Much as I'm a fan of Matthew Bourne, I was left frustrated by his technicolour take on Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, revived at Sadlers Wells and New Wimbledon Theatre over Christmas.
For such a seemingly simple play, discourse on The Cherry Orchard could go on ad infinitum. Anton Chekhov's classic tale of a family struggling - and failing - to stop their estate, orchard and all, being auctioned off to a property developer has more layers than your average theatrical onion.
You may be aware that Derren Brown quack sits on the top branch of the illusionist tree. Having single-handedly brought illusion back into the mainstream, many a copycat act has sprung up. They play Smash to his mash, Shakin' Stevens to his Elvis, Lidl to his Harrod's. And you can see the great man's new show, An Evening Of Wonders, at Epsom Playhouse.
Wordsworth wandered lonely as one, Jagger wanted an unknown someone to get off of his, and as I look out my window, there isn't one in the sky. No, not the humble mistle thrush, but a cloud. Those massive bundles of cotton wool/candy floss/Tom Baker's hair (delete according to your childhood interpretation) are the subjects of Battersea Arts Centre's enchanting new show, Cloud Piece.
Peter Byrne definitely knows his Agatha Christie. How could he not, after stints directing and starring in The Mousetrap, the longest running play in the world at 23,000 performances and counting?
Acclaimed actor Warren Mitchell continues the standard of classy drama set by Sir Peter Hall's Uncle Vanya - the opening play at the Rose Theatre which runs until February 9 - with Visiting Mr Green, a poignant and gripping kitchen sink drama.
The outpouring of goodwill towards the Orange Tree during its recent funding crisis has proved just how central the theatre is to local people's lives.
