George Ormerod as Hamlet. Photo credit @FuzFilms. Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Performed by Tread the Boards at The Attic Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 4 April until 26 April. Directed by John-Robert Partridge. Review by Charles Essex   Usually set designer Adam Clarke intricately arranges the small Attic stage with a wonderful array of props, dividing the space into various ‘rooms’ so it was a surprise to find the stage empty apart from two simple benches and a plain

Eve Hatz as Jesus Christ. Photo by Lucy Barriball. The Mysteries adapted and developed from the Medieval Mystery Cycles, Performed by Playbox Theatre at The Dream Factory, Warwick from 2 to 4 April, today at 2pm and 7pm. Creation and Doomsday Directed by Emily Quash, Passion Directed by Mary King. Review by Ann Evans Incredible! Sensational! Inspirational! I honestly can’t praise this production enough.  With a cast of 60, their ages ranging from around 3 to 18 performed the

Max Cooper. Photo by the artist. Max Cooper 3D/AV Live, Feeling is Structure Album Tour. At Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre on Friday 15 May 2026. New Album out 8 May 2026. Preview Acclaimed electronic artist and multidisciplinary composer Max Cooper will be bringing his 3DAV live album show to some of the most prestigious venues throughout the UK on the back of his London sold out Royal Albert Hall performance - including Coventry's Warwick Arts Centre (15 May 2026) Re

Michael Seeley as Billy, Gill Halford as The Queen Mother. Photo by Rob Warner. Backstairs Billy by Marcelo Dos Santos at The Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth from 13 - 18 April 2026. Directed by Steve Smith. Preview The Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre invites audiences behind the doors of the Queen Mother’s official residence, serving you our newest production Backstairs Billy. Marcelo Dos Santos’ script is brought to life by director Steve Smith in a story of rivalries, affai

James Proctor as Ralph Wantage. Photo Richard Smith Photography. Frozen by Bryony Lavery, at The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa, from 1 - 11 April 2026. Directed by Dave Crossfield. Review by Ann Evans Three talented actors portraying three very diverse characters, set the scene for a story that is every parent’s worst nightmare. The play by Bryony Lavery begins in the 1980s and ends 20 years on. At the start, mother of two young daughters, Nancy Shirley (Cheryl Laverick) is ha

Esther Atkin and Matthew Rutherford, Night Falls. Photo credit Riding Lights Theatre Company. Night Falls. Performed at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 31 March to 1 April 2026 by Riding Lights Theatre Company.  Directed by Paul Birch. Review by Charles Essex.   Although the story is around 2000 years old, Night Falls is a new look at the days leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion written and directed by Paul Birch. Riding Lights did a marvellous job to tour with t

Cat White as Ruby and Martins Imhangbe as Diamond. Photo by Marc Brenner. Driftwood by Martina Laird. At The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, from Friday 17 April to Saturday 30 May 2026. The transferring to Kiln Theatre, London from Wednesday 3 June. Director Justin Audibert. Preview   Rehearsal images have been released for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), in association with Kiln Theatre, for the world premiere of Driftwood, a powerful new play by Martina Laird.   Set

L-R: Hazel Sloan, Aimee Marriott, Alice Guard, Evangeline Parker and Nyasha Usiku. Photo by Archie Parker. The Crucible by Arthur Miller, performed by In The Round Theatre youth group at Rugby Theatre, from 11-18 April. Preview A classic Arthur Miller play highlighting the dangers of polarisation and mass hysteria is next up at Rugby Theatre, performed by talented young actors from local youth group In The Round Theatre. The Crucible is a re-telling of the Salem witch trials

Sharon Sully (Rita) and Stuart Lawson (Frank). Photo by Rach Davis.   Educating Rita by Willy Russell. Performed by the Young Performers Institute at The Dorothea Mitchell Hall, Claverdon. Directed by Pete Davis. Runs until 29 March 2026. Review by Charles Essex.   Willy Russell’s play is well-known and the story set in Liverpool could easily have been marred by mediocre clichéd acting.  Fortunately, director Pete Davis was blessed with terrific performances from the two lead

Jonathan Goodwin. Photo by Bindi Chauli.   The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Anglican Church in London Road Cemetery. Performed by Don't Go Into The Cellar Productions. Friday 27 March 2026. Review by Amanda Burden.   Human duality: the eternal tug-of-war between good and evil, light and dark, restraint and indulgence - the mask of ourselves we present to the world versus the savage brute lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for its chance to wreak havoc.   Admi

Claire and Tim Johnson. Photo courtesy of Consensus Opera. A Ring of Untruths, written and adapted by Tim Johnson, performed by Consensus Opera at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 25 - 27 March 2026. Review by Charles Essex   Following on from Consensus Opera’s 2026 production A Bitter and Twisted Cocktail,  Tim Johnson has written a wonderful thriller using his encyclopaedic knowledge of Gilbert and Sullivan music. The story starts with a lowly detective (Trac

Kenneth Branagh plays Prospero. Photo (C) the artist. The Tempest by William Shakespeare, directed by Richard Eyre, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from Wednesday 13 May – Saturday 20 June. Preview  Full casting is today announced for the RSC’s forthcoming production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, directed by Richard Eyre marking his first time directing in Stratford-upon-Avon following an esteemed career as a director, writer and former Artistic