The Dresser ★★★★ Richmond Theatre | October 26 - 30, 2021


Julian Clary's performance as Norman, the titular Dresser in Ronald Harwood's 1980 play, might come as a revelation to those who only know him as a camp comic on screen. Subtly nuanced and never scene-stealing, this is a very clever portrayal helping us to understand Norman's devotion to "Sir," the over-the-top leading Shakespearean actor of 'the old school,' who is his boss. Harwood served for five years as dresser to Sir Donald Wolfit and the character of "Sir" has many of Wolfit's characteristics. Matthew Kelly imbues the ageing actor with wit as well as a wonderfully booming bass voice. He seems to draw on his experience in Samuel Beckett's work and occasionally has a vague and 'other-worldly' air about him. This is a performance to cherish. Terry Johnson's direction, within Tim Shortall's extremely clever and atmospheric set, creates an excellent feeling of the period,1942, and the scenes in the wings of the theatre have just the right touch. The rest of the company perform serviceably, but this is very much a vehicle for the two stars. For us, the play dips slightly towards the end when the actor playing the Fool has a scene which interrupts the flow of the narrative, and there is a scene in which "Sir" makes unwelcome advances towards a young assistant stage manager. Realistic as the latter may be, it takes away much of our sympathy for the elderly man; we felt the audience squirm. Such cavils aside, this is an excellent revival with some stellar performances.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by D.S.J.

Want to save on tickets? See our Tips page.

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: 1 Little Grn, Richmond TW9 1QH, UK

Most Popular

St. Martin in-the-fields: Lunchtime Concerts ★★★★ FREE

Image
Maybe the best musical value in London. The lunchtime concerts at St. Martin's are always a wonderful way to escape the hustle and bustle that is London and the sensory overload that is Trafalgar Square. This is a beautiful setting with great acoustics, and a church pew hard enough to make sure you don't nod off. Reviewed by J.C.  Our score:    ☆☆☆☆  WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE: Mon & Fri: 1 pm - 1:45 pm ( occasionally Tues & Thurs)  St. Martin in-the-fields, Trafalgar Square Nearest tube: Charing Cross https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on
Full Details »

Summer Exhibition 2026 ★★★★ Royal Academy of Arts | Jun 16 - Aug 23, 2026

Image
The theme of the 258th Summer Exhibition, “Interconnectedness,” makes tracing links between the works on display both a fascinating and at times overwhelming experience. While this year’s works on view appear to contain less overt political commentary and fewer instances of humour than is often typical of such events, both are still present in striking moments. Tim Shaw’s powerful portrayal of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Pin It On Them (Associated Artwork From the Installation: Shut It Piggy) (555) can be juxtaposed with the playful absurdity of Joey Rutherford’s Pickle With a Pearl Earring (1110) , reminding viewers of the range of tones running through the exhibition. Alongside these, there are the usual charming animal representations, including our favourite, the highly realistic cat in Thus Regard Palmerston (793) , as well as the standard attempts to shock and provoke, such as Tracey Emin’s There Is An End To Everything (674) . The collection continues to move between cur...
Full Details »

Éireann by A Taste of Ireland ★★★ Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre | August 28 - 31, 2025

Image
Éireann by A Taste of Ireland has some five-star moments, but the show's concept is too broad and unfocused. The result is a bit of a hotchpotch. Mythic and political references are thrown in, and there is even a contrived and rather superfluous hurling sequence. There is no clear narrative arc or any perspective, and the show fails to provide much meaningful insight into Ireland, its history and its culture. The strength of this production is its Irish dancing, and while the synchronisation in the group work is not always perfect, the general quality and athleticism are superb.The solos of Gavin Shevlin are beautifully executed, and the troupe is at its best during the step dance sequences. The balletic and modern dance interludes are less successful, and some of the lifts and floor work seem laboured. Despite some issues with the sound system, the musical moments provided by Aaron O'Grady, Eamonn O'Sullivan and Megan McGinley are strong. Unfortunately on the night we att...
Full Details »

Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait ★★★★ National Portrait Gallery | Until September 6, 2026

Image
To mark what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, the National Portrait Gallery has mounted an exhibition exploring the actress’s enduring place in popular culture. While tracing the chronology of Monroe’s life, the exhibition interweaves her story with the ways in which artists and photographers have interpreted and presented this most elusive of icons. Photographs by Cecil Beaton, Richard Avedon and many others attempt to capture the fascination she exerted, while works by Willem de Kooning and Andy Warhol demonstrate how her image transcended Hollywood to become the raw material of modern art. Mesmerising clips from her films provide a reminder of the charisma that first made her a star. More than six decades after her death in 1962, Monroe remains a singular presence in the collective imagination. Other celebrities have enjoyed their moment in the spotlight and faded, but her allure endures. There is the classic rags-to-riches narrative, shadowed by an inability to find...
Full Details »

War Horse ★★★★★ National Theatre | Until July 30, 2026

Image
Michael Morpurgo’s tale of a horse caught up in the First World War was first published in 1982, but it remained largely under the radar until the National Theatre’s landmark 2007 production transformed it into a theatrical phenomenon. A successful film adaptation by Steven Spielberg followed, but War Horse has now returned to its natural home: the stage. Happily, this revival captures all the wonder, emotion and imaginative power that made the original production so unforgettable. The production’s greatest triumph remains the astonishing puppetry. Joey and his fellow horses are brought to life with such skill and sensitivity that within moments they cease to be stage constructs and become living, breathing creatures. It is a remarkable feat of theatrical illusion. The story begins when Albert’s hard-drinking father squanders an absurd sum on a riding horse at auction and then wagers with his brother that the animal can be trained to plough the family’s fields. The task falls to young...
Full Details »

Hepworth in Colour ★★★★ The Courtauld Gallery | Jun 12 - Sep 6, 2026

Image
This exhibition is a thoughtful examination of an aspect of Barbara Hepworth's work that has long been under-appreciated. Bringing together twenty of Hepworth's abstract sculptures and thirty drawings, it focuses on her innovative use of colour to transform the internal spaces of her sculptures into expressive elements in their own right. As war broke out, Hepworth moved with her husband, Ben Nicholson, to Cornwall. With her preferred materials in short supply, she increasingly turned to plaster, using paint to animate and define the interior surfaces of her sculptures. Richly coloured interiors are often accentuated by strings of contrasting shades, creating a dynamic interplay between surface, space and line. Thirteen of the sixteen painted sculptures Hepworth created during the 1940s are displayed here, although the exhibition also extends into works produced during the 1950s and 1960s. The two-gallery presentation on Floor 3 is complemented by photographs of Hepworth and Ni...
Full Details »

Driftwood ★★★★ Kiln Theatre | Jun 4 - Jul 4, 2026

Image
Set in Trinidad on the eve of independence from Britain, Driftwood explores a society in transition. Change is everywhere, not least at ALMA, the gentlemen's club run by Pearl and her daughter Ruby. The club is owned by Mansion, an Englishman preparing to return home, and his departure coincides with the arrival of a mysterious young stranger whose secrets threaten to upend the lives of everyone around him. The performances are uniformly excellent. Ellen Thomas delivers an outstanding portrayal of Pearl, a resilient survivor forced to disavow her own child in order to endure. Thomas completely inhabits the role, creating a formidable exterior whose rare moments of vulnerability carry real emotional weight. Equally compelling is Martins Imhangbe, who brings swagger and intrigue to the enigmatic newcomer whose arrival compels Pearl to confront the consequences of her past choices. Cat White is also impressive as Ruby, the pragmatic seductress determined to navigate a rapidly changin...
Full Details »

Black Comedy ★★★ Orange Tree Theatre | May 16 - Jul 11, 2026

Image
Working under considerable pressure, Peter Shaffer wrote Black Comedy as a companion piece to the 1965 Chichester Festival production of Miss Julie by August Strindberg. Despite significant reservations from the original production company, the play proved an immediate success. It has since been staged around the world and continues to delight audiences with its ingenious premise and relentless comic energy. At the heart of this delightful farce lies the theatrical conceit that the characters stumble about in what they believe to be complete darkness, while the audience watches their misadventures in full light. Conversely, whenever the stage is dark to the audience, the characters experience illumination. More than a clever gimmick, this inversion becomes a metaphor for the secret and seriously complicated amorous life of the struggling sculptor Brindsley Miller. Brindsley is preparing to meet two crucial visitors: his prospective father-in-law, a military man of rigid convictions, a...
Full Details »

Are You Watching? ★★★ Royal Court Theatre | Until July 4, 2026

Image
Georgie Dettmer’s debut work assembles a mosaic of stories centred on society’s obsession with images: their creation, consumption, manipulation and abuse. Many of the narratives carry a sexual charge. At its heart is a story clearly modelled on the Gisèle Pelicot case, in which a husband drugged his wife and filmed her repeated sexual abuse by other men. Around it swirl other tales: an actress appearing in a film about that case while becoming the victim of deepfake pornography herself; a kidnapped child narrative that inevitably recalls Madeleine McCann; a supposedly scientific study of sexual response dependent on video technology; and a father using AI to alter images of his son. Framing everything are two young girls whose fascination with the material mirrors the audience's own uneasy attraction to such content. The acting is superb throughout. Maimuna Memon and Lucy McCormick display astonishing versatility, moving effortlessly between characters and emotional registers. The...
Full Details »

Redcliffe ★★★ Southwark Playhouse, Borough | May 22 - Jul 4, 2026

Image
Inspired by a real historical incident, the new musical Redcliffe tackles an issue that remains relevant today: the criminalisation of consensual homosexual relationships, which still exists in many countries. Between 1752 and 1753, William Critchard and Richard Arnold were accused of sodomy, an offence punishable by death in Britain at the time. Their story survives through contemporary newspaper accounts and a rare witness statement uncovered in the Bristol archives in 2023. In bringing this material to the stage, Jordan Luke Gage, who wrote the book, music and lyrics, takes considerable liberties with the historical record. Arnold was a publican in his sixties and Critchard a twenty-four-year-old footman when the two men were observed together in a private room at a Bristol alehouse. Dramatic licence is not in itself a problem, but while the details have been reshaped, the characters at the centre of the story never become fully realised individuals. The principal weakness of Redcl...
Full Details »

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings