All stories by Lyn Gardner on BroadwayStars

Friday, January 22, 2016

The Train review " a high-speed journey through a traumatised mind by Lyn Gardner

Lancaster ArtsVia video, sound design and a carriage that actually moves, Imitating the Dog's latest production is alluring but doesn't quite convinceChildren carry our hopes into the future…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:48AM[SHARE]

Found111: the pop-up West End theatre with an art school's ghosts by Lyn Gardner

At the former Central Saint Martins building in Charing Cross Road, producer Emily Dobbs is re-imagining the Theatreland experience and drawing upon the site's rich history of creativity"We …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:02AM[SHARE]
Thursday, January 21, 2016

The Picture of Dorian Gray review " Wilde staging gets ugly by Lyn Gardner

Trafalgar Studios 2, LondonIt's the work of his grandson, but this adaptation of Oscar Wilde's great novella is miscast, plodding and dullWickedness has seldom been made to seem quite so dul…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:56AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Cirque du Soleil: Amaluna review " as erotic as a wet wipe by Lyn Gardner

Royal Albert Hall, LondonA liberty-taking acrobatic rendering of The Tempest is sexualised but emotionally empty, while demoting the circus to incidental thrillsIn Shakespeare's The Tempest …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:32AM[SHARE]
Monday, January 18, 2016

This Is Private Property review " punky, ramshackle show about housing crisis by Lyn Gardner

Camden People's theatre, LondonThe cast pull on masks and call for a revolution in a series of uneven skits about right-to-buy and regeneration schemesIt would be nice to think that London's…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:49AM[SHARE]

Why should becoming a parent curb your cultural life? by Lyn Gardner

Having a child doesn't mean you have to stop going to the theatre " or stop making it. Babies can open up new possibilities in the arts"Children ruin culture," declared Stuart Heritage, with…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:49AM[SHARE]

This Will End Badly review " the modern man as a constipated, emotional mess by Lyn Gardner

Southwark Playhouse, LondonRob Hayes's new play is an impressive " and nasty " portrait of masculinity hitting the toilet bowlWriter Rob Hayes likes to sum things up in a play's title, as he…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:55AM[SHARE]

Plan your week's theatre: top tickets by Lyn Gardner

Watch out for Manchester's most exciting theatre-makers, Jack Thorne's The Solid Life of Sugar Water, the terrific Pink Mist and the Lyric's Evolution festivalIt's your last chance for Tippi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:48AM[SHARE]
Thursday, January 14, 2016

Mi Gran Obra review " a very tiny tableaux from a very big imagination by Lyn Gardner

Tate Modern, LondonFrom earthquakes to elephants, David Espinosa's charming tabletop epic, performed with little plastic models, shows what an an artist can do with unlimited creativityImagi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:58AM[SHARE]

Theatre review: Private Lives by Lyn Gardner

Albery Theatre, LondonRating: **** More reviewsIs it better to love temperately or wildly, wisely or too well? The question is posed in Howard Davies's very funny, very deep and subtle re…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:58AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Wolf Meat review " granny crime caper stretches for the gags by Lyn Gardner

Pleasance, LondonThis comedy thriller's pleasingly surreal edge is dulled by underdeveloped characters and slack plottingComedy theatre has never gone away, but it appears to be enjoying a r…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:09AM[SHARE]

Tipping Point review " a seesaw ride testing gravity and nerve by Lyn Gardner

Platform, LondonOckham's Razor push themselves to the limit in a terrific show that wields lethal-looking poles to blend circus acrobatics, playground games and trust exercisesBritish circus…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:59AM[SHARE]

Colour-blind casting: how far have we really come? by Lyn Gardner

A black Hamlet and a black King Lear will appear on main stages this year, but new research reveals black and Asian actors are still limited to minor rolesWhen Paapa Essiedu " a much admired…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:22AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, January 12, 2016

It's a Wonderful Life review " Capra classic becomes a play for today by Lyn Gardner

Village Memorial Hall, BetchworthThis stage version of the James Stewart film, now touring 45 rural communities, has a raggedy, unforced charmFrank Capra's 1946 movie about George Bailey, th…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:24AM[SHARE]
Monday, January 11, 2016

Richard III review " woe for England, and Shakespeare too by Lyn Gardner

New Diorama, LondonDespite Christopher York's intriguing approach to the would-be king, this show is scuppered by inconsistent acting and giggle-inducing sound effectsAt a time when cast siz…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:31AM[SHARE]

Plan your week's theatre: top tickets by Lyn Gardner

The wonderful Third Angel consider the moment of birth in Sheffield, the Push festival begins at Home in Manchester and the London International Mime festival is full of promiseThere are lot…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:46AM[SHARE]
Sunday, January 10, 2016

Marcel review " clowning with the history of gags by Lyn Gardner

Shaw theatre, LondonPlaying with poignancy, this hour of fun for the London International Mime festival takes every opportunity for slapstick while tickling notions of deathAn entire perform…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:01AM[SHARE]
Friday, January 8, 2016

Nine Lives review " truthful snapshot of an asylum seeker by Lyn Gardner

Arcola theatre, LondonThe portrayal of a gay Zimbabwean awaiting the outcome of his application is affecting and direct in Zodwa Nyoni's monologueWhat does it feel like to be seeking sanctua…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:43AM[SHARE]
Thursday, January 7, 2016

Robin Hood review " the daftest panto in the land by Lyn Gardner

Theatre Royal Stratford East, London Robin ego-trips in front of a down-to-earth Maid Marion, while a deliciously evil King John is beset by a stupid sheriff in this outrageous, charming pan…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:19AM[SHARE]

Dinosaur Park review " lo-fi Jurassic comedy with teeth by Lyn Gardner

St James, London A dysfunctional-family drama, seen through the prism of Spielberg's monsterpiece, takes sentiment and silliness beyond spoofAfter the death of their palaeontologist mum, tee…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:49AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Beauty and the Beast review " fairytale gets a Baskervilles makeover by Lyn Gardner

Polka, LondonThis retelling is neatly done, with wonderful set design and acute observations of a timid sister transformed by misfortuneBelle is not brave. She's afraid of spiders, even litt…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:51AM[SHARE]

With Kully Thiarai, National Theatre Wales will remain radical and relevant by Lyn Gardner

NTW has appointed the astute Thiarai to succeed John McGrath as artistic director. An era of engaged performers and audiences is sure to continueWe can be certain that Rufus Norris at the Na…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:51AM[SHARE]

Shakespeare 400: what to see and where to go by Lyn Gardner

Among the plethora of dull productions this year to celebrate the quadricentenary of his death, there are exciting shows that break the mould To mark the 400th anniversary of his death, this…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:34AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Artist's £15,000 grant to stay in Glasgow for a year is money well spent by Lyn Gardner

Ellie Harrison is facing outrage over a project that will keep her inside the city's perimeter. But that's what arts funding is for " to take risksThe furore surrounding Ellie Harrison's lat…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:32AM[SHARE]

Mr Popper's Penguins review " retro charm and comical puppets skid along merrily by Lyn Gardner

The Lowry, SalfordPins and Needles, who admirably adapted Raymond Briggs, return with a musical revival of the 30s children's story that's lightweight but heartwarmingThere was a movie versi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:32AM[SHARE]

Land of Lights review " reach for the stars in Oily Cart's land of bling and bubbles by Lyn Gardner

Arts Depot, LondonThis magical immersive show has larger-than-life characters and lets its very young audience dip their hands into orange jelly and glitterLong before theatre made for adult…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:25AM[SHARE]
Monday, January 4, 2016

Around the World in 80 Days review " globetrotting comedy gets lost in Fogg by Lyn Gardner

St James, LondonThis entertaining trip boasts clever sets and inventive direction but is punctured by a Phileas Fogg without enough wit for an upper-class twitThere's a touch of Patrick Barl…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:32AM[SHARE]

Plan your week's theatre: top tickets by Lyn Gardner

David Tennant reprises his Richard II, the London international mime festival begins and The 39 Steps goes out on a national tour from NorthamptonShelia Hancock and Jenna Russell star as Jac…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:42AM[SHARE]
Saturday, January 2, 2016

Putting ballroom dancing on the map - and the stage by Lyn Gardner

More than 1m British people have ballroom lessons. Some of them will appear in John Retallack's new work. By Lyn GardnerIn a musty ballroom under the White Rock Theatre, director and choreog…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:28AM[SHARE]
Thursday, December 31, 2015

Michael Sheen's The Passion: 72 hours in theatre heaven | Lyn Gardner by Lyn Gardner

This epic production drew together the people of Port Talbot and explored myriad ways of delivering theatre " from Twitter to whispered rumour. Has it changed the shape of participatory perf…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:46AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, December 30, 2015

The truth still hurts: the enduring gallows humour of Hangmen by Lyn Gardner

Martin McDonagh's play about the abolition of the death penalty in 1960s England hangs out to dry the idea that the country was a kinder, gentler placeIn Joe Orton's 1969 play, What the Butl…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:32AM[SHARE]

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off