Liam O'Dell

“Only Human is an electrifying piece of theatre on the comedy and curiosity within our contradictions.”

“Edmundson’s Some Woman is a chilling story with an exceptional lead performance and intimate direction which continues the Dorfman’s run of shocking and thought-provoking theatre.”

“As such, Rickson and McPherson’s The Cherry Orchard is far more entertaining than it is intellectual and emotive, meaning it ought to have been a lot more fruitful.”

“It’s a baffling 3 hours and 20 minutes in the theatre, and I am afraid to say there are better ways to spend that time.”

“António Fonseca’s character, often indulging in bittersweet nostalgia, presents a hauntingly familiar near-future with how his story develops, as he talks of the dismantling of the national health service and having to pay for ‘premium’ palliative care.”

“It pushes the pleasantries of the decade to breaking point, and makes for an entertaining night at the theatre.”

“It’s hard to believe what you’ve seen in Now You See Me Live – and not in a good way.”

“The contemplation and deep thought that Tao of Glass inspires is truly unique, unlike anything else I’ve experienced before in a theatre.”

“And in the case of Archduke, I fear there’s little here that’s memorable.”

“Cyrano de Bergerac is exquisitely acted, and full of spirit.”

“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind has heart, and there’s no denying that Kamkwamba’s feat is glorious, but as an audience member, there was a sense of feeling disconnected and distanced from what is happening on stage.”

“The second act is at least a lot more dynamic, with a clear conflict between Bernard and couple Valentine and Hannah in which to invest.”

“Oh, Mary ! is a fabulous, farcical fever dream. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5.”

“The performances are unflinching, and its staging is creative, but in lacking clarity in its narrative and messaging, the same can’t be said for Porn Play’s script.”

“Fierce and passionate performances all-round combined with thrilling finer details make for an exciting watch.”

“The decision to have actors who are not needed for a particular scene wait upstage in a waiting room is a simple but genius way of reinforcing the show’s themes.”

“Yet there is something about this production which maintains interest, even over an almost three-hour running time.”

“This Bacchae may not always have substance, but it certainly has style.”

“'The Producers' review - Ridiculous, rapid-fire comedy. Mel Brooks’ musical transfers to the West End’s Garrick Theatre after a sell-out run at Menier Chocolate Factory.”

“Gatwa and Bluemel blitz through the 90-minute runtime in what is a ferociously funny – and flirty – production.”

“Right now, though, this West End staging is all about the audience participation and interactions, to which Henry is no stranger.”

“The Estate is written like a precarious political drama, but directed as if it's an insincere comedy.”

“Daring direction from Daniel Aukin allows for electric anticipation, and means our attention is maintained across the three-hour runtime.”

“The point of this 90-minute production, at least to me, seems to be a commentary on interpretation and how we define our reality, but it never quite lands.”

“The staging of this work after Sondheim’s demise was inevitably faced with a challenge it failed to address, and take on.”

“Unfortunately, there's hardly anything visually or narratively engaging about The Brightening Air, other than for Gregory Clarke's sound design and Ben McQuinn on associate music capturing a beautiful, gentle and fascinating ambience which is never really replicated in McPherson's writing and direction, making for a tiring slog of a show instead.”

“It is a deeply unfortunate indication of the quality of Cotton's script that I found myself zoning out and nodding off several times in a tedious and wordy first act.”

“You can only just accept this as the story coming together neatly, as opposed to it being cheap, easy writing.”

“They will, however, find something to enjoy in this cheeky and chaotic treat.”

“The 80 minutes fly by, and that goes to show how gripping this slick, modernised spin on Antigone is.”

“Six creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss return with a fun and relatable musical boasting a strong collection of numbers, but an incredibly thin plot holding them all together.”

“This musical about cake - amongst other things - has a lot of filling.”

“Everything is icky, our spectatorship as audience members watching a woman in distress feels intrusive and uncomfortable.”

“Michael Sheen thrills in NHS founder's fantastical life story.”

“The problem, however, lies in the extent to which The Little Big Things indulges itself in self-pity, despair and tragedy.”

“A Happy Meal fails at both, with not much to take away.”

“I’m left with a far from beautiful feeling that the direction in Oklahoma! isn’t going the right way at all.”

“Dominic Cooke’s 90-minute Medea is engrossing and electric.”

“It’s intense, chilling and gripping, and crackles with such an electrifying, cinematic energy (with credit to Nina Dunn and Gino Ricardo Green for truly elemental video design).”

“The comedy distracts, rather than accentuates.”

“Aaron Sorkin's take on Harper Lee's courtroom classic is clumsy at times, but completely compelling.”

“The acting is rich and gripping, and the staging gorgeous, but for those wishing for something beyond the aesthetics, I fear this Crucible falls short.”

“Even if Jamie Lloyd's slow pacing is deliberate, it's mumbling misery.”

“Holden’s play is as much a dizzying dash back as it is a hopeful look and drive forwards.”

“The show simply has to be seen to be believed.”

“There are some interesting moments on the gaslighting of minorities by the far-right, but there’s hardly anything revelatory in Manor’s interrogation of fringe politics – instead it struggles to find something original.”

“While questions are raised over the main satire at the heart of Rare Earth Mettle, I’m also left wondering what exactly the point is behind the actors engaging in elaborate dance numbers to electronic music in between scenes.”

“The Normal Heart is painfully powerful.”

“Visually, the production is stunning and subversive, with Chloe Lamford building upon the playful pacing and direction of Ince.”

“The lack of energy may be the biggest tragedy for some, but that may well be the point in this otherwise powerfully performed, character-driven musing on existentialism.”

“Simon Evans creates a solid, emotional revival of Nichols' work.”

“Smith and Foy navigate the issue of climate change on Rob Howell (Matilda)’s smart, minimalist stage with the urgency one would expect.”

“The most intriguing story in Annie Baker's elaborate boardroom tale is the one that's left unspoken”

“Lucian Msamati and Hummad Animashaun are the perfect pairing in Athol Fugard's slow drama with a devastating crescendo”

“For the more passive audience member, it’s an unusual, creative spectacle.”

“Both on and off the page, Total Immediate Collective Imminent Salvation is ethereal and unnerving.”