Fringe theatre has a certain superpower: taking the unlikeliest of subjects and transforming them into musicals. From serial killers to SpongeBob, there’s nothing too niche. But these shows usually fall into one of two categories: gloriously bonkers or unexpectedly brilliant. So, where does Nerds, the tech-infused musical comedy now playing at Curve Theatre, Leicester, land on that spectrum?

Perched neatly between being a charming comedy and clever farce, the RSC’s revival of The Constant Wife at the Swan Theatre delivers a consistently playful and self-aware comedy. It’s light on its feet and full of wicked wit—but as the minutes tick on, you might find yourself wondering: haven’t they made this point three times already?

how has Giant achieved the status of being the best observational drama I’ve ever seen? What is it that keeps the audience eavesdropping on this private showdown?

On paper, harnessing Meat Loaf’s epic anthems in a dystopian setting sounds electrifying. Bat Out Of Hell is a vocal tour de force buried in sensory overload, but should a rock opera feel this chaotic?

Hamlet: The Rest Is Silence is a community project born from the exciting partnership between Nottingham Theatre Royal & Concert Hall and the RSC’s Shakespeare Nation initiative. If this is what TRCH can achieve with a cast of amateur performers, then in-house productions deserve a permanent place in the theatre’s future.

Amanda Whittington’s Kiss Me Quickstep sweeps audiences into the glittering world of competitive ballroom. It’s fun, uplifting, and beautifully danced! This Made in Derby production is a show tailor-made for its audience and is relentlessly entertaining.

Experience the irreverent charm and musical brilliance of The Book of Mormon, a show that challenges conventions while delivering unforgettable entertainment.

★★★★☆ A Thousand Splendid Suns delivers a powerful and emotionally charged performance. Set over three decades of political turmoil in Kabul, the play explores the intertwined lives of Mariam and Laila, two women brought together by circumstance and bound by an unbreakable bond.

★★★★☆ Alan Ayckbourn’s Just Between Ourselves is a darkly comic exploration of domestic dysfunction and emotional manipulation, set in the seemingly mundane world of suburban life. London Classic Theatre’s 25th-anniversary production, directed by Michael Cabot, brings the classic to life at Derby Theatre with a performance that is both hilariously entertaining and deeply unsettling.

★★★★★ Mischief Theatre has delivered another theatrical gem with The Comedy About Spies, delighting audiences at London's Noël Coward Theatre. This uproarious production masterfully blends rapid-fire wit, physical comedy, and a cleverly woven plot, ensuring that from curtain up to final bow, the audience is thoroughly entertained. 

★★★★★ Good Companions Musical Theatre’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, while being modest, manages to capture that joyful spirit we all experienced reading Roald Dahl's classic for the first time. It's lively, it's fun, and it's oh so sweet!

★★★☆☆  Through a fusion of contemporary dance, verbatim testimony, and evocative design, Gary Clarke's Detention seeks to illuminate a dark chapter in British history.

★★★☆☆ Titus Andronicus is easily Shakespeare’s most savage tragedy. A relentless tale of revenge, brutality, and the cost of honour.

★★★★☆ Clueless: The Musical brings a blast of '90s nostalgia to the Trafalgar Theatre in London’s West End. Written by Amy Heckerling and featuring a brand-new original soundtrack by KT Tunstall, this bright and witty adaptation of the iconic 1995 film proves that, even with the West End becoming increasingly saturated with jukebox musicals and movie adaptations, there is always room for more.

★★★★☆ Joe DiPietro’s F**king Men cleverly explores how seemingly simple sexual encounters can ripple out to change lives in unexpected ways.

★★★☆☆The undeniable highlight of MJ The Musical is, of course, the music. With an unrivalled back catalogue spanning funk, soul, pop and R&B

★★★★☆ You think you know The Importance of Being Earnest? Think again. Say It Again, Sorry?'s riotous meta-theatrical explosion, …Earnest?, is an uproarious and joyously unpredictable celebration of all things theatrical, silly, and gloriously human.

★★★☆☆ 'Chicago the Musical' is back on a UK tour, find out more with our in-depth review. Discover if this classic still packs a punch or leans on its reputation.

★★★★★ If Shakespeare wrote for Britney, this would be the result – and honestly? It rocks.

★★★★☆ "Four legs good, two legs bad." This is the iconic chant from George Orwell's 1945 classic Animal Farm. The animals rebel against...