The Latest Breaking News from Marc Brenner

The week in theatre: The Little Matchgirl and Happier Tales; Cold War; Pandemonium – review

There’s a puppet but no happy ending at Emma Rice’s fine new Somerset venue; Elvis Costello soundtracks a postwar Polish love story; and Armando Iannucci bravely tries to satirise the Tory party

The Guardian - UK · Dec 17, 2023

Macbeth review: David Tennant is a compellingly intense Scottish king in Donmar’s show of sonic trickery

Lady Macbeth’s whispers crackle in your ear as audience members wear headphones in Max Webster’s intimate production, but the sound design can sometimes feel like a distraction

The Independent UK · Dec 16, 2023

Macbeth review – David Tennant thrills in this high-concept production

The staging is imaginative and expressive, and the audience is immersed in the action by hearing everything through headphones

The Guardian - UK · Dec 16, 2023

Ghosts review – Ibsen’s intense tragedy by candlelight

Joe Hill-Gibbins directs his own version of the psychodrama, creating a potent atmosphere with designer Rosanna Vize

The Guardian - UK · Nov 23, 2023

She Stoops to Conquer review – a jolly good Christmas comedy

There are perfectly pitched performances with just the right touch of pathos as Oliver Goldsmith’s play gets a festive staging

The Guardian - UK · Nov 23, 2023

The Witches review – frights played for fun in rollicking musical

Roald Dahl’s villains are given a makeover with a gag-filled script by Lucy Kirkwood and a couple of storming numbers

The Guardian - UK · Nov 22, 2023

Patsy Ferran and Anjana Vasan: the Evening Standard Theatre Awards Best Actresses on their winning sister act

The pair were gobsmacked when they were both named as joint winners

Evening Standard · Nov 21, 2023

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) review – charming romcom is a treat

Two-hander musical matches its wide-eyed hero and sardonic heroine with just the right mix of sugar and sour

The Guardian - UK · Nov 17, 2023

I Should Be So Lucky, The Musical review – missing the Hit Factory

Show built around Stock Aitken Waterman’s songs flies so long as the pop classics are playing

The Guardian - UK · Nov 15, 2023

To Have and to Hold review – fond family comedy from the writer of One Man, Two Guvnors

Richard Bean’s new play touches on ageing and alienation, care and family love, but focuses on making us laugh

The Guardian - UK · Nov 7, 2023