Writer: Agatha Christie Director: Gareth Armstrong Reviewer: Alice Fowler How well can you really know someone? Is everyone, in fact, a stranger? And what do you do when you find yourself cut off in an eccentric country guesthouse and learn there is a murderer in your midst? Such questions have thrilled and provoked Mousetrap audiences since 1952. It is, famously, ...

Writer: Mike Leigh Director: Sarah Esdaile Reviewer: Simon Topping A new touring production of Mike Leigh's classic comedy of manners, Abigail's Party, opens in Brighton to a warm reception from a welcoming audience, whose demographic is predominantly fifty plus. From the off laughter fills the auditorium, as we take a trip down memory lane. The stunning period set (wonderfully designed ...

Book: Rachel Wagstaff based on the novel by Paul Gallico Music and Lyrics: Richard Taylor Director: Daniel Evans  Reviewer: Simon Topping  Director Daniel Evans brings this award-winning 2016 musical, from his previous creative home in Sheffield, to Chichester for its first outing since its revision and shortening of act one. Set in a food and clothes rationed, shell-shocked, south London ...

Book: Douglas Day Stewart and Sharleen Cooper Cohen Director: Nikolai Foster Reviewer: Victoria Bawtree This could be a show that splits its audience: those that know and love the film will likely be won over, but for those who don’t, the near-constant stream of 80s hits may or may not be enough to keep all onside. Douglas Day Stewart’s original ...

Writer: Peter Yates Adaptor: Michael Gyngell and Mark Haddigan Director: Racky Plews Reviewer: Cathy Swaby What better way to celebrate this belting hot summer in Brighton than to pop along to see the “feel good” 1963 musical Summer Holiday, which is playing to overheated audiences at the Theatre Royal this week. Performing to standing ovations and sing along crowds, this ...

Writer: William Shakespeare Director: Tom Littler Reviewer: Steve Turner Written towards the end of the sixteenth century Shakespeare’s comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost features the longest scene and the longest word in any of his works. There is also more than the usual helping of sophisticated wordplay and convoluted literary references, such that it might seem a little impenetrable. Thankfully the Guildford ...

Reviewer: Simon Topping  For the first time ever the mainstay and great love of British television, QI, comes to the stage. A rough and ready mix of Latitude festival guests, including Rachel Parris, Lou Sanders and Marcus Brigstocke join the panel, alongside stalwart Alan Davies and fabulous chairperson, Sandy Toksvig.  Highly anticipated by a bulging comedy tent and bounding onto ...

Reviewer: Robin Winters Arriving on stage and beginning to dance unannounced, Humanhood immediately both throw us completely and draw us straight into their mesmerising 15-minutes of contemporary infusions. The first of a dance double bill and part of Sadler’s Wells’ weekend offerings, Humanhood sees a pair of dancers intertwine in a short yet faced paced, perfectly controlled display of utter brilliance; seeming to never take their ...