The London Theatre Review

Self Esteem aka Rebecca Lucy Taylor returns to the stage for the second time: after playing a singer on the verge of a breakdown when she took on the role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret in 2023, now she plays an alcoholic singer on the verge of a breakdown in David Hare's 1975 play Teeth 'n' Smiles - the gang give their verdict. They also review Kimberly Belflower's Tony-nominated hit US play John Proctor is the Villain currently at the Royal Court. Plus the delightful Gwyneth Keyworth chats to Nancy about starring in the National Theatre production of Summerfolk, which we all loved last week, and how when she grew up she originally wanted to be...a vampire. And stage legend Clive Rowe answers our five questions. Follow us on Instagram and watch us on YouTube @thelondontheatrereview.

This week Nancy and the Nicks head to Hampstead Theatre for Aaron Loeb’s ROI (Return on Investment), where cancer has potentially been cured, and there's lots of money to be made. Plus the gang are at the National Theatre for Summerfolk, Maxim Gorky’s caustic portrait of the pre-revolution Russian middle classes, eating, drinking and complaining their way towards a fairly inevitable reckoning.Theatre Royal Stratford East's artistic director Lisa Spirling talks to Nick Curtis about her debut season, which has already got off to a stunning start with the harrowing Here There Are Blueberries, and continues with Tarell Alvin McCraney's Choir Boy. Plus, Beatrice Penny-Touré, currently starring as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, answers our five questions. Follow us, watch us, chat to us @thelondontheatrereview on Insta and YouTube.

With Nancy in Mexico on the trail of Frida Kahlo, producer Tim steps in to join the Nicks as they discuss The Holy Rosenbergs at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Marie and Rosetta @sohoplace. Matt Willis from Busted chats to Nancy about taking on the role of the Emcee in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and the Orange Tree Theatre's artistic director Tom Littler answers one listener's question about which plays are chosen for revivals and why. Follow us on Insta and watch us on YouTube @thelondontheatrereview.

Michael Sheen's first production for his new company Welsh National Theatre is Our Town, the classic American play by Thornton Wilder transposed to Wales. Nick, Nick and Nancy give their verdicts. They also visit the Young Vic for Broken Glass, one of Arthur Miller's late plays in which a woman becomes paralysed after reading about the horrors of Kristallnacht. Nick Curtis talks to director Monique Touko about having three plays on simultaneous: Marie and Rosetta, The Boy at the Back of the Class and Jaja's African Hair Braiding. And Bridgerton's Hazel, aka Gracie McGonigal, answers five questions as she stars in Into the Woods as a very bolshy Red Riding Hood. Find us on Instagram and YouTube @thelondontheatrereview.

The biggest show of the year so far has finally opened, with puns about sucking and biting in full flow. Yes it's Cynthia Erivo's one-woman Dracula, adapted and directed by Kip Williams, in which the Wicked star plays all 23(ish) parts. So as Nick, Nick and Nancy sink their teeth into their review, does it get their blood pumping? Or will they B negative?Downton Abbey and Paddington treasure Hugh Bonneville plays CS Lewis in the West End transfer of Shadowlands. The inimitable Jenna Russell, who brings emotional charge and huge class to every show she stars in, talks to Nick Curtis about The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. And Laurie Kynaston, currently in Terence Rattigan's Man and Boy at the National Theatre, answers five questions. Follow us on Instagram or watch us on Youtube @thelondontheatrereview.

This week the gang is talking about walking as they make a pilgrimage to Theatre Royal Haymarket for new musical The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, based on the beloved book by Rachel Joyce with music by Passenger. They also had a dose of daddy issues with Terence Rattigan's little-revived play Man and Boy at the National. Director, writer and theatremaker Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu talked to Nick Curtis about directing the late Chadwick Boseman's play Deep Azure at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and Andor star Elizabeth Dulau answered five questions. Follow us @thelondontheatrereview on Insta and Youtube.

A few months on from his death, Tom Stoppard's dazzling play Arcadia comes to the Old Vic and puts the brains of Nancy, Nick and Nick to the test - that's if Mr Clark is able to get across Albert Bridge and make it to the recording on time...Then it's back to the eighties for shell suits, ripped bodies and all kinds of excess - and that's just from the LTR gang - as they review American Psycho The Musical at the Almeida. Plus producer Tim talks to musical theatre icon Keala Settle, whose rendition of This Is Me from The Greatest Showman has been watched and streamed by hundreds of millions of people, about taking a break from musical theatre for the moment to star in her first straight play, Mrs President. She plays Mary Todd Lincoln at the Charing Cross Theatre. And writer Miriam Battye answers five questions. Follow us on Instagram or watch us on YouTube @thelondontheatrereview

Boo!! This week Nancy and the Nicks are cowering behind their large, slightly warm glasses of chardonnay as they experience the stage adaptation of supernatural horror Paranormal Activity. Two out of three critics were terrified - listen to find out who has nerves of steel. The trio also take in Luke Norris's harrowing play Guess How Much I Love You at the Royal Court, and Nick Curtis talks to Fiona Button, currently starring in one of Tom Stoppard's masterpieces Arcadia at the Old Vic. Plus, Arty Froushan takes a break from murdering people in a well-tailored suit as he plays Patrick Bateman in American Psycho: The Musical and answers our five questions. Follow us on Instagram and watch us on Youtube @thelondontheatrereview.