British children’s books have a long tradition of subjecting their young characters to varying degrees of neglect, abuse, or outright peril. From Harry Potter crammed under the stairs to the nightmarish lessons handed out in Willy Wonka’s factory, no child is safe when a British author picks up a pen.
Category: Stage
Only Fools and Horses: The Musical
Watching Vinnie Jones dance and hearing him sing wasn’t on my 2024 bingo card, yet here we are. It’s a surreal sight, but it somehow works in Only Fools and Horses: The Musical. I’ve never watched a single episode of the original series, but I still enjoyed it. The writing does all the heavy lifting, full of jokes that even outsiders like me can laugh at.
Dear England
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.
Wicked
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
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. Christie’s sharpness is still there, but the twists feel more suited to an old radio drama than a modern stage.
The Book of Mormon
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.
Speaking of Minchin, it’s a shame he wasn’t on stage himself. After his performances in Californication and Jesus Christ Superstar, you know he’d steal the show—and I bet he could strike a brilliant Matilda pose too.
What impressed me most was how the show appealed to both kids and adults without pandering to either. It’s a children’s performance at heart, but the darker themes and witty lyrics gave it depth for the grown-ups. A solid night out, even for someone who doesn’t usually do musicals.
👍👍
Matilda the Musical
Cambridge Theatre, London
Music & lyrics by Tim Minchin
Book by Dennis Kelly
Based on Matilda by Roald Dahl
Directed by Matthew Warchus
Elia Kabanov is a science writer covering the past, present and future of technology (@metkere).
Illustration by Elia Kabanov feat. Midjourney.
If you like what I’m doing here, subscribe to my newsletter on all things science:
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?