West End

Writer: Ella Hickson Director: Natalie Abrahami Reviewer: Scott Matthewman Hollywood versions of East Berlin at the height of the Cold War would suggest that it was a slum city, a crumbling ghetto ruled by jackboot. In Anna, a creation of writer Ella Hickson and sound designers Ben and Max Ringham, we see a very different version of the city. Set ...

Creative Director: Jennifer Master Directors: Milo and Jennifer Masters Reviewer: Maryam Philpott The fusion of two very different styles can be transformational, seeing opposing ideas uniquely combined can be both dynamic and inspirational. Milo and Jennifer Master’s decision to unite ballet and hip hop in a single dance show is a genuinely interesting concept, one with potential appeal to fans ...

Music: Michael Legrand Libretto: Didier Van Cauwelaert Adaptor: Jeremy Sams Direction: Hannah Chiswick Reviewer: Maryam Philpott Michael Legrand’s 2002 musical Amour has plenty of emotional dilemmas for its characters, but a new production at the Charing Cross Theatre will also create some for the audience. Its story is light as air, almost comic-book bonkers with roughly sketched characters and a fairly ...

Writer: Henrik Ibsen Adaptor: Duncan Macmillan  Director: Ian Rickson  Reviewer: Scott Matthewman Beth Rosmer is perhaps the most influential character in Henrik Ibsen’s Rosmersholm, despite her suicide a year before the curtain rises. Rae Smith’s set contains a tangible reminder of her death: when she jumped into the river by the Rosmer family home, her body clogged up the water ...

Director:  Gareth Hulance Reviewer:  Richard Maguire As hotly anticipated as this year’s Eurovision is The West End Eurovision where seven London musicals battle it out for the best performance of a song that has featured in Europe’s biggest music competition. Indeed, with all the competitors’ glitter and sequins The West End Eurovision is camper than the real thing, and has enough abs ...

Devised by Roger Glossop, based on the tales of Beatrix Potter Music: Steven Edis Lyrics: Alan Ayckbourn Director: Sheila Carter Reviewer: David Guest More than 100 years since Beatrix Potter first told the tale of Peter Rabbit in book form the enchanting stories still have mass appeal with toys, ballet, animation and more keeping the characters alive. Now, an extraordinary ...

Musical Director: Joseph Atkins Reviewer: Maryam Philpott Monday is the new Friday at the Lyric Theatre and for tribute acts this is fast becoming a key West End destination for a variety of touring shows dedicated to well-known artists. Giving the cast of Thriller an extra night off, with past shows already being dedicated to Neil Diamond, Simon and Garfunkel and, ...

Writer: Caryl Churchill Director: Lyndsey Turner Reviewer: Maryam Philpott On the surface, the 1980s seemed like a huge breakthrough for women and for anyone growing-up in that decade there were gutsy female role models everywhere; the holders of the two pre-eminent governmental roles, the Prime Minister and the monarch, were women and on television the likes of Joan Collins and ...