Ruth at the very fabulous Wilton’s Music Hall last weekend. Some cracking voices — the “Hypocrite” number in particular stood out — and an interesting focus on her relationship with her hangman. From the salons of Paris to Cable Street, just as much manipulation; the same inevitable human cost. 3/5

Tremendous production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National. A brilliant portrayal of manipulation, politics, and ruthless Machiavellian intrigue, with an inevitable human cost. Plus some cracking brooches — I so want one of those.

Bit late with this one, but so good to be back at Southwark Playhouse a few weeks ago for the excellent Children of the Night. Effortlessly managed the tricky art of simultaneously being both extremely funny & serious, all to a banging soundtrack. Brilliant venue, cracking show, 4/5

The sound of the Barts Choir in full voice is something to behold! Super night at the Southbank Centre

John Proctor is the Villain at the Royal Court, what can happen when the accepted truth is challenged and how power shifts. Super surprise to find out there was also an insightful discussion with the author, 4/5

Well that was quite eerie: a flooded stage everything submerged, ambiguity and a moral murkiness. The Turn of the Screw at Covent Garden, exceptional, 5/5

Siegfried at Covent Garden tonight matching or even surpassing the brilliance of Rheingold and Valkyrie. Just brilliant, An amazing production, perfection on stage and from the orchestra and the beautiful sets, 5/5

The conceited liberal intelligencia idly chatting and cocooned from the fracturing real world, well that sounds very familiar.  Super production of Summerfolk at the National, 4/5

Broken Glass at the Young Vic, super performances.all round and brilliantly staged. Interesting goldfish motif, constantly moving, seemingly changing size whilst going nowhere, possibly or may be not Either way a great and timely production

Grief, conflict, descent into mental Illness and reconciliation. Two superb performances, Evening All Afternoon at the Donmar 4/5

Excellent production of Man & Boy at the National, particularly Ben Daniels' Antonescu, all liquidity, confidence and menace until his inevitable fractured breakdown. Set to a fantastic score and a brilliant innovation - a cast list that lit up when characters were on stage, 4/5

The Shitheads at the Royal Court. Savagery, seeds, storytelling, shrooming, survival and a glitterball in a cave. Super and novel storytelling, new theatre at its best 4/5

Walking on air! Fantastic Florence + the Machine with the amazing witch choir. Loving that drama and the show. Everybody Scream

Really enjoyed Shadowlands, from the set design, the lighting emphasising themes, the subtlety of the script and of course the fantastic performances, 4/5

A day of two halves, part two Vortex Jazz Club, Henry Lowther and the perfect end to the day

Standing ovation for the fantastic Pretty Yende's beautiful performance as Violetta. La Traviata, Covent Garden, this afternoon

royal opera chorus in magnificent form at tonight's performance of Boris Godunov, truly an experience to behold. Cracking production 4/5

Belting night at the Windmill for ivw26 and a cracking set from TTSSFU complete with dramatic exit. Ears still buzzing the next day

Top night at the Windmill for ivw26, cracking sets from Goodbye and Martial Arts to open

Really enjoyed Arcadia at the Old Vic, not sure I got it all but struck by the analogy of reconstituting the jam in a rice pudding by stirring it backwards and the piecing together of the past from today's fragments 4/5

Well that was quite something else, incredible, soul wrenching performances. Guess How Much I Love You at the Royal Court Close the curtains, the sun doesn't make any sense

1st gig of the year and another cracking night at the Windmill Brixton to see Turnspit (oops no pic, defo have to see again now), May, MM'99 and multiscreen.

RSC's Twelfth Night at the Barbican.  Super cast, particularly enjoyed Gwyneth Keyworth's Viola and Sam West's marvelously sanctimonious Malvolio I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you 3/5

The Importance of Being Earnest at the Noel Coward, still a super production if perhaps not quite hitting the lofty heights of the National's original production 2/5

Magical way to end 2025 and bring in the new year with the Nutcracker at Covent Garden, 4/5

Wild Access, the most incredible immersive performance artists illuminating Snapped Ankles tonight. Beautiful to witness and added so much to the gig

TaliaBle opening spectaculary for Snapped Ankles tonight at ICA. Banging songs and a mid set game of British Bulldog. Saturday night sorted

Super and very funny production of When We Are Married at the Donmar tonight, intriguing to see how the revelations change the characters as the power shifts. Great fun, brilliant cast 4/5

Playboy of the Western World.  Superb cast work hard to elevate a formulaic retread of an overused trope: stranger arrives, people swoon, truth emerges, everyone recoils & blah, blah, blah. Despite the terrific performances, it felt predictable, derivative and just disappointing 2/5

Coven at Kiln Theatre, intriguing musical telling of the Pendle Witch Trials. Super songs & a fantastic cast. Perhaps tries to cover too much ground, but remains a powerful allegory for today

End at the National Theatre on Saturday, incredibly moving and emotional storytelling and fantastic performances from Saskia Reeves and Clive Owen. 5/5, brilliant

The Royal Ballet's Perspectives, three sumptuous performances, absolute joy to experience. The grace and precision a thing of joy and amazement

The Old Vic tonight and such a charming production of A Christmas Carol, this year with the brilliantly cast Paul Hilton as Scrouge I must go, my turkey is in a parlous state

For a cold November night what better than an appropriately chilled night at EFG London Jazz Festival @ Guildhall School of Music & Drama Superb performances from the Saran Dhillion Group, Lester Ridout Trio and The Alexandra Ridout Quartet And all free, absolutely fantastic

Truly a thing of beauty. Line of Beauty at the Almedia, absolutely superb, one of the best of the year, 5/5

Intrigued to see the Makropulos Case at Covent Garden tonight and not disappointed, sublime telling of the richness of mortality contrasted with dessicated immortality.  Perhaps could have done without the distraction of projected msgs and images etc

Chickens, clogs, an umbrella and the triumph of love over lolly. A glorious and joyful production of La fille mal gardée at covent garden tonight

Rounding off the weekend with a trip to see The Magic Flute, the perfect end to a super few days

Wasn't sure quite what to expect at The National, but thoroughly enjoyed this pacey production of Hamlet

Fantastic production of The Lady from the Sea, innovative staging and a cracking cast always guaranteed at The Bridge Theatre

Really powerful stuff at The National with The Land of the Living. The past comes knocking and plays the piano too as long shadows are cast by good intentions and choices (or perhaps that should be control)

Etta Marcus, so amazing live, that was incredible  loved April's opening set too

Jessica Winter at the Lower Third tonight, a fantastic gig, so stylish and so much energy and proper good songs

Birmingham Royal Ballet's magnificent Black Sabbath - the Ballet. Superb contemporary ballet, beautifully performed, fantastic stuff. Missed out on seeing this 1st time around, so worth the wait

Crumbs that was so good, The Maids at the Donmar. Breathtaking stuff, superbly portrayed. A complete blurring of reality and fantasy through to it's inevitable denouement, 4/5

Troilus and Cressida.  The futility of War, the corruption of love and idealism, manipulation and cynicism.  A lot to pack into 2h45m but superbly and refreshingly done at The Globe tonight, plus the gags: He has not so much brain as ear-wax Things won are done; joy’s soul lies in the doing 4/5

Because The Night  3 weeks 3 gigs  1 song  Patti Smith, Picture Parlour, Suede Southbank Centre, Moth Club, Palladium Because the Night, Communal

Giustino the Linbury, an afternoon of the most magical music in Covent Garden sung so beautifully Properly a day of two halves

In her own words it's: Sunday Night at the Palladium, Patti Smith at her blistering best, what a phenomenal gig. Johnny Depp guesting isn't bad either A day of two fantastic halves

Still utterly delightful, glorious to see RSC"s production of My Neighbour Totoro again. Beautifully performed including by a fabulous team of puppeteers