FringeReview UK

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A bisexual Fleabag for 2024? It’s more than that

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BBC Prom 5 Schoenberg and Zemlinsky

A magnificent evening and one to replay on BBC Sounds.

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Before After

A pristine, heartwarming Valentine of a musical, it fully deserves its revival

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Boy In Da Korma

A necessary, engaging, original variation on finding your voice: and a theatrical coup. Acting, writing, directing, video, lighting and tech support, indeed singing are first class. A gem.

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Boys From the Blackstuff

More a prophesy than history in this stunning production.

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Cowbois

Cranford’s gone Wild West, via the Court and RSC. Cowbois is of course daft. But it’s magnificent in its silliness, contains wonderful – and truthful – moments. Deadly serious can have you rolling in the aisles and still jump up for the revolution.

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Good-Bye

Wholly absorbing, wholly other, it’s a gem of the Coronet’s dedication to world theatre.

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Just For One Day

Despite history’s caveats, O’Farrell’s core message isn’t about white saviours or pop stars but how ordinary people unite to change things.

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King Lear

This smouldering production – fast-talking or timeless - fully engages with the play. It makes almost perfect sense: and two families’ DNA ring true as rarely before.

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London Tide

It compels, and nothing in its three hours 15 seems superfluous.

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Much Ado About Nothing

A triumph of tone, of textual intercourse and tight-reined spirits. Beatrice’s star is dancing. It’ll stay fresh as the feelgood Shakespeare this summer.

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Oliver!

There’s not a moment in this two-hours-40 where you’re not at the edge of your seat. The best musical revival this year. Don’t wait till it transfers to the West End.

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Othello

With institutional racism and trauma compounded in a feedback loop, this Othello’s a timely, and timeless broadside on everything toxic we inhale and expel as venom.

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Richard III

In a female-led cast led by the eponymous Richard III (Michelle Terry) it’s striking that the trio of cursing women is this production’s highlight

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Sappho

A bit of theatrical democracy invoking pre-democracy crafts an exquisite irony for a rainy afternoon. Do see it.

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Suite in Three Keys

A once-in-a-generation masterpiece of revival. This is what we’ve been missing.

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The Bible in Early Modern Drama: Robert Owen The History of Purgatory

Dr Will Tosh leads a discussion The Bible in Early Modern Drama. Absorbing.

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The Bounds

As it stands, this is a play with greatness seeded in it.

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The Cherry Orchard

In this production, it’s Chekhov who shines.

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The Children’s Inquiry

Worth two-and-a-half hours of anyone’s time.

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The Duchess of Malfi

There’s so much to admire here that it’s a happy duty to urge you to see it, if you can, any way you can.

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The Good John Proctor

A valuable corrective to anticipate both real events and Arthur Miller’s take on Abigail Williams

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The Hills of California

For nearly any other playwright, this would count as something of a masterpiece.

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The Hot Wing King

Hall, following Nottage in particular, emerges as one of the most exciting US dramatists.

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The Lonely Londoners

An outstanding production.

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The Other Boleyn Girl

Mike Poulton’s text gleams and snaps. Lucy Bailey’s production of it thrills and occasionally overwhelms, dazzling in its maze of missteps. A must-see.

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The Tailor of Inverness

A gem of a piece, that only brightens.

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The Trumpeter

Verging on expressionism it’s extraordinary.

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The Valley of Fear

Blackeyed have kept their telling as lean as Holmes’ hawk-like face, and it pounces. If you admire 221b at all, see it this week.

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Till the Stars Come Down

Even this early, it’s safe to predict we’ll look back at the end of 2024 and proclaim it as one of the year’s finest.

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Turning the Screw

This six-hander is a 90-minute announcement of a major talent. An almost flawless play.

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Uncle Vanya

Hilarious, devastating, outstanding.

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