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

Park theatre, LondonAn anonymously delivered box of something unmentionable sends an advertising worker into a spiral in Dave Florez’s comedyA cake box arrives in the post, sent special delivery to Colin (Nicholas Burns), a 40-something north Londoner …

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Inside No 9: Stage/Fright review – slick chills in Shearsmith and Pemberton’s creepy West End comedy

Wyndham’s theatre, LondonThe double act transfer their TV hit to the stage in an ingenious edge-of-your-seat, one-step-ahead show which is in love with old theatres and their ghosts‘We finally ran out of ideas!” jokes Reece Shearsmith towards the end o…

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My heart will go onstage: Celine Dion and Dolly Parton celebrated in outlandish musicals

The comedies Titanique and Here You Come Again pay homage to two superstars in quirky style. Actors Lauren Drew and Tricia Paoluccio explain what it’s like to portray their idols – and take on their iconic songsMost biodramas about musicians sing from …

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‘A sight to behold!’ Soho Theatre Walthamstow brings live performance back to historic venue

After a major restoration, new theatre in east London announces opening programme with Sara Pascoe and Rosie Jones on the bill – plus panto and a new show by Bryony KimmingsIt opened as a Victorian music hall, had various incarnations as a picture hous…

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Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible is Going to Happen review – hilarity and heartbreak

Arts Centre Melbourne, then Sydney and AdelaideFrom the producers of Fleabag and Baby Reindeer, this brilliantly ambiguous one-man show poses the question: does standup comedy need to be true?The cliche of the sad clown – the jester who uses laughs to …

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‘King of the musicools!’ Inside the outrageous musical send-up of Andrew Lloyd Webber

It’s had hit runs in Edinburgh and Soho – and was the Guardian’s funniest show of 2024. Now it’s blazing into the West End. Comedy duo Flo & Joan (who were both in Joseph at school) reveal all about One Man MusicalOne Man Musical was launched under…

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

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 icebergImagine James Cameron’s 1997 disaster film romance Titanic as a camp musical …

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Chills, chuckles and Cate Blanchett in Chekhov: the best theatre, dance and comedy coming in 2025

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…

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The best theatre, comedy and dance of 2024

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 on the best culture of 202410. Please Right Back This dark, psyched…

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Hold on to Your Butts review – Jurassic Park redone with DIY dinos

Arcola theatre, LondonThis recreation of Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic is frenetic fun, with the dinosaurs brought to life using physical comedy – and traffic conesHold on to your … what? Your enjoyment of this show may well depend on whether you rec…

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