The Upstart Crow ★★★★★ Apollo Theatre | Sep 23 - Dec 3, 2022


It's 1605 and playwright, William Shakespeare, needs a hit if he is going to maintain the patronage of the new king. The Upstart Crow is a thoroughly delightful insight into the difficult life of an artist who, while seeking inspiration, is beset by his landlady's progressive daughter who aspires to be an actress, by a pair of his own daughters who are quite happy to abandon him after receiving his estate and by a pompous and demanding actor/theatrical entrepreneur named Richard Burbage. Add to this a dancing bear and Shakespeare's life is not an easy one! Ben Elton has a written a wonderfully whimsical comedy, and it is acted to perfection. David Mitchell never over plays his role as the harried Shakespeare who is attacked on all sides by what he gradually realises might be inspirations for his next great play. Mitchell is hilarious as the bard who can never call a door simply a door, and he is brilliantly supported Gemma Whelan as the actress wannabe, Kate. John Gordon Sinclair as Dr John Hall, Rob Rouse as Bottom and Stewart Wright as Burbage all hit absolutely the right note, while Helen Monks and Danielle Phillips are excellent as the bard's slighted daughters. Gloria Onitiri and Jason Callender are uproarious as mismatched twins, and Reice Weathers as Mr Whiskers dances his way into the audience's heart. As Shakespeare wrote "If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well / It were done quickly" and the pacing of this show is simply impeccable. There is no let up in the laughs and it all ends too soon. Shakespeare gains the patronage of James I, and The Upstart Crow deserves to be seen by everyone who enjoys a great comedy.

Rated: ★★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Johan Persson.

Want to save on tickets? See our Tips page.

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 7EZ, 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 »

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 »

Sabrage ★★★★★ Lafayette London | Mar 15 - Jul 6, 2025

Image
If you haven't seen a cabaret/circus/burlesque show lately, this is the one to sign on for. And if you've never seen a cabaret/circus/burlesque show, then you definitely need to see this one! Sabrage is some of the wildest fun in London. The show sparkles just like the champagne that inspires it. Bubbly, rather naughty and just when you think it can't get much zanier, there is an act that is bound to astonish, shock or titillate. In fact, the art of burlesque which seemed to have become outmoded in this age of explicit erotica actually makes a delightful comeback in Sabrage 's sexy, silly version. Add to this, a sultry chanteuse, an awe inspiring foot juggler (Emma Phillips), some fancy roller skating plus two terrific aerialists (Flynn Miller and Kimberley Bargenquast), and you have a quite unforgettable experience. The show is hosted by two completely goofy emcees (Remi Martin and Spencer Novich) whose corny routines and predictable patter, nicely balance the product...
Full Details »

High Society - The Musical ★★★★ Barbican Centre | May 19 - Jul 11, 2026

Image
“It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely.” High Society is a dazzling, effervescent summer entertainment, brimming with glamour, wit and charm. Buoyed by Cole Porter's sublime score and a frothy romantic comedy plot adapted from The Philadelphia Story , this is a production that asks nothing of its audience except that they surrender to its considerable pleasures. Sit back and enjoy the glorious music, slick choreography and a steady stream of sparkling comic moments. There may be faint echoes of A Midsummer Night's Dream in its tangle of misplaced affections, but analysing this theatrical soufflé would rather miss the point. Its purpose is simple: to delight. We know from the outset that socialite Tracy Lord, played with engaging assurance by understudy Isabel Snaas on this occasion, will ultimately reunite with her reformed ex-husband Dexter Haven, portrayed with effortless sophistication by Julian Ovenden. Nor does the plot leave much doubt that Freddie...
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 »

Allegra ★★★★ Richmond Theatre | Jun 8 - Jun 13, 2026 & UK Tour

Image
Allegra hears music everywhere. At the most inappropriate moments she bursts into song, much to the embarrassment of her long-suffering brother, Ronen. Concerned for her welfare, he hires a housekeeper to look after her, but Allegra's irrepressible enthusiasm continues to land her in hot water with neighbours, authority figures and eventually the police. The play asks whether Allegra's sunny, unconventional outlook is really the problem, or whether the fault lies with a society that has little patience for those who refuse to conform. Stories of the "wise fool" have a long literary pedigree, stretching from Erasmus' Praise of Folly and Cervantes' Don Quixote through Dostoevsky's The Idiot to Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest . Peter Quilter's Allegra most closely resembles Elwood P. Dowd from the 1950 film Harvey : a gentle, optimistic soul whose very existence challenges the values of a joyless world. This is familiar territory, and t...
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 »

Sinatra The Musical ★★★★ Aldwych Theatre | Until April 10, 2027

Image
Sinatra The Musical offers a sleek, visually striking journey through the life and legend of Frank Sinatra, though it often seems more like a carefully curated scrapbook than a fully rounded portrait of its subject. This is very much a polished, expurgated version of Sinatra's life, one that prefers glamour and momentum over the more troubling or complex edges of Sinatra’s life. There are references to his mafia connections while his philandering, although a major part of the story, somehow feels sanitised. The show precedes the infamous Rat Pack years and centres on the teenage heartthrob who lost his fame and then made a comeback with the film From Here to Eternity . This is a production, like Sinatra himself, with an abundance of style. The visuals are consistently impressive, moving with cinematic fluidity between recording studios, Hollywood sets and various homes. The sheen of mid-century show business is captured with real flair, creating a world that is as seductive as it ...
Full Details »

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings