Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, Belgrade, to Nov 9

This uplifting show is packed with great toe-tapping, hand-clapping rock 'n' roll classics and you won't be able to resist singing along. The singing and musicianship are outstanding.

"Spence is a performer who can project and engage. Her accent moves effortlessly from West Midland to West Indian patois...This is theatre at its most intimate and thought-provoking.
Theatre absolute, in other words."

Chess, Abbey Theatre, Nuneaton, to Nov 9

One of the most ambitious musicals ever staged by The Masqueraders Theatrical Society, Chess has a huge cast and an impressive band. Sometimes the stage seems too small for the action - but it all works amazingly well. 

"...a provocative and exhilarating experience, and certainly a triumph for the Talisman."

The play hints on issues such as guilt, racism and sadism and even tries to provoke thought on pro’s and cons of capital punishment. It’s a brave undertaking which is here magnificently realised.

My Beautiful Launderette, Belgrade B2, to Nov 2.

The 1980s film comes to the stage with its tale of unlikely pals coming together to make a struggling launderette a success, but the Thatcherite ideals of the time rub up against the struggles of an immigrant family. Some of the dialogue seems dated but the performances are strong - and the play is darker than the film was.

"...powerful singing voices were a joy to listen to as they sang their way through some classics. The whole cast was excellent and I take my hat off to the ladies dressed in skimpy, black costumes."

A treat of jokes, impersonations, terrible puns, songs, gruesome details, dancing, rapping and a history lesson too!

''But technology aside, the show itself is great family fun, packed full of historical facts punctuated with blood, guts and gore... "

"... forced theatricality occurs because this play relies on telling, not showing. Points are invariably made didactically and sometimes ponderously.''

Photo by Ellie Kurttz (c) RSC

"Contemporary attitudes to conscientious objectors, unwed mothers and homosexual love are explored within the temporal framework of an assured production."

"There is enough humour, dastardly deeds and jump out moments to satisfy any audience..."

"...full of tension and suspense with some very spooky effects including thunder and lightning, hooting owls, screams, moving furniture and books flying off shelves."

"Shane Richie draws a standing ovation with a performance that bleeds pathos and vulnerability and yet still manages to hit the comedy high notes."

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Our young reviewers thought this stage adaption was just the ticket and were won over by the acting, while our more experienced critic put the set design in First Class. 

Dangerous Obsession, Belgrade, Coventry, to Oct 12

Not many positives to report here - a tired and outdated script, very little chemistry between the three actors, slow pace, and a rather anticlimactic conclusion. The play's high points fizzle and die in an instant.

Frankenstein, Belgrade B2, to Oct 12

Don't be put off this production because the tale is familiar. This is a different take on the Mary Shelley story, which puts Shelley herself at the heart of the action. With some excellent performances and elegant and effective staging, this is definitely worth a look.

King John, Swan Theatre, Stratford, to March 21, 2020

Shakespeare's rarely-performed play has a lively first half with elements of farce, but things get much darker. Some scenes are positively chilling. And there's that speech about England being in a mess with the leader being held to legal account. Sounds familiar?

The Lady Vanishes, Belgrade, to Sept 28

This adaptation of the 1938 Hitchcock film captures effectively the atmosphere of a Europe falling under the shadow of the Nazis. It's also stylish, entertaining, funny, pacey, and very well performed. All in all, a highly entertaining evening.

Saturday Night Fever, Belgrade, to Sept 21

With brilliant singing and dancing, excellent sets and costumes and, of course, those unforgettable Bee Gees songs, this is a great night out. We probably all remember the story, but the show is more about the music and energy of the 70s' disco scene - and it will get you up and dancing.

Stardust, Belgrade B2, to Sept 21

This Bollywood musical marks a first for the British stage, dealing as it does with homosexuality in Asian families. As you might expect there are plenty of pulsating dance numbers and emotionally-charged ballads, but it's also thought-provoking. With strong performances all round, it's worth catching.

Absurd Person Singular, Rugby Theatre, Sept 14-21

The writing in this Alan Ayckbourn 70s classic shows its age a bit, but the three couples, three kitchens and three Christmases make for a diverting evening’s entertainment. The performances are excellent, the sets and costumes are spot on, and there are plenty of laughs along the way. Recommended. 

If you enjoy a good spoof that is a delicious cocktail of pantomime, Monty Python, slapstick and ‘Plays that go wrong’, then you are in for a real treat.

Holding the Centre, Belgrade B2, to Sept 7

Some powerful and difficult themes are explored in this tale of the middle class Micaiah who gets involved with gang culture and all the violence that means. The plot risks getting somewhat over-complicated, but it's a thought-provoking and gritty drama.

Holes, Criterion Theatre, Earlsdon, Coventry, to Sept 7

This bleak, black comedy centres on the four people left on earth after a nuclear war. Ironically, they were all colleagues in HR - human resources - which allows for some telling lines about the human condition in general and Englishness in particular. And, just maybe, they can set a new course for the human race.

Sister Act, Albany Theatre, Coventry, to Aug 17

The Wing-it Theatre Company turn in a polished performance of this stage version of the much-loved film musical. It's genuinely joyous - the acting is fantastic, the singing superb, and the jokes faultlessly delivered.

The Thrill of Love, Loft Theatre, to July 27

This powerful play focusing on Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in England, is a superbly staged theatrical equivalent of film noir. It doesn't simply probe the issue of capital punishment. The trial here revolves around nothing less than the conflicts within the human psyche. It's riveting.