John Nathan

Latest from John Nathan

Film

The Testament of Ann Lee review: ‘an unexpected use of movement and music’ ★★★★

Brilliant score and choreography breathes life into this haunting tale of vision and faith

1 min read

Suffering and stoicism: Amanda Seyfried (centre) as the late 18th century Shaker evangelist Ann Lee in Mona Fastvold's film

Documenting hate: Ethiopian-Israeli activist Ashager Araro

Our film October 8 was rejected by every major festival

4 min read

Pearl Chanda as Sylvia Gellburg 'ignites the simmering potential' of Broken Glass at the Young Vic

Broken Glass review: There’s an urgency to Arthur Miller’s most explicitly Jewish play today ★★★★

2 min read

Wuthering Heights review: ‘This sex-heavy new interpretation never feels as daring as the old’

1 min read

Dracula review: Cynthia mesmerises but the show lacks real bite ★★★★

The performer’s acting gifts are on full display in this spectacular adaptation of the gothic novel, but the evening never achieves the tension generated by many other West End dabblings in the supernatural

2 min read

February 20, 2026 13:41

Count on me: Cynthia Erivo in Dracula at the Noel Coward Theatre

Here There Are Blueberries review: ‘What makes a Nazi a Nazi?’ ★★★★★

This forensic Pultizer-finalist docu-play settles the question of what allows a person to perpetrate atrocity while enjoying the normal pleasures of life

2 min read

February 17, 2026 17:48

Framed horror: a scene from Here There Are Blueberries (Photo: David Cromer)

What Hitler’s henchmen and women did in their time off

John Nathan meets a writer whose Pulitzer-finalist play, inspired by a Nazi photograph album, is making its UK debut

6 min read

February 12, 2026 13:09

Writing pair: Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich

Hamlet review: ‘watchable but wearying’★★

This bold and radical version of Shakespeare’s most famous play is lost in a south Indian translation

1 min read

February 10, 2026 18:04

Friends with benefits: Morfydd Clark as Ophelia and Riz Ahmed as Hamlet in this London-set version of the play

Arcadia review: ‘gardens, maths and heart in Stoppard’s masterpiece’ ★★★★

This play is proof that the late playwright can make you feel as much as think

1 min read

February 10, 2026 17:54

Stellar performance: Isis Hainsworth as Thomasina in Arcadia at The Old Vic

Send Help review: gruesomely enjoyable modern-day castaway tale ★★★★

The master-slave tables are turned upside down in this tropical island thriller

2 min read

February 4, 2026 15:49

The bully and the bullied: Dylan O'Brien as Brad in Send Help

Guess How Much I Love You?: ‘the acting elevates the writing’ ★★★

The performances in this portrait of a pregnancy in crisis are marvellous. But whether the play reveals anything about love is questionable

1 min read

February 3, 2026 15:38

Masters of their craft: Rosie Sheehy and Robert Aramayo

Mercy review: ‘less high-tech whodunnit and more Paw Patrol’ ★★

This thriller about AI wants to be taken seriously, but it’s too short on class for that

1 min read

January 30, 2026 13:45

Chris Pratt (right) plays a cop called...Chris (Credit: Justin Lubin)

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: ‘a knuckle-whitening climax to the trilogy’ ★★★★

The series has always had a higher IQ than most other horror franchises, and this instalment is no exception

1 min read

January 30, 2026 09:25

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: ‘a knuckle-whitening climax to the trilogy’ ★★★★

Challah, humour, the Holocaust and me

John Nathan meets a writer-performer whose latest show is inspired by her encounters with Leonard Bernstein, Leonard Cohen – and being the daughter of a Shoah survivor

4 min read

January 20, 2026 18:07

Hamnet review: ‘needs a middle ground between modern and Elizabethan English’ ★★★

The film’s climax is stunning, but producers Steven Spielberg and especially Sam Mendes have directed enough Shakespeare on stage to make the archaic language accessible to a contemporary audience

2 min read

January 12, 2026 13:14

Grieving process: Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare (centre) in Hamnet

Woman in Mind review: Sheridan Smith sparkles in Alan Ayckbourn’s dark comedy ★★★★★

The actor will surely be in line for an umpteenth Olivier nomination for her quicksilver performance of Susan and her disintegrating mind

1 min read

January 11, 2026 21:11

Mad release: Sheridan Smith and Sule Rimi as Susan and Andy (Photo: Marc Brenner)

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John Nathan

Latest from John Nathan

The Testament of Ann Lee review: ‘an unexpected use of movement and music’ ★★★★

Our film October 8 was rejected by every major festival

Broken Glass review: There’s an urgency to Arthur Miller’s most explicitly Jewish play today ★★★★

Wuthering Heights review: ‘This sex-heavy new interpretation never feels as daring as the old’

More from John Nathan

Dracula review: Cynthia mesmerises but the show lacks real bite ★★★★

Here There Are Blueberries review: ‘What makes a Nazi a Nazi?’ ★★★★★

What Hitler’s henchmen and women did in their time off

Hamlet review: ‘watchable but wearying’★★

Arcadia review: ‘gardens, maths and heart in Stoppard’s masterpiece’ ★★★★

Send Help review: gruesomely enjoyable modern-day castaway tale ★★★★

Guess How Much I Love You?: ‘the acting elevates the writing’ ★★★

Mercy review: ‘less high-tech whodunnit and more Paw Patrol’ ★★

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: ‘a knuckle-whitening climax to the trilogy’ ★★★★

Challah, humour, the Holocaust and me

Hamnet review: ‘needs a middle ground between modern and Elizabethan English’ ★★★

Woman in Mind review: Sheridan Smith sparkles in Alan Ayckbourn’s dark comedy ★★★★★