All stories by Ava Wong Davies on BroadwayStars

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Our Generation review: Alecky Blythe’s verbatim epic struggles to capture what it means to be young in Britain by Ava Wong Davies

Daniel Evans coaxes out some beautiful performances from his ensemble in this experimental new play at the Dorfman

SOURCE: The Independent at 07:06AM
Saturday, February 5, 2022

Wuthering Heights review: A blustering and boisterous production by Ava Wong Davies

With her National Theatre production, Emma Rice does a fairly remarkable job in making the text as lucid as it is, even if depth of character is sacrificed for breadth of narrative

SOURCE: The Independent at 07:33AM
Wednesday, February 2, 2022

A Number review: Paapa Essiedu is a cloned son in this haunting chamber piece by Ava Wong Davies

Caryl Churchill’s dystopian play has been shorn of its sharper absurdist edges – but Essiedu and Lennie James offer a series of delicately drawn character studies

SOURCE: The Independent at 07:18AM
Friday, January 21, 2022

Moulin Rouge! review: Ostentatious, absurd and ravishing by Ava Wong Davies

The Piccadilly Theatre’s adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s film is at its most enjoyable when it eschews such concepts as ‘characterisation’ and ‘narrative’ and throws itself entirely…

SOURCE: The Independent at 02:33AM
Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Manor review: A damp squib that never ignites by Ava Wong Davies

Moira Buffini’s play is weighed down by outdated jokes and an oversimplification of modern politics

SOURCE: The Independent at 06:03AM
Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Hamlet review, Young Vic: Cush Jumbo is let down by a curiously muddled production by Ava Wong Davies

Greg Hersov’s direction doesn’t have the requisite drive needed to make this play feel genuinely urgent

SOURCE: The Independent at 04:12AM
Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Frozen review, Theatre Royal Drury Lane: An immaculately executed theme park ride of a musical by Ava Wong Davies

The stage adaptation of Disney’s smash will leave you dazed and breathless, if a little hollow

SOURCE: The Independent at 07:48PM
Sunday, April 4, 2021

Romeo and Juliet review, Lyttelton: Josh O’Connor and Jessie Buckley star in an exquisitely tactile production that’s lacking in depth by Ava Wong Davies

This sumptuous new version was originally intended for a stage run in 2020 before being adapted for the screen

SOURCE: The Independent at 06:18PM
Sunday, December 13, 2020

Six the Musical review, Lyric Theatre: A lavish production with undeniable shallowness by Ava Wong Davies

As dazzling as the iconic show may be, it fails to fulfil its aim of portraying Henry VIII’s wives as individual women with beating hearts

SOURCE: The Independent at 08:32AM
Wednesday, December 9, 2020

The Dumb Waiter review, Hampstead Theatre: A solid, smart production by Ava Wong Davies

Finally performed on the socially distanced main stage space, Alice Hamilton’s production of Pinter’s one-act play is fittingly, uncannily claustrophobic

SOURCE: The Independent at 07:32PM
Tuesday, October 6, 2020

The Last Five Years review, Southwark Playhouse: A gorgeous, sparkling revival by Ava Wong Davies

<p>Jonathan O’Boyle’s beautifully judged production has now been remounted for the Covid age, with Perspex dividers between each seat</p>

SOURCE: The Independent at 06:06AM
Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Beat the Devil review, Bridge Theatre: Ralph Fiennes stars in a slapdash and heavy-handed ‘Covid monologue’ by Ava Wong Davies

<p>It seems sometimes like writer David Hare is attempting to explain the situation to someone who has completely missed the pandemic — rather than engage with an audience who are li…

SOURCE: The Independent at 06:06AM
Friday, March 13, 2020

Freedom Hi 自由閪 review at The Vaults, London – ‘moving response to the Hong Kong protests’ by Ava Wong Davies

It wouldn’t be fair to just call Freedom Hi 自由閪  a play. A collection of writing and performance by several UK-based Hong

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 12:35PM
Thursday, February 6, 2020

Autoreverse review at Battersea Arts Centre, London – ‘intriguing and frustrating’ by Ava Wong Davies

Florencia Cordeu’s family history is etched on to cassette tapes. An aural (or perhaps oral) history imprinted into plastic and tape, which

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:00AM
Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Scenes With Girls review at the Royal Court, London – ‘smart new play about contemporary womanhood’ by Ava Wong Davies

Miriam Battye’s London Royal Court debut is a springy, if wobbly, exploration of contemporary womanhood. In an effort to extricate themselves from

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:12AM
Friday, January 17, 2020

Fix review at Pleasance Theatre, London – ‘atmospheric psychological thriller’ by Ava Wong Davies

Julie Tsang’s psychological thriller exists in the shadows. As Kevin, a seemingly amiable young repairman, attempts to patch-up the shambling, elderly Li

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:36AM
Wednesday, January 8, 2020

The Tyler Sisters review at Hampstead Theatre, London – ‘engaging and well-crafted’ by Ava Wong Davies

Alexandra Wood’s new play is the equivalent of flipping through a family photo album. It’s a rush of snapshot moments that layer

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:50AM
Thursday, December 12, 2019

A Kind of People review at Royal Court, London – ‘fiercely relevant if frustrating’ by Ava Wong Davies

Everyone loves a party. Gary and Nicky are throwing one for Mark at their flat – except Gary’s boss, Victoria, has tagged

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:53AM
Tuesday, October 15, 2019

A History of Water in the Middle East review at Royal Court, London – ‘an intoxicating, headily persuasive energy’ by Ava Wong Davies

Sabrina Mahfouz is quick to undercut A History of Water in the Middle East’s affected title. “Highly condensed and highly edited”, she

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:48AM
Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Mephisto [A Rhapsody] review at Gate Theatre, London – ‘ambitious, slippery and thrilling’ by Ava Wong Davies

Samuel Gallet’s adaptation of Klaus Mann’s 1936 novel tracks the rise of far-right ideology in an unnamed European country through the lens

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:49AM
Monday, October 7, 2019

One review at Battersea Arts Centre, London – ‘torturously funny exploration of compromise’ by Ava Wong Davies

The final part of Bertrand Lesca and Nasi Voutsas’ unofficial trilogy – following Eurohouse and Palmyra – once again sees them exploring

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:46AM
Monday, September 30, 2019

Rebel Music review at Birmingham Rep, Birmingham – ‘generous and sincere’ by Ava Wong Davies

Birmingham, 1979, and “British music’s become a battleground for a race war,” Robin French’s gig-theatre piece tells us. Denise (a winsome Lauren

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 12:34PM
Monday, September 23, 2019

Shida review at the Vaults, London – ‘full of tantalising music, but patchily written’ by Ava Wong Davies

The bright yellows soaking Shida’s promotional material might lead you to believe that it’s a feel-good shot of sunshine in the dank

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:24AM
Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Eyes of the Night review at Cervantes Theatre, London – ‘opaque and frustrating’ by Ava Wong Davies

Two lost souls meet in an anonymous hotel room. Lucia, an unhappily married businesswoman, has paid Angel, a visually impaired young man,

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:25AM
Friday, September 6, 2019

MSND (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) review at Alexandra Palace, London – ‘immersive staging of Shakespeare’ by Ava Wong Davies

There’s magic to be found deep in the bowels of Alexandra Palace. At least, that’s what RIFT’s production would like you to

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:50AM
Friday, July 19, 2019

Games for Lovers review at the Vaults, London – ‘shallow and hollow’ by Ava Wong Davies

For a play all about relationships, Ryan Craig’s Games for Lovers has an astonishing lack of heart. It follows the trials and

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:12AM
Monday, July 8, 2019

Whitewash review at Soho Theatre, London – ‘incisive writing and playful performances’ by Ava Wong Davies

“It’s your actions that make you white, not your skin colour,” a character heatedly tells Gabriel Bisset-Smith’s Lysander at the climax of

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:51AM
Thursday, July 4, 2019

The Color Purple review at Curve, Leicester – ‘full-blooded and deeply moving’ by Ava Wong Davies

The power of Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray’s 2004 musical, based on Alice Walker’s seminal tale of black womanhood and

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:30AM
Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Incoming Festival: ‘Supporting emerging theatre is about putting your money where your mouth is’ by Ava Wong Davies

Incoming Festival was started by two critics Eleanor Turney and Jake Orr. They tell Ava Wong Davies about supporting mid-career artists, engaging

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:30AM
Monday, June 3, 2019

Country Music review at Omnibus, London – ‘heartbreaking revival of Simon Stephens’ play’ by Ava Wong Davies

A streak of pain runs through Simon Stephens’ 2004 play. Taking the form of an elliptical series of duologues, Country Music drops

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:34AM
Friday, May 31, 2019

Flinch review at Old Red Lion, London – ‘intriguing debut play about gender roles and relationships’ by Ava Wong Davies

Emma Hemingford’s intriguing debut play sets out to explore traditional heteronormative gender roles through the lens of one couple’s relationship. In Flinch,

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 12:24PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards