John Nathan

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2024 in review: theatre

This year Patrick Marber directed The Producers, Nachtland and What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank. Were there a Theatre Practitioner of the Year award, it would have his name on it

2 min read

Goldie Frocks and Bear Mitzvah review: ‘this homage to the shmatte trade needs a slight trim’

1 min read

The Producers review: ‘an edgy revival with a heimishe soul’

2 min read

Rumours review: Cate Blanchett and Charles Dance in G7 satire

World leaders take on zombies and a giant brain in this genre-defying film

1 min read

December 11, 2024 17:44

World leaders gather: Cate Blanchett (centre) and Charles Dance (left)

Ballet Shoes review: ‘everything a family show should be’

The first major stage adaptation of Noel Streatfeild’s children’s classic is superb

1 min read

December 11, 2024 17:34

Sisters in arms: Yanexi Enriquez (left), Grace Saif (centre) and Daisy Saquerra Photo: Manuel Harlan

‘I’ve entered the Jewish stage of my career’

Until he played a Chasidic Jew in What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank this year, Simon Yadoo, 45, had never had a Jewish role. Now he’s treading the boards in the Jewish panto Goldie Frocks and the Bear Mitzvah too

4 min read

December 10, 2024 15:35

Wicked: Simon Yadoo as the villain Calvin Brine in Jewish panto Goldie Frocks and the Bear Mitzvah at JW3 Photo: Eamonn B Shanahan

Nightbitch review: ‘it’s a film for mums’

Bullied by a two-year-old’s tears, a woman’s fire extinguished in a pool of wee-wee and need, there is a kind of catharsis in this tale about the spirit-sapping reality of bringing up children

1 min read

December 5, 2024 14:12

Catharsis: Scoot McMairy and Amy Adams in Nightbitch

The Devil Wears Prada review: ‘style over substance’

The outfits might be amazing, but this devil is wearing the emperor’s clothes

1 min read

December 3, 2024 17:31

The cast of the Devils Wears Prada Photo: Matt Rockett

The Happiest Man On Earth review: ‘epic yet intimate’

Performed with zest and humility, this one-man play shows the world what the world genocide actually means

1 min read

November 27, 2024 17:04

Kenneth Tigar plays Eddie Jaku in The Happiest Man On Earth Photo: Daniel Rader

Wicked review: ‘it’s a Grande entrance’

Pop star Ariana Grande’s narcissistic Galinda turns spoilt vacuity into art

2 min read

November 27, 2024 16:54

Suppressed friendship: Ariana Grande as Galinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba

Barcelona review: ‘Lily Collins has the acting chops to fill a stage’

The Emily in Paris star acquits herself well in her stage debut

1 min read

November 21, 2024 12:13

On the verge: Álvaro Morte and Lily Collins as Manuel and Irene in Barcelona Photo: Marc Brenner

Gladiator II review: ‘a swashbuckler that slays expectations’

Ridley Scott’s sequel is not the Hollywood boot-filling exercise you might expect

1 min read

November 12, 2024 17:33

Spitting blood: Paul Mescor as Lucius and (right) Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button review: ‘nothing else like it in the West End’

This musical adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s short story is right on the button

1 min read

November 12, 2024 17:21

Terrific: the cast on stage at Ambassadors Theatre

Anora review: ‘Romeo and Juliet with more sex and drugs’

This delve into the underbelly of Manhattan sex clubs and Brooklyn’s Russian émigré community has been compared to ‘Pretty Woman’, but it’s better than that

1 min read

November 8, 2024 14:30