All stories by Ian Foster on BroadwayStars

Sunday, November 7, 2021

‘Productions like this are precisely why Agatha Christie has endured so long’: WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION – County Hall by Ian Foster

Witness for the Prosecution is an absolute marvel in the atmospheric surroundings of County Hall.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Tuesday, November 2, 2021

‘Humorous then utterly heart-rending with much to say to all of us’: MUM – Soho Theatre by Ian Foster

Following on from the brilliant Emilia, Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s new play Mum is a powerfully bracing experience at the Soho Theatre “Motherhood’s not for everyone” Morgan Lloyd Malc…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 10:00AM
Monday, November 1, 2021

‘A notoriously difficult play to stage well’: THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH – Almeida Theatre by Ian Foster

At more than three hours, The Tragedy of Macbeth stretches the patience at the Almeida Theatre, despite strong work from Saoirse Ronan and James McArdle.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 10:00AM
Tuesday, October 12, 2021

‘Heartbreaking but fiercely essential work’: THE NORMAL HEART – National Theatre by Ian Foster

Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart receives a masterful revival courtesy of Dominic Cooke at the National Theatre, starring Ben Daniels.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Tuesday, October 5, 2021

‘A truly affecting and effectual performance’: HAMLET — Young Vic by Ian Foster

Cush Jumbo is excellent, and there’s a great Ophelia, but do we really need another Hamlet? Three hours plus at the Young Vic will soon tell you

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:54PM
Saturday, September 25, 2021

‘A revue is always tricky to review’: CLOSER THAN EVER – BroadwayHD (Online review) by Ian Foster

This new production of Maltby and Shire’s Closer Than Ever just about gets there, though it occasionally struggles to break through the digital form.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Tuesday, September 21, 2021

‘Tear-jerkingly beautiful as ever’: HAMILTON — Victoria Palace Theatre by Ian Foster

You know how it is, when a ticket to Hamilton falls into your lap, you can’t really say no to this… So a return to the Victoria Palace Theatre, my first since this behemoth of a show act…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Sunday, September 19, 2021

‘I’m damned glad we have something as good as this’: EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE – Prime Video by Ian Foster

This cinematic adaptation of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is fabulously enjoyable, led by a fine performance by Max Harwood.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Sunday, August 22, 2021

‘A warm hug of perfect decision making’: Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – London Palladium by Ian Foster

Now this is how you do stunt casting! Linzi Hateley returns in glorious style to Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat after 30 years.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Wednesday, August 18, 2021

‘Sings & stings with hard-won truths’: No Cure for Love / The Rice Krispie Killer – Camden Fringe by Ian Foster

Taking inspiration from the music of Leonard Cohen, Emma Burnell’s No Cure For Love – a play with original songs (rather than Cohen covers) – bucks the trend a little when it comes to …

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Tuesday, August 17, 2021

‘Strikes gold’: PARADISE – National Theatre by Ian Foster

Kae Tempest makes a stirring National Theatre debut with Sophocles adaptation Paradise, starring a superb Lesley Sharp.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Tuesday, July 20, 2021

‘There’s an appealing openness to much of the music’: DORIAN: A ROCK MUSICAL – Stream.Theatre (Online review) by Ian Foster

A strong lead performance from Bart Lambert impresses in this streaming Oscar Wilde adaptation, but Dorian A Rock Musical lacks a real sense of identity.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Friday, July 16, 2021

‘A visual language that suggests promise’: TWO WORLDS NO FAMILY – Lion & Unicorn Theatre by Ian Foster

The Lion and Unicorn Theatre hosts Draft99 Theatre and their production of Ben Reid’s new LGBTQ+ play Two Worlds No Family.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Wednesday, July 14, 2021

‘The show is definitely best enjoyed with a drink in hand’: SH!TFACED SHAKESPEARE – Leicester Square Theatre by Ian Foster

The chaotic Sh!tFaced Shakespeare makes a tipsy Macbeth intermittently entertaining at the Leicester Square Theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Tuesday, July 6, 2021

‘A sexy & striking surprise’: CONSTELLATIONS – Vaudeville Theatre by Ian Foster

The Donmar West End production of Constellations launches its first two casts in Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah and Peter Capaldi and Zoë Wanamaker at the Vaudeville Theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Monday, July 5, 2021

‘A talented ensemble plays well off the comic energy’: GOING APE! – Union Theatre by Ian Foster

The Bible and evolution go head to head in broad and bawdy comedy Going Ape at the Union Theatre. It’s a frippery that takes not a minute of itself seriously.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Thursday, July 1, 2021

’It is really packing a punch’: seven methods of killing kylie jenner – Royal Court Theatre by Ian Foster

Jasmine Lee-Jones’ award-winning seven methods of killing kylie jenner transfers downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Wednesday, June 30, 2021

‘Thought-provoking revival’: STAIRCASE – Southwark Playhouse by Ian Foster

Returning to the not-so-distant past when same-sex relationships were illegal, this is a thought-provoking revival of Charles Dyer’s Staircase at Southwark Playhouse.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Tuesday, June 29, 2021

‘Fascinating, challenging, probing theatrical experience’: BAD NIGHTS & ODD DAYS – Greenwich Theatre by Ian Foster

Paul McGann and Kerrie Taylor, among others, shine in Bad Nights and Odd Days, a set of four short plays by Caryl Churchill at Greenwich Theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Monday, June 21, 2021

‘Rather rowdily, raucous bit of good fun’: The Frida Kahlo of Penge West – Golden Goose Theatre by Ian Foster

The Frida Kahlo of Penge West proves a comic surprise at the Golden Goose Theatre. The level of theatrical in-jokes might deter the casual viewer but there’s such vibrancy in the performan…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Friday, June 18, 2021

‘Sonic screwdrivers at the ready’: DOCTOR WHO – TIME FRACTURE by Ian Foster

It’s the end of the universe – so of course Doctor Who – Time Fracture is utterly chaotic. It is also rather good fun.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Thursday, June 17, 2021

‘Quietly roars its pain for all the lives lost’: UNDER THE MASK – Theatre Peckham & Touring by Ian Foster

Playing at Theatre Peckham before a UK tour, Tamasha Theatre’s Under the Mask – written by a junior doctor – is a haunting revisit of the early days of the pandemic.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Tuesday, June 15, 2021

‘It is huge amounts of fun’: SHOWSTOPPER! THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL – Garrick Theatre by Ian Foster

Showstopper! The Improvised Musical kick off their new West End residency at the Garrick Theatre in their own inimitable style.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Monday, June 7, 2021

‘So many treats’: THE SHOW MUST GO ON – Palace Theatre & Online by Ian Foster

Featuring 18 West End musicals, The Show Must Go On is a concert to remember, featuring a whole host of theatrical talent both on and off the stage.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Tuesday, May 25, 2021

’An entirely seductive mixture’: ABBA MANIA – Shaftesbury Theatre by Ian Foster

ABBA MANIA offers uncomplicated and undoubted pleasures with this effervescent tribute concert at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Wednesday, May 19, 2021

‘A real sense of live theatre bursts through the screen’: WAITING FOR LEFTY – Two Lines Productions (Online review) by Ian Foster

A digital production of Waiting for Lefty, updated to the modern day, breathes some sharp, fresh air into the Zoom theatre form.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Monday, May 10, 2021

‘Marking out just how powerful digital theatre can be’: Still Life: Untold Stories of Nottingham Now – Nottingham Playhouse (Online review) by Ian Foster

Julie Hesmondhalgh and Frances De La Tour, among others, star in the heartbreakingly excellent Still Life: Untold Stories of Nottingham Now.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Tuesday, April 27, 2021

‘Short, sharp stabs of real brilliance’: LIVING NEWSPAPER #6 – Royal Court Theatre (Online review) by Ian Foster

Moments of dark humour are scattered throughout Edition #6 of the Royal Court’s Living Newspaper but elsewhere it is a bit more hit and miss.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Monday, April 26, 2021

‘Honouring the profound truths of these stories’: SAFE – Hackney Empire (Online review) by Ian Foster

Alexis Gregory’s Safe puts the stories of homeless and at-risk LGBTQ+ young people front and centre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Tuesday, April 20, 2021

‘Significant piece of new theatre writing’: THE MOTHERHOOD PROJECT – BAC (Online review) by Ian Foster

The likes of Hannah Khalil, Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, Sarah Niles and Juno Dawson deliver some excellent work in The Motherhood Project.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Monday, April 19, 2021

‘Identifies how so very much is at stake’: LIVING NEWSPAPER #5 – Royal Court Theatre (Online review) by Ian Foster

The Royal Court’s Living Newspaper continues with edition #5 which feels a little less reactive to the headlines and a little more reflective on the state of the world as we find it today.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards