Theatre Reviews

Our theatre reviews aim to bring you the latest and best performances of plays, dance and music. Ink Pellet celebrates the country’s vibrant regional theatres – from performances of the classics and set texts, to new plays that will inspire and support you.

Once again, we have a merry band of discerning teachers who visit plays in their town (sometimes earning themselves a free programme and interval drink)to review for the magazine.

We’ll also review something you might like – just for sheer pleasure! If you would like to join our panel of reviewers, please join in or email the editor john@inkpellet.co.uk.

  1. One Under – Arcola Theatre

    One Under – Arcola Theatre  

    Sonny (Reece Pantry) has thrown himself under a train having had a rather strange relationship with a brittle, troubled woman who works in a launderette (Clare-Louise English). His mother (Shenagh Govan) and sister (Evlyne Oyedokun) are struggling to come to terms with his death, as is the devastated train driver (Stanley J Browne) who has […]

  2. Blackeyed Theatre, Jane Eyre – Library Theatre, Luton and touring

    Blackeyed Theatre, Jane Eyre – Library Theatre, Luton and touring  

    An exceptionally compelling, intelligent adaptation of Jane Eyre, Nick Lane’s cast-of-five version stays remarkably true to Charlotte Bronte’s iconic novel. It retains the essence of the radical feminist philosophy which underpins the novel, but which is often sidelined by sentimentalist adaptors. Yes, of course the plot is simplified by leaving out or conflating minor characters, […]

  3. Mary Poppins – Prince Edward Theatre

    Mary Poppins – Prince Edward Theatre  

    It’s techni-colourful and so tuneful that it really doesn’t matter much if the magic’s a bit thin and it sometimes feels a bit like a variety show strong on spectacular set pieces, but light on narrative focus. So rather than carping, swallow that spoonful of sugar with Mary (Zizi Strallen) rather than treacle and brimstone […]

  4. Theatre Review: Translations – National Theatre, Olivier

     

    Brian Friel’s best known play transports us to 1830s Ireland where the British army, assisted by local civilians, are creating an Ordnance Survey map, clumsily “anglicising” the place names as they go. Education is a major theme. Local people attend Hedge Schools, effectively evening classes run by a teacher in his own home – one […]

  5. Theatre Review: Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads

     

    Spiegeltent, Chichester Festival Theatre Roy Williams grittily hard-hitting 2002 play about racist grooming and knife crime sits very well in a short season Spiegeltent configured as a circular pub by Joanna Scotcher’s set. Within the pub a disparate group meet, ostensibly, to watch the October 7th  2000 football match in which England played West Germany […]

  6. Theatre Review: The Ice Cream Boys – Jermyn Street Theatre

     

    Gail Louw’s extraordinarily topical new play presents former (2009-2018) South African president Jacob Zuma (Andrew Francis) and white freedom fighter Ronnie Kasrils (Jack Klaff) as old men. I saw it in the week that it was announced that Zuma will face sixteen charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering and the real Kasrils was in […]

  7. Theatre Review: The Man in the White Suit – Wyndhams Theatre

    Theatre Review: The Man in the White Suit – Wyndhams Theatre  

    The best thing about this rather disappointing show is Michael Taylor’s imaginative set which makes lovely use of screens and to create a scientific lab (big tubes and vents right to the ceiling) a pub, a stately home and a lot more. Based on the 1951 film of the same name, The Man in the […]

  8. Prom 34 – West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

    Prom 34 – West-Eastern Divan Orchestra  

    The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra (named after a Goethe collection of poems) was founded in 1999 by world-renowned Argentinian conductor and pianist, Daniel Barenboim and with Edward Said. It comprises an equal number of Israeli and Arab musicians together with some from Turkey, Iran and Spain. Its aim is to promote equality, co-operation and justice for […]

  9. Evita – Open Air Theatre, Regents Park

    Evita – Open Air Theatre, Regents Park  

    Beware spoiling a good show with too many pyrotechnics. By the end of this revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s 1978 piece I was hoping I wouldn’t have to see another firework, hear another celebratory explosion or smell another blast of stage smoke for a very long time. Jamie Lloyd’s take on Eva […]

  10. Tree – The Young Vic

    Tree – The Young Vic  

    This show uses haunting music and evocative singing (by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante) along with physical theatre to tell a powerful story....