All stories by Tim Bano on BroadwayStars

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Dear Octopus review: Dodie Smith’s slow burning pre-war family saga will suck you in by Tim Bano

Why is the National Theatre staging this frightfully old fashioned play from the 1930s? A superb performance from Lindsay Duncan and a production tinged with foreboding are reason enough

SOURCE: The Independent at 05:42AM
Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Blithe Spirit review at Duke of York’s Theatre, London – ‘Jennifer Saunders delights as a dotty medium’ by Tim Bano

After multiple manifestations at Theatre Royal Bath and a southern UK tour, Noel Coward’s deathless comedy hits the West End in a

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:00PM
Friday, March 6, 2020

Stages – A Video Game Musical review at Vault Festival, London – ‘bold new musical’ by Tim Bano

Christian Czornyj’s video game-inspired musical is the first by Adam Lenson’s exciting new production company, which gives voice and space to artist-led

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 12:46PM
Thursday, March 5, 2020

The Last Five Years review at Southwark Playhouse, London – ‘Jason Robert Brown’s song cycle revitalised’ by Tim Bano

It’s one of those shows that has almost become too familiar. In the last two decades every number of Jason Robert Brown’s

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:37AM
Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Prince of Egypt review at the Dominion Theatre, London – ‘epic new musical that’s lacking in magic’ by Tim Bano

What is it about the Bible and musical theatre? While the UK has the gospel according to Andrew Lloyd Webber – Joseph

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:00PM
Monday, February 17, 2020

The Upstart Crow review at Gielgud Theatre, London – ‘a fantastic comedy cast’ by Tim Bano

Even if Ben Elton’s successful sitcom about William Shakespeare had been given a fourth series, it seems only natural that they would

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:58PM
Friday, February 14, 2020

The Visit review at National Theatre, London – ‘Lesley Manville is resplendent’ by Tim Bano

There’s a fierce relevance in the story of a woman failed by a patriarchal justice system and seeking justice her own way.

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:18AM
Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Leopoldstadt review at Wyndham’s Theatre, London – ‘Tom Stoppard’s supremely moving new play’ by Tim Bano

Tom Stoppard has spent a career searching for the key to the human condition through metaphor: quantum mechanics, gymnastics, Latin love poetry,

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:00PM
Friday, February 7, 2020

Death of England review at the Dorfman, National Theatre – ‘blazing Rafe Spall delivers powerful state-of-the-nation monologue’ by Tim Bano

Brexit gets only a couple of mentions in this roar of a monologue by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams. But the play

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:28AM
Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Endgame and Rough for Theatre II review at the Old Vic, London – ‘wonderful comic performances from Alan Cumming and Daniel Radcliffe’ by Tim Bano

Maybe it’s a little histrionic to stage a play about existence and extinction right now. Maybe not. If director Richard Jones does

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:38PM
Thursday, January 30, 2020

Carmen review at the Coliseum, London – ‘underpowered revival of a bold production’ by Tim Bano

As soldiers piss in phone boxes, smash things up, generally kick and punch objects both animate and not, it becomes clear that

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:43AM
Wednesday, January 29, 2020

The Sugar Syndrome review at Orange Tree Theatre, London – ‘strong revival of Lucy Prebble’s debut play’ by Tim Bano

Lucy Prebble’s debut play, The Sugar Syndrome, about two people who meet in an online chat room, premiered at London’s Royal Court

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:30AM
Monday, January 27, 2020

Sara Bareilles: ‘Theatre people work harder for less money than anybody else’ by Tim Bano

The Waitress composer and singer-songwriter, fresh from winning her first Grammy, is taking to the West End stage to star in the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00PM
Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The Sunset Limited review at Boulevard Theatre, London – ‘great performances enliven Cormac McCarthy’s tedious play’ by Tim Bano

Although Cormac McCarthy is best known as a novelist, winning the Pulitzer for The Road in 2006, he has also written two

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:08AM

Remaking a West End landmark – how Cameron Mackintosh transformed the Queen’s into the Sondheim Theatre by Tim Bano

After a six-month closure, the home of Les Misérables is back with a new name and lavish decor. Owner Cameron Mackintosh tells

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:48AM
Friday, January 17, 2020

Les Misérables review at Sondheim Theatre, London – ‘still spectacular’ by Tim Bano

After so much time and so much tinkering, when it comes to Les Misérables the philosopher’s axe springs to mind. Every time

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:14AM
Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Rags the Musical review at Park Theatre, London – ‘builds to a moving climax’ by Tim Bano

Since closing on Broadway in 1986 after four performances, Rags has been stitched and unstitched so many times that this version, which

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:37AM
Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Playwright Conor McPherson: Troubled men, ghosts, drinkers – ‘sounds a lot like real life to me’ by Tim Bano

Playwright Conor McPherson found fame in his 20s with a work about barflies telling ghost stories, went on to write a Bob

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00AM
Friday, December 13, 2019

Teenage Dick review at Donmar Warehouse, London – ‘a riveting performance by Daniel Monks’ by Tim Bano

Instead of staging Richard III as a vehicle for some able-bodied actor to show off how great they are by playing the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:51AM
Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The Ocean at the End of the Lane review at National Theatre, London – ‘makes you marvel at what theatre can do’ by Tim Bano

Neil Gaiman’s 2013 novel is meant to be his most autobiographical. Maybe the monsters and the magic that populate the book are

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:40PM
Thursday, December 5, 2019

Fairview review at Young Vic, London – ‘stunning production of an extraordinary play’ by Tim Bano

Jackie Sibblies Drury’s Pulitzer-winning play is simultaneously a microcosmic, tightly controlled look at a family through the prism of a middle-class sitcom,

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:00PM
Friday, November 29, 2019

The Last Noël review at Wimbledon Library – ‘Chris Bush explores the true meaning of Christmas’ by Tim Bano

Touring libraries and other non-theatre spaces in South London before a run in Oxford, this sweet play from Merton-based company Attic doesn’t

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:35AM
Monday, November 25, 2019

White Christmas review at Dominion Theatre, London – ‘enjoyable, but underwhelming’ by Tim Bano

Whatever you’ve been dreaming of, this isn’t quite it. Roughly based on the 1954 Bing Crosby film, the show follows army vets

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:00PM
Wednesday, November 20, 2019

& Juliet review at Shaftesbury Theatre, London – ‘the apotheosis of the jukebox musical’ by Tim Bano

If you were to attempt to explain the concept of & Juliet to anyone, it would be very easy to make the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:00PM
Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Dear Evan Hansen review at Noel Coward Theatre, London – ‘powerful, moving and superbly performed’ by Tim Bano

The best and the worst thing about being a teenager is the fact that it doesn’t last forever. Broadway phenomenon Dear Evan Hansen

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:00PM
Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Mary Poppins review at Prince Edward Theatre, London – ‘distinctly lacking in magic’ by Tim Bano

Mary Poppins returns. No, not the Emily Blunt film, rather Cameron Mackintosh’s muddled stage musical, back in the Prince Edward Theatre after

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:00PM
Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Actor Clare Halse: ‘I was learning how to graft eight shows a week – in a clown suit’ by Tim Bano

The musical theatre star is embracing all things festive and 1950s glamour in White Christmas, which starts its West End run at

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00AM
Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Sydney and the Old Girl review at Park Theatre – ‘tedious and unpleasant’ by Tim Bano

Eugene O’Hare’s debut play The Weatherman prompted mixed reactions when it premiered at London’s Park Theatre earlier this year. His follow-up is

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:40AM
Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Death of a Salesman review at Piccadilly Theatre, London – ‘riveting, devastating, stunning’ by Tim Bano

Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell’s take on Death of a Salesman captures the greatness of Arthur Miller’s play, and at the same

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:59AM
Sunday, November 3, 2019

High Fidelity review at Turbine Theatre, London – ‘a bland pop musical lacking in charm’ by Tim Bano

It’s easy to see why you’d be tempted to turn Nick Hornby’s novel about a miserable guy who works in a record

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:48AM
Thursday, October 31, 2019

Ghost Quartet review at Boulevard Theatre, London – ‘wonderfully dark and weird musical’ by Tim Bano

London’s latest venue, the Boulevard Theatre, occupies the site of the former Raymond Revuebar. Under the management of Paul Raymond, the ‘King

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:30PM

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