Hamnet ★★★ Garrick Theatre | Sep 30, 2023 - Feb 17, 2024


In her novel of 2020, Maggie O'Farrell reimagined Shakespeare's matrimonial and family life, making his wife, Anne (or Agnes as she is known here), a central figure in his creative imagination. Raised on a sheep farm, Agnes is presented as an illiterate embodiment of the natural sphere who is in touch with its spirits. Her world clearly stands in contrast to that of her suitor. His father is a tradesman with aspirations to be a gentleman, while Shakespeare himself is a Latin tutor who will become a playwright. The suggestion is that Agnes brings to the would-be wordsmith the fascination with the natural and supernatural world that pervades his works. Similarly, Act II posits that the loss of their only son, Hamnet, becomes the inspiration for the Bard's penning of Hamlet. The first act of the play focusses on the unhappy family lives of the young couple and their courtship, concluding with the birth of their son and his twin sister, Judith. Unfortunately, the flirtation and development of this love story isn't that engaging, and one wonders if it would have held any interest if it weren't for the fact that it is cast as the story of Shakespeare, and as an insight into his little-known personal life. The second act contrasting Shakespeare's life in London with his wife's struggles to raise a family proves more interesting, but also seemed somewhat superficial. The psychological connection of the two worlds and the two principal characters traumatised by their son's death didn't really resonate. The issue may be that the subtle layering and development of character and relationships that characterised O'Farrell's novel doesn't really translate to the stage. Nevertheless, this is a show that will definitely appeal to those who wonder about the genesis of genius, and the biography of England's greatest playwright.

Rated: ★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Manuel Harlan © RSC

Want to save on tickets? See our Tips page.

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: 2 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0HH, UK

Most Popular

Your Lie In April – The Musical ★★★★★ Harold Pinter Theatre | Jun 28 - Sep 21, 2024

Image
Based on the popular Manga of Naoshi Arakawa, Your Lie In April – The Musical tells the story of a young, prize-winning pianist who after his mother's death loses his ability to hear the piano. The passing of his perfectionist parent leads the young virtuoso, Kōsei, to abandon his vocation and to sink into despair. Although he is supported by his friends, Ryōta and Tsubaki, it is not until the enthusiastic and free-spirited violinist, Kaori, comes along that he begins to rediscover his aptitude for music. This is a sweet and moving story which explores the complexity of love and the mixed sources of artistry. Eventually, Kōsei comes to terms with his mother's strictness, which actually came from a place of love and from the fear that her son would soon be left on his own. At the same time, he learns from Kaori the importance of infusing life and artistic technique with emotion and spontaneity. Frank Wildhorn has written a lovely score and songs such as "Just Like A Movie&
Full Details »

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 »

Red Speedo ★★★★ Orange Tree Theatre | Jul 13 - Aug 10, 2024

Image
Ray's life has been swimming. He's not good at anything else, but despite all of his hard work, he doubts that he has the capacity to compete at the highest level. When performance enhancing drugs are discovered in the locker room, Ray's lawyer brother, Peter, defends him to the coach who should report this infraction. Lucas Hnath has written a play which not only poses questions about the pressures on athletes to perform. It also looks at the web of people around these figures who seek their own advantages in the competitor's success. However, the questions raised by the work ripple beyond the world of sport and raise issues about the benefits gained by those who simply have had access to more opportunities in life, those born into better economic circumstances, who attend better schools and have more supportive homes. What moral compromises might one feel called upon to make, or does one have the right to make, in order to level the playing field with those reared in
Full Details »

The Secret Garden ★★★★ Regent's Park Open Air Theatre | Jun 15 - Jul 20, 2024

Image
A picnic and a play! A visit to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is always a lovely family event, and this revival of Frances Hodgson Burnett's childhood classic should delight both youngsters and adults. Willful and spoilt, Mary Lennox is orphaned in India, and when she comes to live with her bitter and reclusive uncle, she enters a house full of secrets and learns some important lessons about love and life. This revised version of the story by Holly Robinson and Anna Himali Howard takes considerable liberties with the original in order to make it reflect current values. Mary and her cousin Colin are now the offspring of mixed race marriages, and Colin must learn to accept his disability, rather than "overcoming" it. The character of Padma is introduced as a woman with an anti-colonialist political mission and Edwardian gender roles are eschewed. Nevertheless, the essential magic of the narrative is still here, and the message about the regenerative power of love and n
Full Details »

The Trumpeter ★★★ Finborough Theatre | Jul 9 - Aug 3, 2024

Image
Inspired by real events, Inna Goncharova's play, The Trumpeter , is a reflection on war and human suffering that comes straight out of the headlines. The Ukrainian invasion and the siege of Mariupol in 2022 are devastating realities that Goncharova seeks to chronicle and possibly shape through the power of her words. The action takes place beneath the ruins of the Azovstal Steelworks, where the trumpeter, the sole survivor of the 36th Marine Brigade's brass band is holed up with two other survivors. While the trumpeter, who really sees herself as a composer, is trapped underground with her companions, she muses on the creation of a symphony of war trying to give artistic expression and, perhaps, even meaning to her horrific experience. The trumpeter's enterprise thus mirrors the play's own meditation on the role of art in the face of the catastrophe of human conflict. Unfortunately, Kristin Milward's performance as the trumpeter seems confined to a single note. Her
Full Details »

Starlight Express ★★★★ Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre | Jun 8, 2024 - Feb 16, 2025

Image
That light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train! Starlight Express rolls onto the stage with an amazing purpose-designed set by Tim Hatley and some absolutely eardrum shattering sound. This revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's train tale, which is acted on roller skates, is bigger and brasher than ever. The hare versus tortoise race story has been tweaked a little from the original, but there was never much narrative depth here and the train engine characters are completely one dimensional. The addition of the Hydra character, as a nod to the greens, doesn't really add much to the classic steam, diesel, electric contest, or to the show's content. However, if one can put such plot and character issues aside and just enjoy the ride, this production proves to be a lot of fun. It is all about the theatrical spectacle! The choreography on skates is extremely clever and Andrzej Goulding's video and Howard Hudson's lighting are simply spellbinding. Gabriella Slade
Full Details »

Hello, Dolly! ★★★★★ The London Palladium | Jul 6 - Sep 14, 2024

Image
Hello, Dolly! is a star vehicle and there have been some great ones who have played this role: Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey and Barbra Streisand among others. With this performance Imelda Staunton takes her well-deserved place in this galaxy. This is a slightly more reflective version of the bold and brassy matchmaker and meddler par excellence , but Staunton pulls out all the stops in the big production numbers, and it is hard not to sing along when the staff at the Harmonium welcome Dolly back to town. Jerry Herman's great score is irresistible and the show just bounces along with one infectious number after another. The gags may be corny and the plot may be thin, but the enthusiasm and energy of the cast make this a totally enjoyable spectacle that provides a completely satisfying evening of entertainment. The story celebrates an indomitable woman who, despite her attachment to her late husband, is determined to re-marry and live life to the fullest. It is relentlessly optimist
Full Details »

Mnemonic ★★★★★ National Theatre | Jun 22 - Aug 10, 2024

Image
You are not likely to forget Mnemonic . This is a brilliantly original show initially produced 25 years ago. Conceived and directed by Simon McBurney and devised by the Complicité theatrical company, this latest version at the National Theatre has been reimagined for 2024, and it brings an interesting perspective to current political issues such as the migrant crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The piece starts with almost a lecture on the nature of memory and then undertakes an interesting audience experiment that tests the capacity for individual recall. It then maps the description of how memory works onto a history of human evolution and a narrative about a broken love affair. We are taken back to the discovery of the iceman, Ötzi, and the irony of national governments arguing over the "ownership" of someone who lived in a pre-nation state world. This is later paralleled by a wonderfully comic moment when members of an international scholarly panel seek to defin
Full Details »

Judy Garland "I’m Still Here" ★★★★★ Ambassadors Theatre | June 30, 2024

Image
To entertain friends and family during the Covid-19 crisis, Debbie Wileman began posting a song a day on Facebook. With her impersonation of stars like Julie Andrews, Billie Holliday and Judy Garland, she soon gained a worldwide following. And, when lockdown ended, she found herself with a career that would take her on an American tour resulting in her winning the BroadwayWorld Award for Best Solo Special Event. This was followed by the release of her tribute album to Garland, “I’m Still Here.” It is an unusual and heartwarming success story which becomes completely understandable when one has the opportunity to see Debbie Wileman in concert, singing not only Garland's greatest hits, but songs which Wileman wished Garland had sung. This is a wonderful stroll down a musical memory lane and also a lovely glimpse into what might have been. The standards like "The Boy Next Door" and "The Man Who Got Away" were done to perfection, but it was also delightful to hear
Full Details »

Summer Exhibition 2024 ★★★★ Royal Academy of Arts | Jun 18 - Aug 18, 2024

Image
With all the rain this year, how does one know if it's finally summer in London? The only reliable harbinger of the season's return, the Royal Academy of Arts' Summer Exhibition, is back in its 256th iteration. With its eclectic variety of offerings, this largest open exhibition in the world never disappoints, and again this year, there is something for everyone. From abstracts like PRA Rebecca Salter's Untitled JF2 (#504) to the wonderful detail of Melissa Scott-Miller's Self-Portrait Drawing Space In An Islington Back Garden (#641) the breadth and variety of the show is quite stunning. The always popular animal prints are represented in the Large Weston Room, and Graeme Miller's cats on scooters definitely trigger a smile (#360 & #365). As usual, the show has a fair amount of humour and RA Chris Orr's Cargo (#662) and Laura Critchlow's Bored of the Patriarchy (Judith and Holofernes) (#958) offer wry takes on current social issues. For more chal
Full Details »

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings