All stories by Arifa Akbar on BroadwayStars

Monday, October 16, 2023

Lynn Nottage: 'There's no such thing as the perfect sandwich or song " just the joy that goes into creating' by Arifa Akbar

As her play set in a truck stop kitchen is staged in London, the twice Pulitzer-winning playwright talks about the healing power of cooking, US theatre's recent shockwaves and her Michael Ja…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:19AM[SHARE]
Friday, October 13, 2023

Housemates review " rip-roaring real-life story of a revolutionary experiment by Arifa Akbar

Sherman theatre, CardiffAstounding tale of how a volunteer at a Welsh hospital changed the lives of neurodivergent people globally is dynamically directed and movingly told This is a local s…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:37AM[SHARE]
Thursday, October 12, 2023

Sunset Boulevard review " Nicole Scherzinger dazzles in Jamie Lloyd's radical rework by Arifa Akbar

Savoy theatre, LondonLloyd brings hipster edginess, style and unpredictability to this revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical " though it's more surface-level than penetrating closeup W…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:19PM[SHARE]

Blue Mist review " dreamlike dive into Muslim demonisation by Arifa Akbar

Royal Court Upstairs, LondonAn aspiring journalist comes up against the difficulties of accurately representing his shisha-going community in Mohamed-Zain Dada's energetic debut This debut d…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:33AM[SHARE]
Monday, October 9, 2023

Death of England: Closing Time review " riotous comedy with a serious sting by Arifa Akbar

Dorfman theatre, LondonClint Dyer and Roy Williams' state-of-the-nation series continues, this time giving the perspective of the women in its central duo's lives From its inception as an on…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:43PM[SHARE]

Othello review " three-headed Iago distracts from tragedy by Arifa Akbar

Riverside Studios, LondonDepicting the insinuating villain as a trio of manipulators is striking and gives the drama thrillerish momentum, but intimacy is lost Othello's nemesis has come in …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:03AM[SHARE]
Sunday, October 8, 2023

The Foreigners' Panto review " pro-immigrant comedy is non-seasonal but timely by Arifa Akbar

Bold theatre, LondonThis musical meta comedy allegorising Britain's hostility to immigrants arrives ahead of panto season but with perfect timing nonetheless. Unfortunately it seems under-re…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:07AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, October 4, 2023

A Voyage Round My Father review " Rupert Everett brings soft focus to John Mortimer's play by Arifa Akbar

Theatre Royal BathRichard Eyre's production of the father-and-son drama has some strong performances but is too light to probe the play's plaintive depths A fine roll call of actors have pla…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:25PM[SHARE]

These Demons review " sisters under siege in a haunted house by Arifa Akbar

Theatre503, LondonRachel Bellman explores Jewish exorcisms and rebellion in this darkly funny, psychological play There is a slow-burn buildup of creepiness in this haunted house story which…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:37AM[SHARE]
Monday, October 2, 2023

Mahabharata review " epic tale of two warring clans is dazzling and detached by Arifa Akbar

Barbican, LondonCanadian company Why Not Theatre's take on the Sanskrit poem, led by South Asian artists, exquisitely blends classical elements with modern, but feels distant in the second a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:37AM[SHARE]
Sunday, October 1, 2023

Imposter 22 review " deconstructed detective story never quite comes together by Arifa Akbar

Royal Court, LondonWe're left wondering not just whodunnit but what was done and why in this lushly designed but confusing production This postmodern whodunnit begins, tantalisingly, with …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:55AM[SHARE]
Friday, September 29, 2023

Quiz review " Rory Bremner is an uncanny Chris Tarrant by Arifa Akbar

Chichester Festival theatreA delightfully performed revival of James Graham's fresh and funny play about the Millionaire cougher case, which critiques the TV industry and trials by media The…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:55AM[SHARE]
Thursday, September 28, 2023

Close-Up: The Twiggy Musical review " Ben Elton's strange and sentimental snapshot by Arifa Akbar

Menier Chocolate Factory, LondonWith a jarring tone and karaoke hits, this show never truly captures the highs and lows of the star's life Lesley Hornby was 16 when she became the face of he…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:13AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Octopolis review " cerebral romcom about two humans and an octopus by Arifa Akbar

Hampstead theatre, LondonA grieving behavioural biologist meets an anthropologist in Marek Horn's drama starring Jemma Redgrave and Ewan Miller At the centre of this play of ideas about anim…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:07AM[SHARE]
Monday, September 25, 2023

Minority Report drama to feature in Lyric Hammersmith's 'really bold' spring lineup by Arifa Akbar

Tom Cruise's character becomes a female neuroscientist in a new adaptation of the Spielberg film, kicking off a season that, the venue's artistic director says, will focus on communal experi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:49AM[SHARE]
Sunday, September 24, 2023

Compositor E review " traumatised typesetter leaves inky fingerprints all over Shakespeare by Arifa Akbar

Omnibus Theatre, LondonCharlie Dupré's Bruntwood prize longlisted play asks thoughtful questions about who gets to shape history, but lacks a level of intrigue and emotional depth to addres…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:33AM[SHARE]
Friday, September 22, 2023

Vanya review " Andrew Scott excels in one-man Chekhov by Arifa Akbar

Duke of York's theatre, LondonThe actor gives thrillingly virtuoso performances as multiple characters in an entertaining reimagining but he cannot penetrate any one part deeply enough for t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:13AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Pygmalion review " Patsy Ferran and Bertie Carvel don't find play's heart by Arifa Akbar

Old Vic theatre, LondonThis Shaw revival has wonderful moments but there is little spark between Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins In its preface, George Bernard Shaw claimed the success of …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:43AM[SHARE]
Monday, September 18, 2023

Rebecca review " Mrs Danvers steals the show in Du Maurier musical by Arifa Akbar

Charing Cross theatre, LondonAmong polished performances, Kara Lane's creepily obsessed housekeeper proves a powerful force This musical adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's novel became a mamm…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:43PM[SHARE]
Sunday, September 17, 2023

King Stakh's Wild Hunt review " operatic fairytale of rebellions and false myths has present-day echoes by Arifa Akbar

Barbican, LondonBelarusian and Ukrainian performers come together in this creepy and atmospheric haunted house story This operatic tale of folkloric ghost-kings, aristocrats and curses resus…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:07AM[SHARE]
Friday, September 15, 2023

The Little Big Things review " big-hearted musical is a true-story tearjerker by Arifa Akbar

@sohoplace, LondonThis adaptation of a memoir by a 17-year-old aspiring rugby pro paralysed by a holiday accident has catchy songs, strong performances and schmaltz "When I was 17, I had an …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:37AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Brassic FM review " pirate radio shoutouts form a fierce sense of community by Arifa Akbar

Gate theatre, LondonFunny, moving stories about working-class lives are interspersed with political music in this baggy three-hander Brassic FM is the kind of pirate station you might tune i…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:55AM[SHARE]
Monday, September 11, 2023

'This family is being devoured': Lemn Sissay on why Kafka's Metamorphosis is a tale for our times by Arifa Akbar

The poet has teamed up with Frantic Assembly to bring the novella, about a man who turns into an insect, to the stage. He explains why this story of family meltdown is all about modern life …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:37AM[SHARE]
Sunday, September 10, 2023

The Architect review " Stephen Lawrence tribute is a deeply moving ride by Arifa Akbar

Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, LondonSet aboard a double-decker as it journeys through London and back and forth in time, this is a poignant but uplifting immersive theatre pi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:37AM[SHARE]
Friday, September 8, 2023

God of Carnage review " deliciously savage satire still has plenty of bite by Arifa Akbar

Lyric Hammersmith, LondonSome of the punches don't land as hard as they might, but deft direction and slick performances make this a delightfully brutal take down of bourgeois manners Yasmin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:49AM[SHARE]
Thursday, September 7, 2023

Never Have I Ever review " drunken truth bombs in a sitcom-sharp satire by Arifa Akbar

Minerva Theatre, ChichesterWhile its characters can't quite hold the full weight of the culture wars commentary, Deborah Frances-White's frothy comedy is eminently watchable Money and friend…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:49AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Starry Shakespeare, super standups and a Black Sabbath ballet: the best theatre, dance and comedy of autumn 2023 by Arifa Akbar, Brian Logan and Lyndsey Winship

Patsy Ferran takes on Eliza in Pygmalion, Andrew Scott plays multiple characters from Uncle Vanya and Mlima's Tale tells a powerful tale of the ivory trade. Here's what's in store on stage C…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:55AM[SHARE]
Sunday, August 13, 2023

Party Ghost review " spooky silliness meets stunning circus spectacle by Arifa Akbar

Assembly Checkpoint, EdinburghPerformers Olivia Porter and Jarred Dewey bring this inventive show to (after)life with their dark, messy and often astonishing physical comedy It begins like a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:43AM[SHARE]
Friday, August 11, 2023

Oscar at the Crown review " going Wilde in the nightclub by Arifa Akbar

Assembly George Square Gardens, EdinburghOscar Wilde hides in a bunker on a dystopian dance floor, but while there is much high-energy music there is little drama What would Oscar Wilde be d…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:07PM[SHARE]

Blood of the Lamb review " acutely tense drama of reproductive rights by Arifa Akbar

Assembly Rooms, EdinburghTwo-hander presents a woman, who has miscarried on a US flight, confronted by a steely lawyer who explains she is representing the foetus The tension builds from the…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:19AM[SHARE]
Thursday, August 10, 2023

Trojan Women review " Greek epic beautifully interwoven with Korean tradition by Arifa Akbar

Festival theatre, EdinburghOng Keng Sen's high-octane production for the National Changgeuk Company of Korea is scintillating from start to finish This operatic production leans into several…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:04PM[SHARE]

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