A play about football sounds as good an idea as staging Macbeth in a penalty box. Yet, Dear England turned out to be good—unlike, one might say, the actual England team. Just kidding—Gareth Southgate and his boys are great both on the pitch and as characters in this show.
Tag: Reviews
Wicked: When the magic runs dry
After a string of great shows, I finally hit one I truly hated: Wicked. Maybe I’ve lost touch with my inner child, or maybe the production has simply run out of steam. Either way, it was a slog.
Witness for the Prosecution: From council debates to courtroom drama
Apparently, I have a thing for Agatha Christie’s plays. After The Mousetrap, I ventured further into her repertoire and saw Witness for the Prosecution. While it’s undeniably gripping, I’d say this one has aged less gracefully—especially the overly melodramatic ending.
The Book of Mormon: Hallelujah, it’s hilarious
A comedy about religion? And a musical? Of course, I couldn’t resist. The Book of Mormon isn’t your grandma’s idea of an evening at the theatre—unless she has a surprising tolerance for songs about maggots in scrotums.
To Kill a Mockingbird
I recently saw To Kill a Mockingbird on the West End with Matthew Modine as Atticus Finch. The acting was excellent—Modine brought a quiet strength to the role, and the cast delivered across the board.
Best of Enemies
Best of Enemies was one of the most memorable plays I’ve seen. David Harewood and Zachary Quinto were fantastic—two leads I’d admired on TV, and seeing them live was everything I’d hoped for. They delivered spectacular performances as ideological opposites. It felt like watching the very foundation of the modern liberal vs conservative divide being built before your eyes.
Matilda the Musical
I’m no musical theatre expert, but Matilda the Musical? Not bad at all. The kids’ cast carried the show brilliantly, bringing humour and heart without ever overdoing it. The music and lyrics, written by Tim Minchin, were clever and sharp, perfectly capturing the chaos of Roald Dahl’s world.
Back to the Future: The Musical
I didn’t know what to expect from my first-ever musical. Would it be some sort of over-the-top operetta? Or just a regular play with songs awkwardly shoved in? Either way, I’m glad Back to the Future: The Musical was my first. First times are always special, aren’t they?
The Mousetrap
For my first London play, I had to go with a classic. The Mousetrap. It’s been running for 70 years or something—had to be good, right? And it was. The original true crime, inspired by real events, it weaves a story of suspense, secrets, and misdirection.
Robbie Williams in Moscow
I went to a Robbie Williams concert in Moscow, expecting a guilty pleasure kind of event. It turned out to be anything but. Let’s be honest: the show was brilliant. Robbie swore like a sailor, performed all the major hits (including Supreme and Road to Mandalay—staples of my early 2000s personal soundtrack), donned a skirt, and even brought his dad on stage for a duet.