★★★★★ There are some productions that remind you why theatre exists at all, not simply as entertainment, but as a deeply human act of shared storytelling. Lace Market Theatre’s production of Things I Know To Be True is exactly that kind of experience.

Tom Holloway’s stage adaptation of Double Indemnity brings James M. Cain’s crime novella out of the shadows and onto the stage, transporting audiences into a world of deception and ambition. With a bold visual style that nods to Billy Wilder’s legendary film while striving to forge its own theatrical identity, the production embraces the aesthetics of film noir.

★★★★★ Just when you think Mischief Theatre have scraped every last inch of material from the amateur dramatics barrel, they come bounding back with another festive offering in their ever-expanding Goes Wrong universe.

★★★★☆ With Hadestown approaching its second anniversary at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End, the question is this: has this contemporary musical cemented itself as a cult favourite that audiences return to time and time again, or is it still trying to court new fans beyond the devotees of its Grammy-winning score?

★★★★☆ The Hunger Games: On Stage is not just a theatrical adaptation of Suzanne Collins’s dystopian blockbuster, but also a bold experiment in bringing a sprawling, cinematic narrative into an immersive live arena.

★★★☆☆ Forget how many different designer brands are name-checked in The Devil Wears Prada; in some stretches, you begin to wonder how many times the name “Miranda” gets said in this musical.

★★★☆☆ Single White Female offers a tense, thought-provoking evening that will only sharpen as the tour continues. If you’re looking for a psychological drama that’s slick, unsettling, and quietly entertaining, this is well worth seeing… imperfections and all.

Find out about Derby Theatre's Community Celebration Day with live music, performances, and more. The best 50th party a theatre could have!

★★★★☆ Lace Market Theatre opens its 2026 season with Steven Peros’s The Cat’s Meow, a glossy and unsettling play based on one of Hollywood’s most enduring unsolved scandals. As the first show of the year, it has clearly set a benchmark for what Lace Market hopes to achieve in the months ahead.

★★★★☆ Nottingham Playhouse's new play for 3- to 8-year-olds takes us beneath the waves to the home of Marina, a young mermaid eager to explore the world above the sea.

★★★★★ Tamworth SnowDome’s Winter Wonderland is a magical, snow-filled adventure that feels like stepping inside a festive dream. Celebrating its 20th year, this Winter Wonderland offers.

★★★★☆ Derby Theatre’s Christmas play takes us back to Dickensian times for Deborah McAndrew’s adaptation of “Oliver Twist”. Featuring a mix of nursery rhymes, Christmas carols, and original musical numbers, this heartwarming tale is brought to life by director Sarah Brigham and a talented cast of actor-musicians who take on multiple roles throughout the story.

★★★☆☆ Sleeping Beauty is undeniably enjoyable. It’s colourful, cheerful, confidently performed, and family-friendly in the most accessible ways. Kids will adore it. Adults will find plenty to like, even if they find themselves wishing more of the jokes landed with the sharpness Playhouse pantos are known for.

There are few annual traditions as delightfully British as a Christmas pantomime, and Nottingham Theatre Royal’s Cinderella arrives with all the flourish, glitter, and nonsense an audience could hope for. But here’s the question: with such a media-saturated star at the helm, can this production deliver more than a celebrity cameo? Does this Cinderella truly sparkle, or does it rely too heavily on sequins and Strictly lingo?

★★★★☆ Every Christmas, Leicester’s Curve Theatre forgoes the glitter-drenched world of pantomime in favour of something a little warmer and more substantial: the annual Christmas musical.

★★★★☆ Lace Market Theatre brings Arthur Miller's The Crucible, an intricate tale of humanity and desperation, to life, as the accused discover the lengths they will go to survive.

★★★★★ There’s something undeniably refreshing about watching Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat performed by a company of young people who seem to understand its mischief, chaos, and charm better than many professional revivals.

As an adult, you see threads of emotion, of pain, of pure theatrical virtuosity. It transcends age, and each time you come back, you discover something new—and if you have the chance to see it, you absolutely should.

★★★★☆ If you’ve ever found yourself doing the Tragedy dance in your kitchen, harmonising to One for Sorrow, or secretly believe that glitter counts as an accessory, then Here & Now: The Steps Musical is the night out you’ve been waiting for.

★★★★☆ Set in a liberal Californian private school that prides itself on tolerance, inclusivity, and community, Jonathan Spector’s Eureka Day has lost none of its relevance since its 2018 debut. Vaccines are still a hot topic, and misinformation, virtue signalling, and the search for moral high ground are certainly as prevalent as ever.