Articles by Katerina Partolina Schwartz

Iain Stirling - Relevant

Iain Stirling's Relevant is undeniable proof of not only of his talent as a comedian and ability to entertain across generations, but also the level of his comedic reflexes, in…

The House with the Chicken Legs

There’s a famous quote by Winston Churchill that says that Russia “is a riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped in an enigma”.

Iliza Shlesinger - Hard Feelngs Tour

Hard Feelings is no ordinary stand-up hour, but then Iliza Shlesinger is no ordinary comedian.

The Time Machine

Time travel as a sci-fi trope is fascinating and presents us with endless possibilities and frontiers.

Peter Pan Goes Wrong

Mischief Theatre is back again with Peter Pan Goes Wrong, an effortlessly hilarious show where magic and mayhem coexist.

A Teacher's Lament

A Teacher’s Lament is not the revolutionary political statement that we would expect a show of this nature to be.

Irrepressible

Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Carrie Penn and Toby Huelin’s Irrepressible, whilst a compelling story seems to rehash old messages without leaving us with a sense that we should do somet…

Julius Caesar Must Die

Julius Caesar Must Die is a little misleading, as initially it appears to be an absurdist original dramatisation of the assassination of Julius Caesar.

how to live a jellicle life: life lessons from the 2019 hit musical 'cats'

How to live a jellicle life: life lessons from the 2019 hit musical ‘cats’ is as bonkers as it sounds, whilst still adding to the philosophical debate on how to live a good lif…

Come Die with Me: The Murder Mystery Musical Parody

Review
★★★
Katerina Partolina Schwartz
Edinburgh Fringe
Just the Tonic at The Grassmarket Centre
23rd Aug, 2023

It’s Come Dine With Me with a twist, and that twist is murder because apparently that’s what it takes to spice up a dinner party these days.

Without

Ben Tomalin, Maisie Fawcett and Sophie Holmes’ Without is an interesting contender at this year’s Fringe Festival in that it has a very strong cast that handles an equally stro…

What If They Ate The Baby?

There’s something really unsettling about 1950s suburbia, and What If They Ate The Baby? really taps into that feeling as it plunges deeply into the aesthetic of a stereotypical …

The Stall

The Stall by Jack Twelvetree is an abstract show that uses a childhood memory of flying as an extended metaphor to explore grief, loss, regret and mental health.

Palindrome: The Musical

Palindrome is Cambridge University Musical Theatres Society’s latest Edinburgh Fringe offering.

The Signalman

Based on the short story by Charles Dickens, Unexpected Places Ensemble’s adaptation of The Signalman is a creative if confusing adaptation as the creative team tries to create a…

Helen Bauer: Grand Supreme Darling Princess

Throwing the gauntlet down and challenging dominant narratives on women’s need to be vulnerable to be loved, Helen Bauer’s Grand Supreme Darling Princess is an incredibly empow…

Les Millénniables

A classic story for a modern age, Les Millénniables is a self-aware and uniting musical, because it satirizes the generational divide, and understands its own ridiculous nature.

Winging It

Lydia Whitbread’s Winging It is a vague yet very intense coming of age musical.

Rhys James: Spilt Milk

No use crying over spilt milk is a very commonly used proverb, and its familiarity and any possible connection to it is at the forefront of our minds as we watch this show.

Atalanta

Expecting a retelling of the Greek myth, the office set is initially a little confusing.

Ed Patrick: Catch Your Breath

Ed Patrick starts his show Catch Your Breath with a simple, “I’m a doctor, so I’m running late,” a rather light-hearted, if telling, joke that puts us at ease with its self…

The Dead of Night

Dead of Night by Hurly Burly is a traipse through gothic romantic literature in an exploration of the nature of humanity and monsters.

Death by Shakespeare

Hurly Burly’s Death by Shakespeare is a stylised ode to Shakespeare, that lifts and showcases his best-known characters in a tumultuous yet entrancing way.

Alice in Wonderland Musical

Lewis Carroll is turning in his grave at Tim Nelson’s Alice in Wonderland.

Ivo Graham: Organised Fun

Organised fun is one of those phrases that can evoke different emotional responses from people.

Pandemonium – The Musical

Written and composed by Bethany, Cameron and Natasha Lythgoe, Pandemonium is a biblical musical of mundane proportions built upon a confusing amalgamation and re-telling of stories…

David McIver: Small Boy Trapped in a Wellness Retreat

It is genuinely difficult to keep track of all the wellness tips that you’re supposed to follow to have a healthy body and mind.

Patrick Spicer: Yes Haha What

The room in the Brewdog Doghouse that Patrick Spicer occupies brings with it an air of informality that helps to set the tone for Spicer’s Yes Haha What.

Eddy Hare: Leave It With Me

Eddy Hare’s Leave It With Me is a great example of his dead-pan humour, flair for musical comedy, and joke writing ability.

How to Survive and Thrive in an Impossible World – With a Piano!

How To Survive and Thrive in an Impossible World – With a Piano! is a self-help, group-therapy show that really doesn’t tell us anything that we haven’t seen before.

Antonio!

Our first impression when seeing Antonio! is that it’s chaotic and hedonistic, a impression that is quickly proven to be correct, but in a gloriously celebratory way.

I Killed My Ex

Boasting the tagline, “who hasn’t thought about killing an ex?”, Emilie Biason’s I Killed My Ex shows us about the practical difficulties involved in such an endeavor.

Dead Man's Suitcase

The title, Dead Man’s Suitcase, doesn’t give much away and even at the end it’s a little unclear what the message of Felix Westcott’s musical is supposed to be.

Colleen Lavin: Do the Robots Think I'm Funny?

Whilst Colleen Lavin’s Do The Robots Think I'm Funny? is an interesting experiment and indicative of our fascination with AI, it’s not a particularly well-structured or fun…

Hysterical Artefacts

With so many improv troupes at the Edinburgh Fringe, it’s difficult to set yourself apart especially when you’re competing with the likes of Austentatious and Showstoppers!.

Certain Death and Other Considerations

Certain Death and Other Considerations is a poor execution of an interesting premise.

Godfather Death: A Grimm's Musical

Based on one of Grimm’s lesser known fairytales, Godfather Death is a hidden gem and a must-see this Fringe.

Thor Stenhaug: Grateful for the Opportunity

Thor Stenhaug’s Grateful For The Opportunity is a brief overview of his life in Norway and the United Kingdom as he comments on his relationships and the culture shock that he ha…

Sasha Ellen: When Life Gives You Ellens Make Ellenade

“The primary school teacher vibes don’t end here,” Sasha Ellen jokes lightheartedly at the start of When Life Gives You Ellens, Make Ellenade.

Jacob Storms' Tennessee Rising: The Dawn of Tennessee Williams

We all know Tennessee Williams the playwright, but the man behind the plays has faded somewhat into the background.

Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time

Ed Byrne breaks the five-star rating system to the point where multiples of stars could be added to this review and it will still not be close enough to what he deserves for this s…

Yippee Ki Yay the Die Hard Parody

Die Hard has long been a pop culture and Christmas movie stalwart, garnering a large swath of fans across generations.

Emotionally Unreasonable

Review
★★★★
Katerina Partolina Schwartz
Edinburgh Fringe
Laughing Horse @ Eastside / Laughing Horse @ Home Bar
29th Aug, 2023

Maria DeCotis’ Emotionally Unreasonable is a mildly funny stand-up routine that breaks every so often into really sophisticated pieces of musical comedy that quickly become a tru…

Chelsea Hart – Damet Garm: How I Joined a Revolution

Chelsea Hart’s Damet Garm: How I Joined A Revolution is a relaxed and measured show, that is quite restrained in the anger that underwrites it.

Milo Edwards: Sentimental

Milo Edwards' comedy is a little like marmalade, but love it or hate it, he is nevertheless a great comedian.

Amy Matthews: I Feel Like I'm Made of Spiders

Amy Matthews’ I Feel Like I’m Made of Spiders is a stand-up comedy with an edge.

Daniel Foxx: Villain

The simple ‘good vs bad’ narrative is present in just about every aspect of our culture and society.

Louise Atkinson: Mates

It’s very common to leave a comedy show with a new perspective or having learnt something.

Chris Forbes: Court Jester

The Hive is not the most pleasant venue to endure during a Fringe show.

Actually, Love

Goya Theatre’s new musical Actually, Love manages to find the sweet spot between being softly tender and incredibly rousing, as it pokes fun at and dismantles various rom-com tro…

Lulu Popplewell: Actually, Actually

Whenever I feel down about the state of the world, I think of the shows in the Bunker at the Pleasance Courtyard, in particular Lulu Popplewell's show Actually, Actually.

Pierre Novellie: Why Are You Laughing?

Tired of explaining his nationality to a crowd, Pierre Novellie has filled his new hour Why Are You Laughing? with a discussion on topics as distinct and unconnected as British dri…

God Catcher

Greek myths have been told and retold, lost, translated and re-translated over and over.

The Disney Delusion

The Disney Delusion is an off-beat stand-up hour from Leif Oleson-Cormack about a less than magical trip to Disneyland, that explores identity, the nature of love and parasocial re…

Potty the Plant

Answering the question, “what if Avenue Q took place in a hospital?” Potty The Plant is a dark, tongue in cheek, comedic musical that subverts our expectations time and time ag…

Simon Brodkin: Xavier

Simon Brodkin’s Xavier follows the rule that you should never judge a book by its cover.

Celya AB: Second Rodeo

Celya AB’s Second Rodeo is a patchwork quilt of jokes, as she moves on from the subject of hating on England - although since we’re in Scotland, such jokes are more than welcom…

Mark Watson: Search

Mark Watson is a stalwart at the Edinburgh Fringe with his casual style and observationist humour and anecdotes that lead us down convoluted paths of thinking.

Elf and Duffy: Heist

When we hear the word ‘heist’, our mind jumps to high tech gadgets, corporate espionage and John Rogers.

Mr & Mrs Love

Mr and Mrs Love is a jukebox-esque musical that would work a lot better if it relied more on the strength of its actors as singers rather than force a plot on them.

Crizards: This Means War

The discussion around war - especially the two world wars - is usually a very difficult and serious subject.

Tartan Tabletop in a Dungeons & Dragons Comedy: The Never-Ending Quest (Ends Aug 27th)

Tartan Tabletop: The Neverending Quest is not your average improv show.

Ted Hill: Tries and Fails to Fix Climate Change

Oftentimes when you go to a stand-up show, a comedian will attempt or fix or comment on a problem in the world, at least by providing a series of observations that you can’t real…

Ania Magliano: I Can't Believe You've Done This

Who amongst us hasn’t uttered the phrase, “I can’t believe you’ve done this!?” whilst laughing with a friend over a particularly embarrassing story.

Four Felons and a Funeral

Whatever you may think Four Felons and a Funeral is going to be when booking the ticket, I can guarantee that it is wildly different than what happens onstage.

John Tothill: The Last Living Libertine

The Last Living Libertine is the debut hour from John Tothill as he tries to dissect our attitude to life and prove that techno music is the true expression of human spirit and the…

Crash and Burns: A New Comedy

The holiday meal gone wrong is a classic sitcom episode and genre of comedy, as surprise revelations and drama abound.

Matty Hutson: Don't Hold Back

Musical comedy is a difficult genre of comedy to do well, not only because of the addition of an instrument, but the fact that the jokes have to be succinct and the comedian themse…

Choo Choo! (Or... Have You Ever Thought About ** *? (Cos I Have))

CHOO CHOO! (Or.

Rob Auton: The Rob Auton Show

The Rob Auton Show is unlike any other stand-up comedy show in existence.

Micky Overman: The Precipice

Micky Overman’s The Precipice is an in-depth look into the concept of motherhood and the role a mother plays in society, and pursues this subject with carefully structured jokes …

Olga Koch: Prawn Cocktail

Every time I leave one of Olga Koch’s shows, my notes are filled with snippets of advice or wisdom that she imparts in the guise of a comedy hour.

Tom Ballard: It is I

Tom Ballard’s It Is I is a bubbly and smugly riotous hour full of puns and political commentary.

Vittorio Angelone: Who Do You Think You Are? I Am!

The guy is back in Vittorio Angelone’s Who Am I? I Am!; an in depth exploration of self-identity and perception, whilst being cautiously celebratory in its ownership.

Dan Tiernan: Going Under

Watching Dan Tiernan’s Going Under taught me the distinct difference when reviewing comedy between using language like ‘laugh out loud’ or ‘hysterical’ and laughing so mu…

Priya Hall: Grandmother’s Daughter

There is just something so wholesome about Priya Hall’s Grandmother’s Daughter.

The SpongeBob Musical

Who lives in a pineapple on a tour of the UK? Well it’s Nickelodeon’s The SpongeBob Musical based on the cartoon series by Stephen Hillenberg.

Sam See: Government Approved Sex

Relationships, and break-ups in particular, are a common focus for stand-up.

Disruption

A few hours before I was meant to see Andrew Stein’s Disruption, the New York Times posted an article about how the Biden administration is relying on AI companies to self-regula…

The Tempest

Unicorn theatre’s reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Tempest shows the story in a new light.

Some Enchanted Evening with Alissa Finn

From the outset the jazz club on the top floor of Toulouse Lautrec appears to have a cosy rustic atmosphere, like one that we'd associate with a gazebo.

Crazy For You

This revival of Ken Ludwig’s celebration of George and Ira Gershwin’s music takes us on a full-throttle ride through American classics and culture, brightening up the stage …

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory – The Musical

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of Roald Dahl’s best known books, which is why the expectations are high for James Brining’s tour.

Scouts! The Musical

The Scouting movement is an established and respected institution, that hangs on the edge of our cultural understanding, even if we were never a Scout ourselves.

Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written

The myth of Robin Hood has been told and re-told through the centuries, and in the oral tradition, each storyteller has put their own spin on the tale.

Spy For Spy

In the past, I have often commented on the limiting factor of static shows that give the appearance of sit-coms - where two characters just sit and tell us what's happening, an…

Julie: the Musical

Five microphones and music stands, a coat rack and assorted instruments.

BOUM! C'est Chantastique

Across the street from Moulin Rouge lies a slice of understated elegance that is Brasserie Zedel.

Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical

Comedy is very subjective, and despite reviewing predominantly Birtish comedians who occasionally test the limits of my sensibilities, I have never felt particularly excluded by B…

Gypsy

The stage at the Mill at Sonning is transformed into a cosy vaudeville theatre with Jospeph Pitcher’s Gypsy.

Lovefool

Written and directed by Gintare Parulyte, Lovefool is certainly unmissable.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is frankly remarkable.

Groundhog Day

From the outset, Danny Rubin and Tim Minchin’s Groundhog Day appears to be part of the trend to turn classic films into musicals.

Phil Wang: Wang in There, Baby!

Whatever you think Phil Wang’s Wang In There, Baby! Is going to be like, the reality of the show far surpasses it.

Once On This Island

Directed by Ola Ince, Once On This Island has all the hallmarks of a myth; the gods meddling in human life, a quest with high stakes, and a chosen one going on a journey.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Review
★★★
Katerina Partolina Schwartz
London Fringe
Southwark Playhouse Theatre Company Ltd.
18th May, 2023

Georgie Rankcom’s adaptation of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a colourful comedy that laughs at corporate culture and business stereotypes.

Schalk Bezuidenhout: I'll Make Laugh To You

In Schalk Bezuidenhout’s I’ll Make Laugh To You, the fun and games start before the show does, introducing us to his subtley pointed sarcasm before launching in a self-deprecat…

Nul Points

This show deserves as many points as its title says.

TONY! [The Tony Blair Rock Opera]

Whether you remember Tony Blair becuase of the international laws he broke or the fact that he made fox-hunting illegal, TONY! is a raucous, cartoonish musical.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

It’s not every day that you see your imagination augmented by the stage adaptation of a book.

Private Lives

In Michael Longhurst’s adaptation of Private Lives, you can really see why Noël Coward’s work receives such acclaim to the point of being replicated in TV shows like Frasier.

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical

Two main questions flit through your mind as you watch SpitLip’s Operation Mincemeat - firstly ‘God it’s brilliant,’ followed quickly by, ‘how are they allowed to do that…

Galaxy Train

Galaxy Train is a new musical with music, lyrics and book by Eden Tredwell and direction by Yojiro Ichikawa.

Rosie Holt: The Woman’s Hour

Rosie Holt’s The Woman’s Hour is a satirical amalgamation of characters that provides a commentary on British politics.

Villain, Interrupted

The very best shows always leave you either unsettled or with an inexplicable high that lasts until you fully process what you saw onstage.

Hay Fever

Noël Coward’s Hay Fever is largely considered to be a masterpiece, the height of comedy.

Bonnie & Clyde

After a strong run at the Arts Theatre last year, the hellraisers are back in Nick Winston’s Bonnie and Clyde as it finally finds a home in the West End at the Garrick Theate.

Grace Campbell: A Show About Me(n)

Review
★★★★
Katerina Partolina Schwartz
West End
Alexandra Palace / Leicester Square Theatre
14th Mar, 2023

Grace Campbell has been called a multitude of things, but after her most recent comedy set A Show About Me(n) she can add electrifying, iconic and all around spectacular to the lis…

Pierre Novellie: Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things?

Writing a positive review is quite difficult without using hyperbole, and in the spirit of Pierre Novellie’s Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things, it is prudent to at least attempt to…

Notre Dame

Stuart Crowther’s adaptation of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame is proof that streamed performances can bring the magic of theatre and then some into our homes, diffe…

Pick n Mix

Have you ever got that feeling of frustration when watching a TV show or a play, when the characters make bad decisions or could resolve their problems if they just talked to each …

We’ll Always Have Paris

The Mill at Sonning is a quaint venue that provides all the amenities for a great theatre trip.

And Then the Rodeo Burned Down

Russian Doll meets clowns in And Then the Rodeo Burned Down, a circular metaphysical piece that combines elements of dance, comedy and mystery to form a labyrinth equivalent of a s…

George Takei's Allegiance

There are many stories that are lost or hidden from view, and George Takei’s Allegiance takes one of the shameful moments in American history - the incarceration of Japanese-Amer…

Mother Goose - Duke of York's Theatre

Cal McCrystal’s Mother Goose is a self-described silly, fun show with an underlying commentary of failed economic policies that live up to that promise.

Erika Ehler: Femcel

In one word, Erika Ehler: Femcel is unexpected.

Lauren Pattison: It Is What It Is

Everybody loves a comeback story, and Lauren Pattison’s It Is What It Is, is an up-beat in-depth look at the ups and downs of life.

Fin Taylor: Daddy Self-Care

Fin Taylor is not afraid to speak his mind, and his recent set Daddy Self-Care is proof of that.

Newsies

Carrying the banner call of Strike!, Alan Menken and Jack Feldman’s Newsies becomes the call to action that we need to hear.

The Rocky Horror Show

In this science fiction double feature, Christopher Luscombe’s adaptation of Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show is a fun, mischievous celebration of the cult classic.

The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary!

Everything about John Nicholson’s adaptation of Gustave Flaubert’s The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary! at Jermyn Street Theatre has an element of irony to it, but whether tha…

Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story

The royal affair that is Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, is the most unhinged piece of theatre in existence.

Grease the Musical

From hand-jiving to slicked hair, Nikolai Foster’s Grease at the Dominion Theatre is a sprint down memory lane with extra twists.

From Here To Eternity

Whilst the boys of G Company may be experiencing monotony in Hawaii, this word cannot be applied to the long-anticipated revival of Tim Rice’s and Stuart Brayson’s From Here to…

Elf Lyons; Raven

Mundane is not a word that could be used to describe Elf Lyons’ Raven.

Tammy Faye

With music and lyrics by Elton John and Jake Shears, Tammy Faye is as iconic as the woman it is about.

Mark Watson: This Can't Be It

Mark Watson is one of those people who you stop and listen to when they start speaking, whether it is from the middle of an audience, or from a stage.

Christian Brighty: Playboy

As far as shows set during the Regency era go, Christian Brighty’s Playboy is not only the most ambitious, but also the best representation of dramas set in this period.

The Canterville Ghost

Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell’s adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost gives little away to begin with, making it difficult to know what to expect.

But I’m A Cheerleader

Whilst productions do as much as they can to immerse audiences in the aesthetic of shows from the start, nothing can compare to the auditory and visual sensation of pastel that kic…

Last Sales Conference Of The Apocalypse

Mixing survivalism with psychoanalysis, Dave Bain’s Last Sales Conference of the Apocalypse is a fractured and confused trip that leaves us with more questions than answers.

The Caucasian Chalk Circle

The proverb blood is thicker than water is often used to prioritise family bonds over all else.

Helen Bauer: Madam Good Tit

Helen Bauer’s Madam Good Tit is a not-so-wholesome coming-of-age set that provides a deep dive into everything from Bauer’s various high school personalities to deeply problema…

Rhys Nicholson - Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!

Rhys Nicholson must have been pushing down the material in Rhys! Rhys! Rhys! for a long time, for this show is certainly a diamond.

Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Like most dystopian stories, Simon Perrott’s Everybody Wants to Rule the World has a basis in reality which forces us to reflect on the issues of today.

Help! We Are Still Alive

There’s an upbeat charm that hangs over Grey Area Theatre’s Help! We Are Still Alive.

Antigone

It’s a classic David and Goliath, if by the end, rooting for Goliath seemed like a reasonable thing to do.

Rehab: The Musical

Grant Black and Murray Lachlan Young’s Rehab is an entertaining musical that is full of potential.

Javelin

Taking self-deprecating humour to another level, Tom Walker’s Javelin is a rather eclectic series of observations and character-based narratives, through which runs a relatively …

Ride

Few will perhaps have heard of Annie Londonderry, but after seeing Freya Catrin Smith and Jack Williams’ Ride, it will be practically impossible to forget the name.

Persephone

Wow, just wow.

Diva Live from Hell!

Damnation has never been so fun in Joe McNeice’s adaptation of Diva: Live from Hell.

Ghost Quartet by Dave Malloy

Smashing Cabinets Theatre’s adaptation of Dave Malloy’s Ghost Quartet is ghost-like and haunting, confusing at times, but generally falls somewhere between the mysteriousness o…

Sarah Sherman

Hailing all the way from the bright lights of New York, Sarah Sherman’s self-described horror comedy show - with the emphasis on the horror - is incredibly ghastly and overly gra…

A Wilde Life

Chevron Theatre’s A Wilde Life is absolutely hypnotic, hinting at a time of debauchery and a glamour that has long since passed.

Beautiful Nothing

All that glitters is not gold, a message that is incredibly clear in Em Oliver’s Beautiful Nothing.

Artorigus

There is a distinctly medieval feel to Ross Stephenson’s Artorigus from the start, despite its modern trappings.

Cruise

Electric, animated, compelling.

Splinters

Judy Seall’s Splinters is a strangely warm gothic Victorian tale, a warmth that emanates from the bonds between the members of the cast.

Starship Improvise

Combining the improvisation talents of Mischief Comedy, Austentatious, and Showstopper!, Starship Improvise is a blast out of this world, filled with moments of hilarity and creati…

A Eulogy for Roman

Death is sad enough, but growing up seems worse.

Flesh

Whilst it may be apt to stage John Montgomery and Derek Batchelor’s Flesh - a musical about Burke and Hare - at Surgeon’s Hall, the novelty stops there.

A Highly Suspect Murder Mystery

A Highly Suspect Murder Mystery is an interactive Shakespeare-based whodunnit where the audience (with help from the cast) is tasked with solving the murder.

Double Crossed

Whilst mildly fun, it is odd in this day and age to have any form of pro-police art.

Sylus 2024!

Jeff Ahern’s presidential campaign based on audience suggestions brings an insightful look at the current state of political affairs.

52 Souls

Chronic Insanity’s 52 Souls is a series of monologues that correspond to each indiviudal playing card (plus one Joker) along the subject of death and mortality, all in an hour.

Living with Sin

Turning what we know about morality on its head, Gabrielle James and Joshua Newman’s Living With Sin is an interesting twist on the traditionally 'evil' seven deadly sins…

Don't Say Macbeth

GOYA Theatre Company’s Don’t Say Macbeth is a fast-paced show filled with well-balanced satire that pokes fun at and spoofs the theatre and musical industry.

The Single Lady

Lauren Brewer and Will Geraint Drake’s The Single Lady is a musical extravaganza, giving Elizabeth I the same treatment that Hamilton did to the Founding Fathers.

Cherub Spring: A Political Satire

Children, especially toddlers are known to be tyrants.

Hannah Fairweather: Just a Normal Girl Who Enjoys Revenge

Review
★★★★
Katerina Partolina Schwartz
Edinburgh Fringe
Just The Tonic at the Caves / The Pleasance Theatre Trust
9th Nov, 2022

From exes to golf coaches, Just a Normal Girl Who Enjoys Revenge is an eloquent, biting and well-structured analysis of situations when Hannah Fairweather was right and when she wa…

Foundations

Unassuming at the start, A V Brodrenkova and Aimee Dickinson’s Foundations quickly breaks all boundaries and assumptions.

Ted Hill: All the Presidents Man

Ted Hill is incredibly brave for putting on his show, All The Presidents Man, which in itself is a very clever title.

Yellow Bird Chase

Jason Slavick’s Yellow Bird Chase shows us that the best children’s shows have something for everyone, whether it is the gibberish of the language, the compelling storyline or …

Garry Starr: Greece Lightning

Despite the hyper atmosphere and start of Garry Starr’s Greece Lightning, there is something vaguely unsettling about the manic nature of the way that Starr approaches this show.

Catherine Bohart: This Isn't For You

Despite what Catherine Bohart tells us in This Isn’t For You, she is more emotionally articulate than she gives herself credit for.

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World

Chris Bush, Miranda Cooper and Jennifer Decilveo’s Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is in one word, a celebration.

Milo Edwards: Voicemail

Filled with classically and subtly nihilistic British humour, Milo Edwards’ Voicemail is full of intelligent and thought provoking commentary that turns Mash House into a safe sp…

Bloody Mary: Live!

Forget everything you may know about Bloody Mary; the cocktail, the game, the queen who burned Protestants at the stake.

Anything Goes

It’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s de-lovely - it’s the Great Depression as you don’t know it, full of the glitz, glamour and luxury of old Broadway.

Sarah Keyworth: Lost Boy

Sarah Keyworth’s Lost Boy is very difficult to fully describe.

RuneSical

From Gigglemug comedy duo Sam Cochrane and Alex Prescot, Runesical is an amusing, action packed quest based on the role-palying game Runescape.

The Song of Fergus and Kate

Filled with the charm of a children’s cartoon, The Song of Fergus and Kate is a quaint story about friendship and embracing differences that any child would find fascinating.

Americana: A Murder Ballad

We are told from the start that America’s history is one of violence, and of wars.

Charlie Russell Aims to Please

As the title Charlie Russell Aims to Please suggests, the entire show is an amalgamation of various theatre techniques from musical to slapstick to the dramatic in Russell’s atte…

Spoons

Brenda (Jacqueline King), a marriage counsellor, is faced with multiple challenges.

Crizards: Cowboys

Don’t be fooled by the singing cowboys, this is an incredibly serious play, if only for the fact that the pair of Will Rowland and Eddy Hare have clearly done their research for …

Ivo Graham: My Future, My Clutter

Too young to be yelling at clouds, Ivo Graham decides to talk loudly at us over the course of an hour instead.

Project Dictator

Rhum and Clay's Project Dictator is a commentary on democracy and dictatorships, utilising different theatre genres to do so.

Mischief Movie Night

"What happens when you combine holy water and squash? Capers," Jonathan Sayer promises us during Mischief Comedy's Mischief Movie Night.

Boris the Third

‘They all knew the person I was when they gave me the part,’ Harry Kershaw complains, words that ring hollow and true, in a prophetic sort of manner, a common feeling that we …

Angela Barnes: Hot Mess

There is something comforting about Angela Barnes’ Hot Mess.

Maisie Adam: Buzzed

Maisie Adam is Buzzed about a lot of things, and it is a nice change of pace to hear how things are going well for a comedian.

Olga Koch: Just Friends

Olga Koch is winning at life and she wants us to know it.

Alex Kealy: Winner Takes All

Braving the smells and humidity of the Niddry Street Hive, Alex Kealy’s The Winner Takes All explains the inner workings and purpose of Silicon Valley and tech monopolies better …

Yeast Nation

Some of our most recent experiences of yeast will most likely come from our own fervent lockdown breadmaking.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Whether it was the book or movie, C.

The Woman Who Amuses Herself

There is an unspoken cardinal rule that life tends to imitate art.

Millenials

Don’t be fooled by the pink, as the aesthetic over comfort of Elliot Clay’s Millennials is the celebration that this generation not only deserves but needs.

Sh!t-faced Shakespeare®: Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare has been kind enough to leave behind a plethora of quotes about drinking.

A-Typical Rainbow

‘Who had a better ending, Peter or Wendy?’ This is a question JJ Green invites us to ponder in A-Typical Rainbow, a powerful story about a boy growing up with autism and how it…

The Seagull

Review
★★★
Katerina Partolina Schwartz
West End
Harold Pinter Theatre / The Harold Pinter Theatre
13th Jul, 2022

Stripping back any recognisable aspect of Russian culture, Jamie Lloyd’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull presents the bare minimum of what theatre can be: a group of …

Private Peaceful

Michael Morpugo’s stories about the world wars have for a long time been the gold-standard for children’s books.

Red Pill

If schools want a ‘Keeping Yourself Safe’ presentation on incel culture, then they won’t have to look further than Sam Went’s Red Pill.

Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch

Provocative, crude and iconic, Fat Rascal Theatre’s production of Unfortunate is nothing short of a showstopper.

The Glass Menagerie

‘The play is memory’.

Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, tucked away under the arches of Waterloo at the Network Theatre, is an incredibly feminist play.

Ordinary Days

Julie Atherton’s production of Ordinary Days at the Cockpit is a work of art.

Lift

A quintessentially London musical by Craig Adams and Ian Watson, with new arrangements by Sam Young, Dean Johnson’s Lift at the Southwark Playhouse is a complex musical experien…

For You I'd Wait

One of the best things about theatre, and art in general, is the space it creates for difficult conversations and analysis.

American Idiot

An odd combination of nostalgia and existentialism, American Idiot continues to remain incredibly current.

Abigail

Most of us will be familiar with Arthur Miller’s character Abigail; the seductress who caught John Proctor’s eye and led a group of girls that sent innocent women to their demi…

Shake the City

If we ever needed more proof as to why second wave or white feminism should no longer be considered relevant, here it is.

Sidney Fox's Crime

There are a few infinite things in the universe: greed, love and the elite’s ability and desire to protect the status quo.

Bonnie and Clyde

Having a gun - albeit a fake one - pointed at my face has never been at the top of my list of fears.

The Handmaid’s Tale

Modern opera is difficult to execute well, because no matter how good it is it will always be judged against the classics.

Anyone Can Whistle

Considering how much Anyone Can Whistle flopped in 1964, it is a bold, brave (and some may say hubristic) move on the part of Grey Area Theatre Company to revive the show at the So…

The Bean Spillers: The Improvised Musical

High energy, fun and witty, The Bean Spillers’ Improvised Musical showcases a wide range of talent, musical knowledge and general mischief.

Back to the Future

After years of turmoil caused by politics and pandemic, nostalgia is exactly what Doc ordered.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Based on Baz Luhrmann’s epic love story, Moulin Rouge is a larger-than-life electrifying musical.

Heathers The Musical

Homecoming is the word that comes to mind when watching this musical.

Rachel Fairburn: Showgirl

With a name like Showgirl, you’d expect a bit more oomph, but in fact Rachel Fairburn’s show is perhaps the exact opposite, and the low-energy slog begins and ends with little …

A Canny Octowoman: Q&A with Shawna Hamic

The parody musical that makes us reassess everything we think we know about what happened under the sea, Shawna Hamic kindly took the time to give our reporter, Katerina Partolina ...

CRIZARD*S

An interview with Crizards duo, Eddy Hare and Will Rowland, about their new stand-up hour Crizards: This Means War.

Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year 2023

Feature
Katerina Partolina Schwartz
West End
12th Jun, 2023

In its 15th anniversary, the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY) returns to the Sondheim Theatre where 12 finalists and 2 reserves from drama schools ...

The Quartet Behind Operation Mincemeat

Feature
Katerina Partolina Schwartz
West End
8th May, 2023

The four composers and writers of SpitLip, Natasha Hodgson, Zoë Roberts, David Cumming and Felix Hagan chat to Katerina Partolina Schwartz about their musical Operation Mincemeat,...

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Articles by Katerina Partolina Schwartz