Wednesday, December 17, 2025

The Nutcracker ballet in Kenya – in pictures by Yasuyoshi Chiba / Afp / Getty Images

Dance Centre Kenya, one of the leading performing arts schools in east Africa providing opportunities for talented young dancers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, has staged The Nutcr…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:36AM

The best theatre, comedy and dance of 2025 by Arifa Akbar, Brian Logan and Lyndsey Winship

A meet-cute between Humanity and Earth, a mod ballet and Nick Mohammed’s career-best standup set – our critics pick the best stage shows of the year 10. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:36AM

Christmas Day review – Sam Grabiner serves up gripping dinner-table debate by Arifa Akbar

Almeida theatre, London A north London Jewish family share a meal – and heated arguments – in this complex and courageous drama Stella Adler, the renowned actor and teacher of Yiddish o…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:36AM
Tuesday, December 16, 2025

The Hodge report into Arts Council England: ‘Not exactly a ringing endorsement’ by Charlotte Higgins

While the former arts minister’s call for tax breaks and a bonfire of red tape will be welcomed, we seem to be going round in circles. And why hasn’t the single most calamitous cause of …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:06PM

Arts funding in England must be protected from politics, Hodge report urges by Lanre Bakare and Nadia Khomami

Arts Council England must remain free from interference to ensure artistic freedom, says report by Labour peer Arts Council England needs to scrap its flagship strategy, ensure that arts fun…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:42PM

Prashasti Singh: Divine Feminine review – an arresting hour of silly-smart standup by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe comedian’s compelling show explores gender politics in modern India, singledom and self-improvement Modesty: “I don’t speak for all women …” Swagger: “……

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:42PM

The Nutcracker review – cheeky, wild and warm-hearted spin on Christmas classic by Miriam Gillinson

St Martin’s theatre, London Little Bulb’s ingenious show for children features sword fights, crooning mice and some cheesy gags Think of this joyful show as a cheeky nod to The Nutcracke…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:32AM

Most Favoured review – David Ireland’s brief encounter asks big questions by Chris Wiegand

Soho theatre, London Lauren Lyle and Alexander Arnold make a compelling pair in a surprising drama about a one night stand It is set on a summer morning in Edinburgh during the festival but …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:32AM

Now that’s a callback! Could old jokes become the new trend for comedy? by Brian Logan

Surprise is a key ingredient of standup but Jack Rooke and Joseph Morpurgo explore the potential of dusting down their hit 2015 shows for rare revivals Bands tour classic albums in their ent…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:12AM

Indian Ink review – Felicity Kendal is formidable in emotional epitaph for Tom Stoppard by Mark Lawson

Hampstead theatre, LondonThe actor gives a skilful performance in the late playwright’s 1995 meditation on love and literary posterity, directed by Jonathan Kent A fortnight after West End…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:06AM
Monday, December 15, 2025

Paranormal Activity review – this fright night leaves you spellbound and spooked by Kate Wyver

Ambassadors theatre, LondonWith expert direction and eye-catching stagecraft, the tension is ramped up in a play inspired by the film franchise Darkness holds us long enough for the dread to…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:48PM

Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center should serve as a warning to UK arts institutions | Charlotte Higgins by Charlotte Higgins

Culture is not immune from the advances of the hard right – but it isn’t too late for resistance Into the pale stone wall of the Kennedy Center, above its elegant terrace on the edge of …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:18AM

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong review – a Dickensian disaster to savour by Chris Wiegand

Apollo theatre, LondonMischief Theatre return to the am-dram battlefield, turning the Victorian tale into a blizzard of bruised egos and expertly timed farce In the interval, I hear a newcom…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:12AM

Is it a Greek epic? A state-of-the-nation drama? No – it’s Shaun the Sheep! by Lyndsey Winship

Who’s that daring young farmyard animal on the flying trapeze? The creatures of Mossy Bottom have been put on stage by ‘edgy’ circus stars Circa – but the burlesque shearing had to g…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:06AM

‘We wrote it living on Tesco sandwiches and anxiety attacks!’ How Operation Mincemeat conquered the world by Tim Jonze

It started out as a fringe musical about an outlandish war plan – and became a West End and Broadway smash. As the show hits China, Australia and Mexico, its ‘nerd’ creators explain ho…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:24AM
Sunday, December 14, 2025

Anna Christie review – Michelle Williams is miscast in Eugene O’Neill misfire by Richard Lawson

St Ann’s Warehouse, New York Oscar-nominated actor struggles to convince in an emotionally inert attempt to resurrect one of the playwright’s lesser-known works Though it won a Pulitzer …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:42PM

Protein Dance: The Magic Flute review – charming family show conjured out of Mozart opera by Lyndsey Winship

DanceEast, Ipswich This colourful quest story is stylishly simplified for a young audience and an energetic cast of just four, choreographed by Luca Silvestrini to a melodious Frank Moon sco…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06PM

Bah, hungry! Our theatre critic tucks into immersive banquets inspired by Charles Dickens and The Nutcracker by Arifa Akbar

Festive theatrical feasts serve audiences a slap-up dinner with their entertainment. But is what’s on stage as appetising as what’s on your plate? In west London, a line of smartly dress…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:24AM
Saturday, December 13, 2025

Amadeus returns: can Sky’s miniseries attract a new generation to Mozart? by Imogen Tilden

A reboot of Peter Shaffer’s play hopes to repeat the 1984 film’s magic and lure a fresh audience to classical music Forty years ago, Amadeus won eight Oscars, four Baftas and four Golden…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:18AM

My cultural awakening: The Lehman Trilogy helped me to live with my sight loss by Ann Griffin; As Told To Olivia Ladanyi

My reduced vision badly affected my ability to appreciate films and art, but the stripped-back staging and immediacy of the play gave me back my sense of self I began to notice my sight dete…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:18AM

‘A master of complications’: Felicity Kendal returns to Tom Stoppard’s Indian Ink after three decades by David Jays

The writer’s former partner and her co-star Ruby Ashbourne Serkis describe the bittersweet nature of remounting his 90s play so soon after his death • ‘We were swimming in the mind poo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:02AM
Friday, December 12, 2025

Barbican to close its doors for a year for multimillion-pound renovation by Lanre Bakare Arts and Culture Correspondent

London site’s theatre, music venue and galleries to close in June 2028, in first stage of upgrades before 50th anniversary The Barbican will close its doors for 12 months from June 2028 as…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:12PM

Battle of the Irish Dancers review – how dare they leave out Michael Flatley? by Sarah Dempster

The Riverdance creator’s feet blew away a century of tradition, yet he’s oddly absent from this docuseries about young dancers preparing for the World Championships. Why? ‘Irish dancin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:48AM

The Playboy of the Western World review – Nicola Coughlan serves comedy and tragedy in pub drama by Arifa Akbar

Lyttelton theatre, LondonCoughlan plays a barmaid, alongside Derry Girls co-star Siobhán McSweeney, in JM Synge’s 1907 classic Every woman loves a bad boy, or so the cliche goes. Here it …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:48AM

Actor and comedian Stanley Baxter dies aged 99 by Hannah J Davies

Baxter enjoyed a decades-spanning career on radio, TV and film, and was famous for impersonating famous people including Queen Elizabeth II ‘Astonishing’: how Stanley Baxter’s TV extra…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24AM

Horror hit Paranormal Activity spawns a West End play – and even its director yelped with fear by Chris Wiegand

Inspired by the scary film franchise, playwright Levi Holloway and Punchdrunk maestro Felix Barrett are bringing the ‘bizarrely joyous’ world of terror to the stage Malevolent spirits be…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:18AM

Into the Woods review – Brothers Grimm gloriously mashed up by Sondheim by Arifa Akbar

Bridge theatre, London Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fairytale adventure follows its archetypal characters into real-world emotion, brilliantly drawn and sung Can Stephen Sondheim an…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:02AM
Thursday, December 11, 2025

Treasure Island review – swashbuckling musical is shipshape and Bristol fashion by Anya Ryan

Bristol Old VicAn inventive production crammed full of puppets, sword fights and rousing melodies shrieks with life It’s all aboard this Christmas with Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary’s mu…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:12PM

Lily Allen ‘in conversations’ to adapt West End Girl album into a play by Ben Beaumont-Thomas

Singer told Jimmy Fallon that ‘the ink is not dry’ on a deal but the prospect of a stage version of her critically acclaimed album was ‘very exciting’ Lily Allen has said she is in d…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:24AM

Cinderella review – you shall go to the beach with this breezy seaside panto by Chris Wiegand

Norwich Theatre RoyalThere are eye-popping designs, playful puns and musical flourishes as Joe Tracini’s story unfolds on its own madcap shoreline Here is a sun-kissed panto to dispel any …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:06AM

Museum of Austerity review – a devastating reckoning with Britain’s decade of neglect by Arifa Akbar

Young Vic theatre, LondonA powerful blend of VR, testimony and theatre exposes the human toll of benefit cuts – and asks what justice looks like in a new political era David Cameron did no…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:54AM

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