The Play Review

Jodi and I review a selection of shows that we've seen in September and October 2026, including:

• Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy at the Theatre Royal Stratford East
• The Children at the Lyric theatre in Hammersmith
• Three Men in a Boat at the Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames
• A Small and Quiet Light at the Orange Tree theatre in Richmond-upon-Thames
• Golden Boy at the Almeida Theatre

Jodi and I review a selection of shows that we've seen in the first two months of 2026, including:

• Guess How Much I Love You? at the Royal Court

• Our Town at the Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames

• Dance of Death at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond-upon-Thames

• Ballad Lines at the Southwark Playhouse

• Gerry & Sewell at the Aldwych Theatre

• Marie & Rosetta at the Soho Place Theatre

• Arcadia at the Old Vic

• Man and Boy at the National Theatre

Jodi and I each choose our top three shows of 2025, and look ahead at what we are excited to see in the coming weeks.

Quick-fire reviews of a selection of shows that Jodi and I have seen in recent weeks, including:

1536 at the Almeida Giant at the Harold Pinter Theatre The 5th Step at Soho Place The Brightening Air at the Old Vic Marie and Rosetta at the Rose theatre, and coming to Chichester and the Bristol Old Vic. My Master Builder at Wyndham's theatre An Oak Tree at the Young Vic Here We Are at the National theatre.

Jodi and I review the 30th anniversary production of Patrick Marber's play Dealer's Choice, that is currently playing at the Donmar Warehouse in London.

Jodi and I review James Graham's hard-hitting play, Punch, at the Young Vic theatre, Cate Blanchett in The Seagull at the Barbican, and Playhouse Creatures at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond-upon-Thames.

Jodi and I review The Years at the Harold Pinter theatre in London. The show was first seen at the Almeida last Summer, and was chosen as a favourite of 2024 by many, so its transfer is a welcome opportunity for those who missed it to discover what all the fuss was about.

The Years is adapted and directed by Eline Arbo, from the book of the same name by the French Nobel prize winning author, Annie Ernaux. The result is a distinctive piece of theatre, which can be both joyous and funny, as well as disturbing. Forewarning - there is a scene that some have found too much to watch.

But should you go? Listen to what Jodi and I think!

The Years is on until 19th April.

This is a review of the RSC's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Barbican in London.

Jodi and I review the National Theatre's production of Oscar Wilde's classic, The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Max Webster, and starring Ncuti Gatwa, Hugh Skinner and Sharon D Clarke.

The show runs until the 25th of January 2025.

And don't miss my full length conversation with Max Webster about the play in episode 90 of The Play Podcast

I review some of the highlights of the shows that I've seen in London this Autumn.

Brief reviews include: Death of England, The Real Thing, Abigail's Party, A Raisin in the Sun, Corialanus, Juno and the Paycock, Oedipus, Fear of 13, The Forsyte Saga and The Importance of Being Earnest.