The 25 best things to do in London in 2025, from theatre to films and bonkers events January 6, 2025 Theatre, film, exhibitions, barmy events: here are the best 25 things to do in London in 2025 Another new year and, Dry January aside, there’s plenty to be excited for. Yes, our capital is stepping up to mark a quarter of a century since the millennium bug (feel old yet?) with oodles of brilliant new [...]
Mamma Mia and Hamilton help Cameron Mackintosh’s West End empire towards £200m January 3, 2025 The continued popularity of Les Miserables, Mamma Mia and Hamilton has helped push sales the West End theatre empire run by Sir Cameron Mackintosh to almost £200m. For the year to 31 March, 2024, Sir Cameron’s group has reported a turnover of £199.1m, up from the £185.8m it posted for the prior 12 months. Newly-filed [...]
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child maker remains in the red amid West End troubles December 20, 2024 The company behind the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage play remains in the red amid falling sales and show closures, it has been revealed. The joint venture which produces the show across the world has reported a turnover of £41.3m for the year to 31 March, 2024, down from the £45.2m it achieved [...]
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof review: Daisy Edgar-Jones in Tennessee Williams misfire December 18, 2024 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof review and star rating: ★★ Rebecca Frecknall is hoping for a third strike of luck with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, her third Tennessee Williams production at the Almeida following the buzzy Streetcar Named Desire with hot-boy-of-the-moment Paul Mescal, and 2019’s Summer and Smoke. The Gladiator II actor [...]
The London pantomime not to miss is at the Hackney Empire December 16, 2024 Dick Whittington and his Cat at the Hackney Empire is the heartfelt London pantomime you need in your life. It runs until 5 January With its pretty 18th century period detailing, grand entranceway and impressive 1,275 capacity auditorium, the Hackney Empire theatre is a slice of the West End in east London. Every year they [...]
The Purists, Kiln Theatre, review: The first act will surprise and astound December 11, 2024 The Purists review and star rating: ★★★ There’s promise in newcomer playwright Dan McCabe’s writing in The Purists, and paired with Tom Piper’s intriguing set and Amit Sharma’s pacey direction, the first act has fist-clenching cannot-turn-away high stakes – it’s a shame the plot cannot hold firm long enough to do these characters, and their [...]
The Devil Wears Prada musical review: Meryl Streep is missing December 6, 2024 The Devil Wears Prada musical review and star rating: ★★★☆☆ Despite her many more serious, grown up roles, Meryl Streep has become defined by The Devil Wears Prada. Such is the fascination with enigmatic Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who Streep plays a fictionalised version of in the film. Both Wintour and the character Miranda Priestly are [...]
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button musical review: Intriguing but exhausting November 14, 2024 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button musical review: ★★★★ Let’s face it, when thinking about classic novels that stir the soul, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is among the weirdest. The idea of a bloke who ages backwards is unnerving, but nevertheless the novel – and subsequent film with Brad Pitt [...]
Barcelona play review: Lily Collins can’t save bland two-hander October 31, 2024 Barcelona with Lily Collins, review and star rating: ★★☆☆☆ Emily in Paris star Lily Collins makes her West End debut opposite Spanish heavyweight Álvaro Morte in Barcelona, a two-hander set in a soon-to-be demolished apartment in the Spanish city. Writer Bess Wohl has on-boarded Lynette Linton, Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre, and the visionary behind [...]
The Buddha of Suburbia has the most amazing sex scenes I’ve seen in London theatre October 30, 2024 The Buddha of Suburbia review and star rating: ★★★★★ Only London theatre titan Emma Rice could convince an audience to suspend their disbelief when a party popper symbolises someone ejaculating. Of course – why wouldn’t it? Freshly arriving in London after a run at The RSC Swan, Stratford upon Avon earlier this year, The Buddha [...]