Author: The Reviews Hub - London

 On Thursday, poet, writer and former children’s laureate Michael Rosen will turn 80. To celebrate, he’s continuing to do what he clearly loves best, performing his works and making people laugh. His new tour, Nice!, is named after what has become one of the writer’s most famous poems. After a YouTube performance of the work, which involves himself and various members of his family blowing on cooked potatoes to make them cool enough to eat, the poem’s chorus of “hot food, nice!” has become a meme, extracted into GIFs and shared all over the world. Rosen’s performance of the poem…

Writers: Suzann McLean and David Fielding, based on Alex Wheatle’s novel Director: Suzann McLean  Peckham Fringe returns, and its first show is a hit. Based on the YA novel by Alex Wheatle, Witness tells the story of young teenager Cornell attempting to find his way in a world of toxic masculinity and postcode wars. Studying at a PRU school (a Pupil Referral Unit, an educational institution for pupils deemed too disruptive to attend state schools), Cornell is asked by another boy to join a “mission’ which leads him to become a witness to a serious crime. Suzann McLean and David…

Writer: Kate Bromage Directors:  Kate Bromage and Stephanie Kendrick  Sparkling and lively, with surprising depth and persistence, Book Club is a witty ensemble piece that toys with the subtle mores of wine-steeped British middle-class distractions and ‘making your own fun’. Originally penned by writer Kate Bromage as a beneficial diversion during the early Covid era, it’s blossomed well beyond its therapeutic beginnings, enjoying sell-out runs at the Rye Arts Festival and Wandsworth Fringe. The play’s principal delights stem from keenly observed characterisation, prompted, no doubt, by sustained book club attendance. Central protagonist Linda is the uptight founder of the Club,…

Creators: Compagnia Bellanda, Emma Houston, Joseph Toonga, Kaner Scott and Rock Force Crew Usually, Breakin’ Convention’s annual takeover of Sadler’s Wells is the biggest party of the year, but this ‘Friction’ focused programme for 2026 feels unusually lacklustre. The acts are fine if not energised, the auditorium hasn’t sold out for its weekend launch event, the mosh pit is more than half empty and older members of the audience openly have loud and lengthy chats during the performances; someone is even playing chess on their phone. Regular host and co-founder Jonzi D is doing his best to manufacture some atmosphere,…

Choreographers: Wayne McGregor, Odette Hughes, Louis McMiller, Jessica Wright, Rebecca Bassett-Graham, in collaboration with the dancers Director: Wayne McGregor At Sadler’s Wells East, Augmented: Dance powered by MAM + AISOMA brings together dancers from Rambert School and Juilliard School in a collaboration guided by Wayne McGregor. The result is an hour of highly physical, entirely abstract dance that places two leading training institutions within a distinctive choreographic framework. It is refreshing to see such pure dance inhabit the stage at Sadler’s Wells East. Sometimes an abundance of theatrical devices or effusive programme notes can muddy the essence of a work.…

Writer: Dave Harris Director: Matthew Xia Dave Harris’s play may not be subtle – the four characters are certainly larger than life – but it’s impossible not to be swept up in the drama of three male strippers who discover that their act isn’t as good or unique as they thought. If this is how the men in the nearby Magic Mike show feel, then they should be queuing at the door for Soho Theatre’s examination of masculinity and performance. It’s not just our tickets that we have to show on entry to the main house; we have to present…

Writer: Fran Kranz Director: Carrie Cracknell Mass tells the story of two sets of parents meeting to confront the devastating aftermath of a tragedy that irrevocably binds their children. Anna Yates’ hyper-realistic design of an Apostolic church provides the ‘neutral’ ground for this encounter. The space is introduced through Brandon, a young church helper, as he semi-automatically clears up the empty mugs before Judy enters and meticulously prepares the room for what lies ahead. This slow opening underscores the significance of the setting as a facilitator of reconciliation, though it feels slightly overemphasised as it lingers, for instance, on details…

Writer: Deane McElree Director: Sophia Golan Sophia Golan directs Brief Play About Rage, a one-act play that comes to Omnibus Theatre after a successful run at the Camden Fringe. The production is fast-paced, hysterically funny and pitch-perfect. The three actors and one musician keep the audience on their toes throughout. A motorcycle helmet-clad cellist pulls a bow across their strings as the audience take their seat, and they remain playing throughout the tense production. Self-titled as an “absurdist comedy”, Brief Play About Rage is set around a visit from Nell (Clare Stenning) to old friend Val (Samantha Begeman) and husband…