’s play feels suspiciously more like a romantic melodrama.’

The Times’ Clive Davis was concerned that: ‘While Rory Keenan is thoroughly convincing as the cynical, dishevelled intelligence officer Alec Leamas, Jeremy Herrin’s … production… risks falling between two stools. Le Carré fans will, I suspect, find themselves hankering after the book’s intricately layered study of secret service ethics; newcomers, on the other hand, may well be left confused by the breathless twists in the narrative.’

For Aleks Sierz at The Arts Desk, particularly in the first act: ‘things happen very fast, and atmosphere is sacrificed to speed of storytelling – which dilutes the noir in this noirish thriller.’

Critics’ average rating 3.6⭑

Best Christmas Show is back

Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre

Back for a second year, the National Theatre’s adaptation of the Noel Streatfeild’s classic Ballet Shoes continues to garner high praise.

[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]

5 stars ★★★★★

Aliya Al- Hassan for LondonTheatre explained: ‘the tale has endured so long due to its universal themes of resilience, female self-determination, ambition and chosen family.’ She enthused: ‘With limitless charm, wry humour and a sincere heart, this revival of Ballet Shoes is a must-see for all the family.’

Dominic Maxwell of The Times also raved: ‘Katy Rudd’s handsomely playful production of Kendall Feaver’s adaptation works even better second time round (…) it feels even slicker, even more soulful, even more at ease with its copious theatrical conceits. This retelling of Noel Streatfeild’s 1936 novel about three adopted girls in interwar London is a total treat.’

Christiana Rose for BroadwayWorld summed up her thoughts: ‘Ballet Shoes is rich, heartfelt and exquisitely crafted with a uniquely talented cast and a vision which underlines the themes of ambition, family and individuality. It honours the spirit of the original novel while elevating to present a visually stunning, musically vibrant and deeply human celebration of growing up and finding one’s place in the world. It is a triumph for The National Theatre’.

4 stars ★★★★

The Stage’s Sam Marlowe declared: ‘while it’s heady with the whiff of greasepaint, it also has grit.’ The Standard’s Nick Curtis said: ‘This is a splendid piece of inventive theatre that’s also great family entertainment.’

Reviews from 2024

5 stars ★★★★★

At the i Fiona Mountford announced, ‘here is a real Christmas cracker from the National Theatre’, saying it ‘has been exuberantly adapted by Kendall Feaver in a manner so skilful it will please the novel’s generations of fans while simultaneously enchanting a whole new audience.’

For The Telegraph‘s Dominic Cavendish: ‘the girls’ voyage of discovery is … thrilling and catches a collective joy achieved through pluck and grit.’ I

Sarah Crompton at WhatsOnStage noted: ‘Above all the staging, fluidly choreographed by Ellen Kane (with Jonathan Goddard), creates its own magic, making a story that is full of love for the self-realising powers of theatre and dance into a transformative experience in itself.’

Alice Saville in The Independent said it ’is as delicately balanced as a dancer en pointe as it leaps between its period setting and the present, finding ways to diversify and complexify this story in ways that never feel lazy or jarring. It’s a Christmas treat for every possible kind of family.’

4 stars ★★★★

The Guardian‘s Arifa Akbar decided: ‘this is an exquisite Christmas cracker of a show, albeit an elegant one that never quite let its hair down, but still it is filled with spectacular theatricality and fabulous performances all round

Louise Levine for the Financial Times noted: ‘Kendall Feaver’s dramatisation galvanises Streatfeild’s chronicle into a lively feminist tale of self-discovery and mutual support. Katy Rudd’s decisive direction keeps exposition to a minimum and handles the passage of time with wit and economy as our three heroines slog through daily class or toil away in the chorus.’

Susannah Clapp at The Observer joined in the praise: ‘adapter Kendall Feaver and director Katy Rudd have not simply sent the original text pirouetting over the stage but subtly rewired it for today.’

3 stars ★★★

Only Time Out’s Andrzej Lukowski struck a slightly sour note: ‘It’s slick, classy and meticulously directed by Katy Rudd. But ultimately it lacks dramatic punch.’

Critics’ average rating 4.5★

Value rating 50 (Value rating is the Average Critic Rating divided by the typical ticket price)

Ballet Shoes can be seen at the National Theatre until  21 February 2026. Buy tickets directly from the theatre 

If you’ve seen Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre , please share your review/comment and rating below

Poignant end to trilogy

Dorfman Theatre in the National Theatre

The final part of David Eldridge’s trilogy concerning couples at various stages in their relationships provides great acting from Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves in a story concerning a dying partner, said the critics.

[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]

4 stars ⭑⭑⭑⭑

LondonTheatre’s Marianka Swain found:  ‘Both actors are tremendous. Owen viscerally conveys the exhausted frustration of this energetic man being confined to a failing body (…) An extraordinary Reeves cycles through the desperate stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining) while also hinting at Julie’s reserves of strength.’ She concluded: ‘Eldridge could do with leaving more space for such exchanges – there are a few too many florid speeches and over-worked metaphors – but this is tender, compassionate drama.’

Calling it ‘a beautiful conclusion’, Fiona Mountford in the Telegraph said: ‘Rachel O’Riordan’s sensitive production is not afraid to take its time and sit in its silences, allowing ruminative rhythms to play out. Yet it is by no means all downbeat, as Alfie and Julie playfully recall a rich shared history of past pleasures.’

WhatsOnStage’s Sarah Crompton found: ‘Owen and Reeves give performances of such honesty that the characters cease to be imagined and become real, every flicker of their shifting emotion beautifully recognised’. She decided: ‘It’s an astonishingly realised portrayal of the way human beings can grope towards an expression of the real things they are feeling’.

The Standard’s Nick Curtis said: ‘O’Riordan’s production depends on the chemistry of Reeves and Owen. The flashes of pique, exasperation and anger between Julie and Alf are underpinned by a mature and demonstrative affection. End features one of the more tender and delicate love scenes I’ve seen on stage’.

3 stars ⭑⭑⭑

Time Out’s Andrzej Lukowski was unconvinced: ‘Alfie and Julie’s dialogue and actions often feel wildly implausible in the context of a 90-minute realtime conversation, overly crammed with exposition and incident. Some veering in tone makes sense, but it gets a bit silly here. It’s a naturalistic drama, but (without wishing to spoiler) it becomes increasingly hard to believe a conversation like this would ever happen.’

Dave Fargnoli for The Stage found: ‘O’Riordan handles the sensitive, slow-paced piece with great finesse, assuredly judging when to let a pause stretch into a loaded silence and when to slip in an uplifting moment of humour. The unhurried staging never becomes static, but while the script is truthful and keenly observed, the piece feels more like documentary than drama: overly observational; lacking forward momentum.’

The Guardian‘s Arifa Akbar stated: ‘This is grown up, bittersweet fare that brings with it a full-bodied reflection on the end that awaits us all: death.’

The Independent‘s Alice Saville explained: ‘The first two parts captured decidedly normal Essex couples falling in love, then (almost) falling apart, played out in real time. Its conclusion breaks new territory by showing a couple who’ve broken with their past, by moving away from their beloved home county, and by contemplating the still scarier reality of moving off this planet altogether. But it still feels like it’s building to something bigger that never comes – a pay-off, postponed in favour of yet another cup of tea.’

Dominic Maxwell in The Times thought it was: ‘too rich with reminiscence, but it offers lots of telling details and little knots for its characters to untangle or move beyond.’ He observed: ‘This kind of nicely observed writing needs fabulous playing to stop from feeling like nicely observed writing. Rachel O’Riordan’s assured production gives us just that.’

Critics’ Average Rating 3.4★

End can be seen at the National Theatre until 7 March 2026.Buy tickets directly at allmysonsplay.com

If you’ve seen End at the National Theatre , please share your review/comment and rating below

Bryan Cranston stars in drama of the year

Wyndham’s Theatre

Director Ivo van Hove and his designer Jan Versweyveld first made their names in the UK with their stripped down production of Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge at the Young Vic in 2014. They’re back with a West End production of the same playwright’s All My Sons, returning to the same less-is-more treatment. The critics loved it. It’s one of the all time great plays, which helps, but they loved the cast- Bryan Cranston, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Paapa Essiedu and more, and the way the director and designer did enough (but not too much) to bring out the play’s human dilemma of whether to sacrifice morals for self interest.

[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]

5 stars ★★★★★

The Guardian’s Arifa Akbar wrote a rave review. She praised van Hove for ‘letting the cast (and what a cast this is) just inhabit their parts but somehow become them as if by magic. They articulate the devastating truths in this play about the corruptions of the American dream and the toxic inheritance handed down from fathers to sons’. She observed: ‘There is a Sophoclean examination of the family, what it means for a son to inherit a father’s crimes, and the production lays out the psychology of blame, guilt and complicity in an incredibly full-bodied and clarifying way.’ She noted it ‘is a rare thing to see a group of actors quite this brilliant gel so completely (…) Every scene is strong, no actor stealing the show, each raising the power of the ensemble as a whole.

‘Calling it ‘an astonishing, deeply moving piece of theatre’, The Standard’s Nick Curtis said: ‘Bryan Cranston and Marianne Jean-Baptiste deliver near pitch perfect performances‘.

Time Out’s Andrzej Lukowski declared: ‘Bryan Cranston and Paapa Essiedu …offer two of the best stage performances of 2025.’  The key to the production was: ‘what van Hove has done is discretely uncouple Miller’s play from the naturalism that often stifles it (…) (his) production really savours the writing.

Cindy Marcolina of BroadwayWorld declared: ‘Each element of the mise-en-scène works perfectly in tune with the other, delivering a simply arresting theatrical event. Van Hove adds even more misanthropy to Miller’s already bleak point of view, exacerbating the significance of Joe’s choices. He cowardly picked money over people’s safety, capitalism over life, ego over justice: it’s as contemporary as it gets. But the intent doesn’t overshadow the humanity in it. He keeps the piece strongly fixed in its genre. It can be a tragic realist drama’.

Annabel Nugent in The Independent noted: ‘Van Hove manages something ingenious here, creating a version of suburban American that’s abstract and epic – while still humming with the sense of a local community that bustles into the backyard for tense little exchanges or leisurely card games. When this story’s tragedy reaches its full force, that thrum of gossip becomes a nightmarish mosquito whine. Joe hasn’t just displeased his community; he’s angered the old gods, and his downfall is absolute.’

The i’s Fiona Mountford stated: ‘playing now at just over two hours without interval, All My Sons assumes the grim yet towering momentum, inexorability and universality of a Greek tragedy (…) I have quite simply never seen a better production of this play.’

4 stars ★★★★

WhatsOnStage’s Sarah Crompton described van Hove’s ‘remarkable ability to crank up tension, to pull the relationships in the Keller family to taut breaking point and to orchestrate the results.’ She praised the design: ‘Jan Versweyveld’s set and lighting design are stark, brown, scuffed. This is not the usual suburban house but an expressionistic wasteland’. She loved the cast: ‘Marianne Jean-Baptiste gives ‘an utterly devastating performance of quiet despair and willed intent’ and ‘Essiedu is simply superb, leaning into Colin’s essential goodness, his trust in a world that is about to be destroyed.’

The Times’ Clive Davis said it was ‘a clear-sighted yet full-blooded reading of one of the most perfectly plotted dramas (with echoes of Ibsen and the ancient Greeks) you will ever see.’ He praised the stars: ‘Cranston gives a masterclass in fusing an easy exterior with a roiling interior’. But, ‘Good as everyone is here, it’s Paapa Essiedu … you walk out talking about. His ascent from affable shrugs to righteous rants is plausible, compelling, freshly minted.’ He concluded: ‘this is a seriously good play, seriously well acted, seriously well staged.’

The Stage’s Sam Marlowe found von Hove’s staging ‘shot through with a profound disgust for the jettisoning of morals and common humanity in the pursuit of the mighty dollar. As it builds towards a frenzy of anguish over more than two interval-free hours, you can’t help but sense a boiling anger at the current US administration.’ She had a reservation:  ‘Von Hove directs with his habitual expressionistic flourishes, some of which are a touch heavy-handed’. She ended:  ‘As we watch them all rip themselves and each other apart on a stage littered with red autumn leaves that irresistibly recall memorial poppy fields, this brutal dismantling of the American dream feels more pertinent than ever.’

For The Mail’s Patrick Marmion, it was a ‘harrowing journey into guilt-racked despair’.

Dominic Cavendish in the Telegraph thought: ‘the virtue of this production is… its spare focus’. He had one niggle: ‘With performances this strong, and a tragic climax so potent, the cinematic incidental music that plays beneath the dialogue feels like an unnecessary emotional nudge. Van Hove’s “less is more” approach works well; even less would work even better.’

Critics’ Average Rating 4.5★

Value rating 45 (Value rating is the Average Critic Rating divided by the typical ticket price)

All My Sons can be seen at Wyndham’s Theatre until 7 March 2026.Buy tickets directly at allmysonsplay.com

Click here to read Paul Seven’s review of All My Sons

If you’ve seen All My Sons at the Wyndham’s Theatre , please share your review/comment and rating below

Ambika Mod excels as porn addict in uneven play

Royal Court Theatre

Ambika Mod rose above a play about addiction to pornography that received mixed reviews. Some critics thought Sophia Chetin-Leuner’s play, directed by Josie Rourke, was a bold look at female sexuality while others thought it heavy handed and unfocused.

[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]

4 stars ★★★★

Chris Wiegand in The Guardian called it an ‘ambitious balance of tragedy, horror and comedy’. He commented: ‘In a riveting performance, Ambika Mod manages to make Ani’s isolation and emptiness as moving as it is unsettling.’

Annabel Nugent in The Independent described the play as ‘a welcome and bold addition to the growing discourse surrounding sex and the internet.’ As for Ambika Mod’s performance: ‘she brings a naturalism and genuine fearlessness’.

The play is ‘brutally sad rather than sexy’ said The Standard’s Nick Curtis. He continued: ‘It features a harrowing central performance, more emotionally than physically exposing, from Ambika Mod’.

Olivia Rook for LondonTheatre reported : ‘Chetin-Leuner’s tight, 100-minute play asks lots of probing questions about the complicated and thorny strands of female desire, but only gently touches on the likely root of Ani’s struggle. In Porn Play’s final moments, shame and grief mingle together in a harrowing display that shows not only the skill of its lead performer, but the craft of its ambitious young writer.’

Three stars ★★★

Writing for the Telegraph, Fiona Mountford found it ‘an uncompromising, uncomfortable – get ready to watch myriad masturbation scenes – and too often unsubtle watch.’ The star disappointed her: ‘Mod makes Ani unrelentingly bleak and blank in Josie Rourke’s 100-minute production. The unfortunate upshot of this is that we, like everyone in Ani’s life, feel very distant from her.’

Time Out’s Andrzej Lukowski pointed out: ‘Rourke’s production is staged on a remarkable Yimei Zhao set: it transforms the Royal Court’s Upstairs theatre into a sort of gigantic flesh-coloured sofa with what I’m going to go ahead and say is a big hole that’s meant to be evocative of a vaginal opening as its focal point.’ He is critical of the play: ‘It’s a bold play with a fantastically committed performance from Mod. My basic problem is that violent porn addiction in women is such a rare and delicate subject to be tackling that Chetin-Leuner’s splashy conceptual flourishes feel like a personal hobby horse she’s unsubtly worked in.’

The Stage’s Sam Marlowe praise was tempered: ‘It feels like a frenzy of intriguing ideas, none of which is properly pursued – but for all its nebulous muddle, in Josie Rourke’s striking production, it compels. The dialogue zings, and there’s a playful erudition in the writing, even if it seems a draft or two away from the intricate, layered work it might become.’

The Times’ Clive Davis gave faint praise: ‘Josie Rourke’s production is actually as soft-centred as the material underfoot’ and ‘delivers a portrait of a woman who remains more symbol than substance. Ani is a gifted researcher whose expertise on Milton’s Paradise Lost is the cue for some unremarkable reflections on sin and morality. In case we miss the parallels with Eve’s temptations in the Garden of Eden, Ani and her boyfriend, Liam, are shown about to consume an apple in their opening scene.’

Franco Milazzo’s review in BroadwayWorld was so excoriating, I’m surprised he gave the play as many as three stars. ‘This is not an easy watch by any means but neither is it a particularly informative one.’ His many objections include ‘the parallels between Ani’s fall from grace and Eve’s in Paradise Lost. The allusions could hardly be less subtle (…) If the hints were any heavier, the Royal Court should think about reinforcing the foundations.’ The review was also full of research that served to undermine Chetin-Leuner’s story: ‘one study suggests (…) another study points to…’ 

Critics’ average rating 3.4★

Porn Play can be seen at The Royal Court theatre until 12 December 2025. Buy tickets direct from the theatre 

Click here to read Paul Seven’s review

If you’ve seen Porn Play, please add your rating and/or review below 

Film adaptation favours spectacle above emotion

The Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre

The Hunger Games is a stage version of the first film in the series of the same name. It has a stellar creative team, with Conor McPherson (The Weir, Girl From The North Country) doing the adaptation, Matthew Dunster directing and Miriam Buether designing. Many reviewers felt the nuances of the story were lost in the large scale spectacle, although some didn’t care about that. The critics didn’t actually agree on how spectacular the show was. Some were dazzled, others found it fell short of their expectations. Mia Carragher as the lead impressed with her action hero prowess.

[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]

4 stars ⭑⭑⭑⭑

Holly O’Mahony in The Stage was a fan of the spectacle: ‘there’s plenty here to impress fans of the franchise, and the space is used in its entirety. Set pieces rise up from beneath the arena-like stage, and props are lowered from above. Ian Dickinson’s sound design sends the flutter of birds’ wings around the auditorium, bringing us closer to the action; Kev McCurdy’s fight direction orchestrates gasp-worthy duels; and Chris Fisher’s illusions send arrows flying into the bullseye of their targets.’

3 stars ⭑⭑⭑

Cindy Marcolina at BroadwayWorld declared: ‘The actors are tireless athletes, the theatre is an imposing arena, and the stagecraft is often remarkable. Unfortunately, it’s also a soulless incarnation (…) If you expect to be wowed to the edge of your seat, the technical aspects will do that. If you look for emotional depth and the same thematic inquiry as the source material, you might be disappointed.’

For Alex Wood at WhatsOnStage, it was ‘a show that often feels caught between two impulses: thoughtful character study and full-throttle spectacle, and never really satisfyingly landing either.’ He concluded: ‘It has just enough theatrical invention to justify its existence beyond the films, while Carragher’s debut is a genuine highlight.’

Time Out‘s Andrzej Lukowski took a different view of the choice of lead: ‘It’s hardly hack work. And it very nearly clicks – just a stronger lead away from triumph.’ He explained that ‘Mia Carragher is certainly up to the considerable physical demands of playing Katniss (…) But she’s somewhat light on the ol’ charisma and she talks in a breathy Marilyn Monroe-style accent that is odd bordering on distracting.’ He didn’t think it worked to have her as ‘both protagonist and narrator. It’s true that there’s a lot to explain. But in such an action-heavy format, having the lead character constantly offering background on what’s going on really undermines the sense of her living in a dangerous moment.’

The Mail‘s Patrick Marmion decided it wasn’t as good as the film: ‘Martial arts, modern dance, and hand-to-hand combat are what drive the pageant, heightened by strobe lighting and nasty white noise. Sadly for the producers, the practicalities of live performance can’t touch the roller-coaster ride of the film.’

Over at The Independent Alice Saville disagreed: ‘There are wince-inducing fight scenes, eyebrow-singeing bursts of fire, and dazzling bits of stage trickery. Its tensest moments plunge the audience right into this dangerous world’. Her beef is with McPherson’s adaptation: ‘he makes too much of Katniss and her sister’s pretty dresses, and not enough of their raging sense of injustice.’

The Guardian‘s Arifa Akbar found: ‘you don’t feel the dread in Conor McPherson’s adaptation, which seems clipped by the pace of events, all spectacle above emotion.’ She noted: ‘John Malkovich, appearing on screen as President Snow, goes his own way a little more, not as lugubriously contemptuous as Donald Sutherland in the film, more blank-eyed and Spock-like. But he remains as flat as his 2D image, more a cameo than a character.’

2 stars ⭑⭑

Claire Allfree for the Telegraph called it a ‘depressingly bad adaptation’. She continued: ‘Dunster’s production feels thuddingly perfunctory. Save for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment of suspended action in the rafters, startlingly little use is made of the hangar-like proportions of the Troubadour auditorium (which was purpose-built for this show).’ Her parting shot was: ‘we are left with a mediocre half-way house, neither theatrically coherent nor, alas, a patch on the far superior films.’

The i’s Fiona Mountford ‘found this unexcitingly staged spectacle an underwhelming trudge.’ She was disappointed by the lack of spectacle: ‘With this sort of setting, an audience understandably expects bells-and-whistles excitement; as it is, the friend who came with me commented that, “It looks like they’re running around a school gym”.’

For Marianka Swain at LondonTheatre, it was ‘a damp squib’. She said: ‘Matthew Dunster’s production never really finds a unique and coherent theatrical language for The Hunger Games. It’s a hodge-podge of ideas, including limited video, songs, aerial stunts, and unconvincing stylised dance.’

‘This dystopia could surely do with a little more pizzazz,’ began The Times’ Clive Davis. ‘The in-the-round arena, designed by Miriam Buether, looks impressive when you take your seat, but once the action starts you soon discover that Dunster and his team struggle to fill it with enough spectacle to justify the steep prices.’ He found:  ‘Mia Carragher … is an energetic central presence as Katniss Everdeen (…) But the fact that she’s required to narrate much of the story while sprinting here and there is a distinct flaw in a script by the playwright Conor McPherson, which plods through the tale as told in the first film’.

Critics’ Average Rating 2.7⭑

Value rating 34 (Value rating is the Average Critic Rating divided by the typical ticket price.)

The Hunger Games continues at The Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre until October 2026. Buy tickets direct from the theatre