★★★★Death At One’s Elbow

Simon Ward reviews The Other Room at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre Here | For 2026 is a season of four shows over five weeks running at the Lion and Unicorn designed to showcase promising new work. Sarah Rickman’s brilliantly written and almost unbearably moving new play certainly […]

★★Yankee Doodle

Simon Ward reviews Sweet Victory at the Etcetera Theatre In this new play, written and directed by Elise Marra, we are introduced to two combatants in the American Revolutionary war, one on each side. John Thomas (Mikkie-denè Le Roux) is a soldier on the American side, John Smith […]

★★★Football Mad

Simon Ward reviews The Pass at the Pearly Queen Theatre The Bow Bells is a traditional East End pub, which seems to be thriving. The Pearly Queen Theatre is its latest addition – ascend the stairs next to the bar and what must have previously been a small […]

★★★★Tears for Fears

Simon Ward reviews Griefcase at the Hope Theatre Co-produced by the Hope Theatre and Tailwind Physical Theatre, Griefcase is a profoundly moving examination of grief in all of its manifestations. With traverse staging, directed by Jack Mckee, we watch on as G (Ru Lawrence, who also wrote the […]

★★★Head and Heart

Simon Ward reviews Sense and Sensibility at the Arches Lane Theatre Nicky Diss has adapted and also directs Jane Austen’s first novel which contrasts the philosophies and attitudes to life of two Dashwood sisters, Elinor (Grace Kelly Miller) and Marianne (Laura Cooper-Jones). Elinor tries hard to ensure that […]

★★★Tea And Sympathy

Simon Ward reviews Scar Tissue at the Old Red Lion Theatre Lilwen Faulkner’s thought-provoking new play is a reminder that the early traumatic events of our lives never really leave us, and may even ripple through to future generations. As writer and director, Faulkner shines a spotlight on […]

★★★★★A Delightful Soufflé

Simon Ward reviews Tartuffe (Remixed) at the Marylebone Theatre For many years Darren Raymond, the writer and director of Tartuffe (Remixed), has been adapting classic theatrical works to bring them alive for new, diverse audiences. Since 2008, Intermission Youth has been engaging young people in the creative possibilities […]