All stories by Arifa Akbar on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Elektra review – Brie Larson makes a fearless West End debut in punk tragedy by Arifa Akbar

Duke of York’s theatre, LondonThe Captain Marvel star is a magnetic frontwoman in Daniel Fish’s radical rewiring of the ancient play ‘There’s nothing more dangerous to a warrior than…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:12PM
Thursday, January 30, 2025

The Gift review – an existential ‘poo-dunnit’ that keeps on giving by Arifa Akbar

Park theatre, LondonAn anonymously delivered box of something unmentionable sends an advertising worker into a spiral in Dave Florez’s comedy A cake box arrives in the post, sent special d…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:18AM
Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Five Lines review – mini dystopia projects maximum climate catastrophe by Arifa Akbar

Barbican, London Frau Trapp’s show, which uses tiny models seen on a huge screen, explores eco-disaster and inequality Presented by MimeLondon, this hybrid show plays out as micro-cinema-t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:06AM
Thursday, January 23, 2025

Cymbeline review – hip thrusts and gender inversions enliven this tricky romcom tragedy by Arifa Akbar

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, LondonInspired ideas abound in Jennifer Tang’s production but, among all the plotting, betting and baiting, it doesn’t quite all come together Shakespeare’s ea…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:06PM

A Man for All Seasons review – creaky but moving portrait of quiet heroism by Arifa Akbar

Theatre Royal BathWhile this 1960 play has been overtaken by faster-moving tales of Tudor chicanery, Martin Shaw is compelling as Thomas More Among the abounding villains and backstabbers of…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:32AM
Sunday, January 19, 2025

A Good House review – superb social satire about race, property and gentrification by Arifa Akbar

Royal Court, LondonA grubby shack that appears in a prosperous neighbourhood is the catalyst for a culture clash in South African playwright Amy Jephta’s sharp drama A Black couple have mo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:54AM

Play On! review – a warm, elegant comedy that brings 1940s swing to Shakespeare by Arifa Akbar

Bristol Old VicTwelfth Night is relocated to the Cotton Club in this sparkling musical, which luxuriates in its musicality and movement Given the important function of music in Twelfth Night…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:42AM
Friday, January 17, 2025

The Employees review – monumental event theatre with fragments from a far-flung world by Arifa Akbar

Queen Elizabeth Hall, LondonThis hypnotic tale of an orbiting spaceship ponders big questions about what it means to be human In this sci-fi dystopia, Earth has been destroyed and a spaceshi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:12AM
Thursday, January 16, 2025

Looking for Giants review – beautifully written erotic tales of fantasy and projection by Arifa Akbar

King’s Head theatre, LondonCesca Echlin’s debut of three vignettes explores sadomasochistic dynamics, virtual romance and masturbatory pleasure Some people leave “invisible marks on yo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:12PM
Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Revenge: After the Levoyah review – five embark on a plot to kidnap Jeremy Corbyn by Arifa Akbar

The Yard theatre, LondonTwentysomething twins, a rabbi, a Holocaust survivor and an East End thug embark on an ingenious heist movie parody that’s also a deft exploration of being Jewish t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:03AM
Sunday, January 12, 2025

The Maids review – Jean Genet’s chilling game of master and servant by Arifa Akbar

Jermyn Street theatre, LondonAnnie Kershaw’s subtle and artful production helps blur the line between fantasy and reality, with a magnificent cast enacting their enraged power battles A ha…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06PM

Tarantula review – extraordinary portrayal of the aftermath of senseless violence by Arifa Akbar

Arcola theatre, LondonGeorgie Henley delivers a tour de force performance as a teenager caught in the grip of PTSD in Philip Ridley’s comic and macabre monologue Philip Ridley’s typicall…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06PM
Friday, January 10, 2025

‘If you hear the siren, go to the shelter’: the wrenching play about the bombing of a theatre in Ukraine by Arifa Akbar

In March 2022, the largest theatre in Mariupol – while in use as a bomb shelter for 1,000 people – was hit by a Russian air strike. A re-enactment based on survivors’ testimonies has b…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:36PM

Belly of the Beast review – harrowing moments in a trainee’s tale of school trauma by Arifa Akbar

Finborough theatre, London The same non-binary character, facing different challenges as a fledgling teacher and a troubled teen, share the stage in Saana Sze’s ambitious drama The central…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:18AM
Thursday, January 9, 2025

Titanique review – camp musical sails into silliness with Céline Dion onboard by Arifa Akbar

Criterion theatre, LondonIt goes on and on but this madcap spoof of the blockbuster film has a sparkling cast, including Lauren Drew as Dion and Layton Williams as the iceberg Imagine James …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:06PM
Monday, January 6, 2025

Little Shop of Horrors review – classic rock musical gets exuberant modern-day treatment by Arifa Akbar

Crucible theatre, SheffieldThe singing is strong and the killer plant has a delightful touch of pantomime dame, but some of the schlock comic elements are slow growers Ever since the extrate…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:54AM
Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Chills, chuckles and Cate Blanchett in Chekhov: the best theatre, dance and comedy coming in 2025 by Arifa Akbar, Brian Logan and Lyndsey Winship

Gary Oldman’s tackling Beckett, Strictly winner Chris McCausland is on a huge standup tour – and mods can rev their scooters to a dance Quadrophenia Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:12PM
Monday, December 30, 2024

The Creakers review – McFly’s Tom Fletcher can’t make the rubbish-loving monsters take off by Arifa Akbar

Queen Elizabeth Hall, LondonThis hotch-potch musical with disappointingly broad characters, jarring over-acting and lack of emotional impact falls flat This tale about a town whose grownups …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:06AM

The Lightning Thief review – Percy Jackson demigod drama charms by Arifa Akbar

The Other Palace, LondonThis winningly lo-fi musical with catchy songs, original choreography and a quirky spirit brings out the directness and humour of Rick Riordan’s mythical quest Sinc…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:06AM
Monday, December 23, 2024

St Nicholas review – Conor McPherson’s vampire tale leaves you hungry for more by Arifa Akbar

Omnibus theatre, LondonNick Danan is captivating as a power-hungry, parasitic theatre critic drawn into a supernatural world This lesser revived monologue by Conor McPherson begins with mal…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:06PM
Sunday, December 22, 2024

Treasure Island review – dashing female pirates strike gold on high seas by Arifa Akbar

Orange Tree, Richmond Playwright Hannah Khalil weaves the real stories of buccaneering women into Stevenson’s classic adventure story, in a show filled with youthful verve When two women o…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:18PM

Here You Come Again review – Dolly Parton musical lacks spark under the sparkles by Arifa Akbar

Riverside Studios, London The beloved country star appears like a fairy godmother to deliver life lessons in song to a stricken fan, but this production could do with a lift Kevin is on the …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24AM
Thursday, December 19, 2024

The Tempest review – Sigourney weaves weird magic in West End debut by Arifa Akbar

Theatre Royal Drury Lane, LondonInspired by the filmography of its Prospero, Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Lloyd’s production is audaciously odd – a sci-fi Shakespeare, or gestural Greek theat…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:36PM
Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof review – Daisy Edgar-Jones is full of angry energy in a stylish family face-off by Arifa Akbar

Almeida, LondonRebecca Frecknall’s stark production brings out the rage in Williams’ play through powerful performances, but fails to plumb all its emotional depths ‘A family crisis br…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:12AM
Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 review – terrific riff on Tolstoy by Arifa Akbar

Donmar Warehouse, LondonThe singing blows the roof off in this magnificently fun production of Dave Malloy’s musical, based on a section of War and Peace The pithy, one-line character summ…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:24AM

The best theatre, comedy and dance of 2024 by Arifa Akbar, Brian Logan and Lyndsey Winship

Sarah Snook put Succession behind her, Hofesh Shechter found horror in Albion and Rhod Gilbert was ecstatic to be alive, in our critics’ picks of the best stage shows of the year • More …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:02AM
Sunday, December 15, 2024

The Little Foxes review – revival of southern American classic leaves questions unanswered by Arifa Akbar

Young Vic, London Anne-Marie Duff is a ruthless fighter desperate to escape her marriage and home in a production which doesn’t lack for conviction, but whose shocks and stings do not deli…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:24PM

Le Gateau Chocolat: Musicals Mayhem review – dazzling charisma and thundering sonic richness by Arifa Akbar

Soho theatre, London The major showman takes a solo stroll through show tunes, sing alongs and seasonal hits with vocal highlights that leave you gasping for breath Some Christmasses ago, Le…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:12PM
Wednesday, December 11, 2024

The Legends of Them review – reggae singer’s painful past and spiritual succour by Arifa Akbar

Royal Court, LondonSutara Gayle AKA Lorna Gee reflects on identity, family and tragedy in a production that is part monologue and part experimental gig Sutara Gayle, also known as Lorna Gee,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:02PM

The Producers review – daring delight is the sparkling standout of London’s festive theatre by Arifa Akbar

Menier Chocolate Factory, LondonDirector Patrick Marber and a multitasking ensemble put on an irresistible revival of Mel Brooks’ musical satire Who could have predicted that a musical tri…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:06AM
Sunday, December 8, 2024

Robin Hood and the Christmas Heist review – musical take on robbing the rich to feed the poor by Arifa Akbar

Rose theatre, Kingston upon ThamesMarian and Robin plan to steal Prince John’s gold in this musical take on the Sherwood adventures Robin Hood’s adventures in Sherwood are fused with Chr…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:36AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic
TBA: Ragtime