Writer:  Jill Murphy Adaptor: Emma Reeves Director: Theresa Heskins Reviewer: Sophia Moss You know that awkward moment when you’re scooting your way to school and you end up being zapped to a witch’s academy where you have to make potions, learn how to fly and pretend you know what on earth is going on? The Worst Witch is a fun, lively ...

Writer: Ben Weatherill Director: Tim Hoare Reviewer: Scott Matthewman While the Dorfman Theatre is much the smallest of the National’s three stages, it can still be a struggle to make it seem as intimate as some of London’s smaller theatres. For a story of deeply personal relationships as Ben Weatherill’s Jellyfish, it means the cast – and the rest of ...

Music: Whitney Houston Director: John Van Grinsven Reviewer: Nina Reece If you never had the pleasure of seeing Whitney Houston live, Belinda Davids in The Greatest Love of All is the closest you will ever get. Produced by Showtime Australia, the performance aims to ‘honour the music, talent and memory of Whitney Houston’ and it very nearly achieves these aims. ...

Writer: Agatha Christie Director: Gareth Armstrong Reviewer: Sam Lowe “Suspect everyone!” is intimidatingly written on the show’s poster. Yet, simultaneously we suspect someone. Tonight, the audience take on the role of investigator as they attempt to deduce whodunit; who committed the murder? Which character has the opportune moment and which one has the fitting motive? Yes, this is the world’s ...

Writer: Louis de Bernières Adaptor: Rona Munro Director: Melly Still Reviewer: Stephen Bates Setting a fictional romance against the backdrop of real events in Greece during World War II, Louis de Bernières’ 1994 novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin became a worldwide hit. Many thought that the lavish 2001 film version suffered badly from miscasting, but, unencumbered by pressure to place star ...

Writer and Director:  Keith Behrman Reviewer:  Richard Maguire There’s no shortage of coming-out films, but they are still necessary, especially when there’s a revival of right-wing thinking across the world. However, Giant Little Ones, a Canadian film showing at BFI Flare, London’s LGBTQ+ film festival, is not a straightforward coming-out film. It could be argued that it’s not a coming-out ...

 Writer and Director: Doug Spearman Reviewer:  Richard Maguire Just before his film was shown at BFI Flare, London’s LGBTQ+ film festival, Doug Spearman confessed that he was surprised that the programmers had labelled it as a comedy. He thought he’d made a love story. But, ultimately, From Zero to I Love You is a combination of both these genres. In short, ...

Writer and Director:  Vincente Alves do Ó Reviewer:  Richard Maguire Portuguese film Sunburn really split the critics at its press screening this week at the BFI Flare Festival, London’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival. Some walked out while others kept glancing at their watches. After the film, those who had stayed were trying to extol Sunburn’s virtues to those who had threatened ...