Neil Norman

“This kind of declamatory agitprop went out with the Ark (or at least the 1970s), and what might have been genuinely inflammatory – putting out fire with gasoline – is closer to the damp, smouldering embers of rain-soaked barbecue.”

“He has incontrovertibly wrecked the greatest comedy in the English language by stamping on Wilde’s wit with pink leather jackboots and supplanting high comedy and sparkling dialogue with panto vulgarity.”

“This is not just a great production of Evita but one of the most exciting musicals I have witnessed in years.”

“It's Coogan's triumph and he finally lays the ghost of the tiresome (for me, anyway) Alan Partridge.”

“But there is no denying the powerhouse performance of Imelda Staunton who embraces the role with characteristic energy and intelligence, bringing light and shade to Dolly that only a serious actor at the top of her game could achieve.”

“It’s funny, clever and undoubtedly challenging.”

“It’s the funniest show in town.”

“Arresting performances from Whelan as the deeply unsympathetic Charlotte, Clements as the independent-but-withdrawn Anne and James as the stoical Emily keep Gordon’s spirited play alight.”

“A long but rewarding night in the theatre.”

“This is a jukebox jubilation and, as such, triumphantly succeeds in recreating a glimpse of a unique and towering talent.”

“It’s a line destined to backfire on those behind a car crash of a production that not even Smith can avert.”

“The result is a moving but unsentimental portrait of the man who changed British healthcare.”

“A joyful, gritty show with fire in its heart … A musical set on a Sheffield housing estate may not be the easiest pitch to Broadway producers - but they'd be missing out on the best British musical in decades. … Singer/songwriter Richard Hawley and playwright Chris Bush have fashioned a work that is both site-specific and universally epic.”

“As a celebration and reminder of what human beings can achieve when moved by compassion it is a triumph.”

“This is Theatre of Sensation, Grand Guignol for the modern age.”

“Just about everything in this production is wrong.”

“Alas, it comes too late and leaves a sour taste even if, for much of its length, we are amused.”

“It's perfectly serviceable though the conspicuous lack of dramatic conflict and Chakrabarti's inability to pull all the thematic threads tight leaves the play loosely hemmed around the edges.”

“Scott is a dextrous and enthralling actor but even he cannot replicate the subtle agony of Chekhov's characters on his own.”

“Plenty of fizz for your francs here.”

“The gift of Hamilton the musical is that this would-be history lesson is so full of energy and character, lyrical dexterity and subversive humour that there is never any danger of nodding off.”

“You can just sit back and enjoy the ride.”