The Beaux' Stratagem review " a pick-me-up of a production by Kate Kellaway

Olivier, LondonDirector Simon Godwin conspires to make George Farquhar's restoration comedy fresh, relevant and unstoppably entertaining Continue reading...

The actor who took centre stage: Tom Hiddleston by Kate Kellaway

Tom Hiddleston was named best newcomer at the Laurence Olivier Awards in March and delivered acclaimed turns in Ivanov at the Wyndham's theatre and BBC drama Wallander Continue reading...

Deathtrap; Bedlam; Tiny Kushner | Theatre review by Kate Kellaway

A fine cast fails to revive Ira Levin's comedy thriller, while there's mirth and madness at the Globe, writes Kate Kellaway

The Wizard of Oz; Million Dollar Quartet; Great Expectations; And the Rain Falls Down - review by Kate Kellaway

The Merchant of Venice review " a double star turn by Kate Kellaway

The Globe, LondonJonathan Pryce and his daughter, Phoebe, excel in Jonathan Munby's inspired production Continue reading...

Light Shining in Buckinghamshire review " arguments fought with fire by Kate Kellaway

The National's magnificent production of Caryl Churchill's English civil war play resonates powerfully today Continue reading...

Alice's Adventures Underground review " never a dull moment by Kate Kellaway

The Vaults, London An aptly subterranean reworking of Lewis Carroll's masterpiece is the perfect remedy for grown-ups who have forgotten what it is to play Continue reading...

Game review " Mike Bartlett's unnerving drama makes voyeurs of the audience by Kate Kellaway

Almeida, LondonVideo-game violence and reality meet in an ingeniously executed eveningGame is more a concept than a conventional play, in which multitalented and prolific playwright Mike Bar…

Lippy review " dynamo playwright Mark O'Halloran is a name to watch by Kate Kellaway

Young Vic, LondonDead Centre's terrible and true story of a mysterious hunger strike is a perfect companion to Beckett's Happy Days Continue reading...

Antigone review " Juliette Binoche is more hysteric than heroine by Kate Kellaway

Barbican, LondonThere is perhaps unfair pressure on Binoche to pull off miracles in Ivo van Hove's eagerly anticipated take on Sophocles Continue reading...

Eugene Onegin review " a dazzlingly unconventional homage to Pushkin by Kate Kellaway

Barbican, LondonHigh emotion drives this anarchic Russian production in which the doomed lovers are accompanied by dancing damsels and a brooding ukulele Continue reading...

Britain's Best Recruiting Sergeant review " ingenious and stylish by Kate Kellaway

Unicorn, LondonThe story of how music-hall male impersonator Vesta Tilley became a first world war recruiter is eloquent, delightful and moving Continue reading...

Harvey review " Maureen Lipman struggles with invisible rabbit by Kate Kellaway

Birmingham RepMary Chase's 40s Broadway comedy doesn't always hit the funny boneIt is the task of director Lindsay Posner to pull a rabbit out of a hat: white, invisible, over six feet tall,…

Juliet Stevenson: 'We are all ruthless recycling artists' by Kate Kellaway

One of Britain's most brilliant actors on reprising her performance as Winnie in Beckett's Happy Days, and the unexpected joys of getting olderJuliet Stevenson arrives late and apologetic at…

Dara review " murderous Mughals by Kate Kellaway

Lyttelton, LondonPrincely rivals fight it out in the National's pertinent tale of hardline fundamentalism versus religious tolerance Continue reading...

Oppenheimer review " an ache for humanity by Kate Kellaway

Swan theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonThe RSC succeed in making an epic, albeit a remote one, out of this tale of the boffin behind the atomic bomb Continue reading...

Taken at Midnight review " standing up to Hitler, with dignity and passion by Kate Kellaway

Theatre Royal Haymarket, LondonPenelope Wilton is outstanding as the mother of one of Hitler's earliest victims in this first-rate West End transfer from Chichester Continue reading...

Harriet Walter: 'Caring less what people think is a big thing for me' by Kate Kellaway

Harriet Walter's new play, Boa, is an intimate dissection of love, ego and creative differences that sees her cast opposite her real-life husband, Guy Paul " but don't mistake it for a self-…

Diana Nneka Atuona, playwright: 'How can people be so evil?' by Kate Kellaway

The London writer on the inspiration behind her award-winning debut play about a child soldier in Liberia's civil war"It's interesting," Diana Nneka Atuona says, "how many people ask me: 'Ar…

Eddie Redmayne: 'To play Hawking I had to train my body like a dancer' by Kate Kellaway

For Eddie Redmayne, playing Stephen Hawking in a film about the brilliant scientist with motor neurone disease was a huge challenge. But the hardest part was meeting the great man himself……

Exit the King review " Alun Armstrong absurdly good in Ionesco's drama by Kate Kellaway

Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal BathAlun Armstrong rules in Ionesco's absurdist drama Continue reading...

God Bless the Child review " entertaining satire of formulaic teaching by Kate Kellaway

Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court, LondonThe kids are more than all right in this marvellous send-up of positive thinking in a primary school Continue reading...

Once review " Ronan Keating hits the right notes as humble busker by Kate Kellaway

Phoenix theatre, LondonThe Boyzone star's acting errs on the wooden side, but there's no doubt about his singing performance Continue reading...

Solomon and Marion review a knockout of a play by Kate Kellaway

Print Room, LondonJanet Suzman shows what great acting is in Lara Foots tense, moving two-hander set in South Africa Continue reading...

Wildefire review an unexpectedly sympathetic look at the Met by Kate Kellaway

Hampstead, LondonLorraine Stanley is superb as a young south London copper in Roy Williamss sparky but flawed new play Continue reading...

2071 review a lecture poised between the alarming and soporific by Kate Kellaway

Royal Court, LondonKatie Mitchell directs this powerful riposte to all climate-change deniers. If only some drama had been injected into it too Continue reading...

Who Do We Think We Are? review true stories set to a backdrop of war by Kate Kellaway

Southwark Playhouse, LondonAn international cast share their own moving, first-hand accounts of Vietnam, Nagasaki and Treblinka Continue reading...

Camera Lucida review a static and wilfully moribund study of death by Kate Kellaway

Barbican, LondonA dead body poses questions of absence and existence, but is at risk of leaving the audience cold too Continue reading...

The Witch of Edmonton review is it a comedy or a tragedy? by Kate Kellaway

Outstanding performances from a cast led by Eileen Atkins, but the play is a case of too many playwrights spoiling the plotEileen Atkins: Even today theres a resentment of old people Continu…

Memphis: the Musical review a love song to Memphis by Kate Kellaway

Shaftesbury theatre, LondonBeverley Knight and Killian Donnelly head the terrific London cast of the Tony-winning musical Continue reading...

Minetti review Lear and loathing by Kate Kellaway

Lyceum, EdinburghPeter Eyre is riveting as the would-be tragic hero in a brilliant revival of Thomas Bernhard's tremendous Minetti Continue reading...