Grumpy. Heartthrob. Reviews and features in the Financial Times / The Observer / The i / The Stage / WhatsOnStage / Mill Media / Exeunthttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mvakriu43c2bHow, aged 82, Alan Ayckbourn has the energy to not just write a 92nd play, but to also direct it, design the sound for it and make the whole thing three hours long is beyond me. But he could do with someone to rein him in here with this interesting enough but wildly bloated play [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Sep 2026 12:25 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvakriu43c2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mvac6scxc22uIt’s not quite as good as the original production, if we’re comparing, but there are some nice new touches and above all the play just remains brilliant – until the ending [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Sep 2026 09:52 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvac6scxc22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mv37a6thlc27So Lear yet so far for Ian McDiarmid. He throws everything he has at this – often all at once – while the production around him has nothing really to offer in return https://www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/king-lear-review-crucible-sheffield/09 Sep 2026 09:15 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv37a6thlc27https://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mtzajcbkt22eMy Edinburgh reviews have started making their way up on Exeunt, beginning with Stockard Channing and David Westhead’s swift and pathos-light Krapp’s Last Tape https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/i/210336403/krapps-last-tape-assembly-roxy26 Aug 2026 21:08 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtzajcbkt22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mtjk4bynwc2mArrived in Edinburgh to mop up as many of my Exeunt colleagues’ leftovers as I can. The drizzly weather has almost made the sauna theatre an inviting prospect20 Aug 2026 15:17 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtjk4bynwc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mssixsrbb22sEnjoyed hearing Phelim McDermott philosophise on the creative process, bringing wonder to the theatre and reviving MIF (and now West End) hit Tao of Glass [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Aug 2026 11:25 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mssixsrbb22shttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mspocaanmk2iMagnificent and maddening, epic and exhausting – this Game of Thrones adaptation sometimes lumbers, but when it finds its rhythm and fires on all cylinders, it’s knock-out [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Aug 2026 08:23 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mspocaanmk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3msatdezbes26Baffling how many Cleansed reviews claim no point or purpose comes through the play. Rebecca Frecknall’s production might not perfectly balance the real and the abstract, but Kane’s exploration of love’s endurance and our tolerance of atrocity comes through with searing force04 Aug 2026 10:43 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3msatdezbes26https://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3ms5yxwwmfc2kA Cate Blanchett VR ASMR session evolved into an increasingly tedious 45 minutes of woo-woo guff you wouldn’t even say while tripping out https://observer.co.uk/culture/theatre/article/evolver-a-vr-journey-around-the-body-that-is-more-mind-than-matter03 Aug 2026 07:46 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms5yxwwmfc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mrwujsr4tc2uI pretty much swooned over Sweeney [contains quote post or other embedded content]31 Jul 2026 11:38 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrwujsr4tc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mrn74kk7xs2cSome nice ideas in the first show of Chester Storyhouse’s theatre in the park, jumbled up in a script and story that are all over the place https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/let-the-sun-shine-review-chester-storyhouse27 Jul 2026 15:21 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrn74kk7xs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mrk2zepowc2qReviewed The Cherry Orchard, where Helen Hunt gives a tepid, blandly nondescript performance in a production that’s more starchy than starry. Still, she might not summon much feeling, but at least Ken Bran can https://observer.co.uk/culture/theatre/article/the-cherry-orchard-rscs-chekhov-yields-a-barren-harvest https://observer.co.uk/culture/theatre/article/the-cherry-orchard-rscs-chekhov-yields-a-barren-harvest?utm_campaign=obsmain&utm_source=X&utm_medium=social26 Jul 2026 09:29 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrk2zepowc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mqytasgtic27Back at @storyhouselive.bsky.social in the park for some al fresco theatre19 Jul 2026 12:55 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqytasgtic27https://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mqoptgvku22aThe Coli calamity continues [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Jul 2026 12:27 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqoptgvku22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mqcbwawk7k2xBechdel’s graphic novel is probably a masterpiece, so I felt slightly disappointed by this musical bellowing the subtext at us (maybe a flaw of musicalising this material?) and the inescapable sense of emotional manipulation in the production. Fun, but it didn’t floor me [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Jul 2026 13:46 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqcbwawk7k2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mplzxfqm5k2cThe Oldham Coliseum CEO has been making lots of noises on social media, so it’s great to see The Mill dig rigorously into what she’s actually delivering (which seems to be just an eye-watering expenses bill) [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 Jul 2026 17:25 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mplzxfqm5k2chttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mpgsnqrurc27I do wonder when AD Elizabeth Newman is going to challenge herself directorially, as this is about as safe and harmless as you could get. But if you fancy swaying along idly to some Cliff Rich classics, Sheffield’s the spot for it [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Jun 2026 15:31 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpgsnqrurc27https://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mp7hvmhn4k24A dance tribute so underwhelming, even a couple of the Factory International staff were on their phones throughout the second half [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Jun 2026 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp7hvmhn4k24https://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mp72qthvqs23Liverpool’s Royal Court seems to have two modes: solid, sincere local stories (Boys from the Blackstuff, Girls Don’t Play Guitars, Conteh) and… this [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Jun 2026 13:35 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp72qthvqs23https://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mon5s5lix223I reviewed Atlantis, heading to Chichester, which makes a lot of noise about the climate emergency and political inertia, without having much really to say (which I don’t think is the same as avoiding easy answers). It has a nice, more intimate idea that’s sadly drowned out [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Jun 2026 10:41 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mon5s5lix223https://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3moflsieckc2fFactory International unveils its “autumn/winter programme”: joining prev announced It’s a Sin are a new play running for all of two nights, an art exhibition and yet another Lightroom experience imported from London16 Jun 2026 10:31 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3moflsieckc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mnuc7wcomc2dThe Everyman’s commitment to new writing is admirable, but this piece needs a lot of work. Play, production and performer all trundle along in a low, humdrum gear, with only one real theatrical flourish that lasts maybe six seconds [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 Jun 2026 13:24 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnuc7wcomc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mnh5phhw7s2qThe audience interaction is plainly unnecessary and Green’s apparent personal identification with Woolf never lands as anything other than ludicrous. But she’s so hard to not like as a performer that she just about gets you past those flaws [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Jun 2026 07:59 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnh5phhw7s2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mmh5lqxarc2jI missed the original run of 1536, so was glad to catch the West End transfer of a rightly celebrated and scorching play that would be terrific for anyone to have written, let alone a debut writer [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 May 2026 14:31 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmh5lqxarc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mmfe7e73fc2tThere are undeniably moving things in Rory Mullarkey’s warm and sincere new play. Even so, the lack of structure and specificity to the city (plus a long, rambling opening monologue that just didn’t work for me) leaves it falling short of shattering [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 May 2026 21:24 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmfe7e73fc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mlqarnpjt224This is good to see, as many of their prev tours have forced regional audiences to compromise with largely recast productions. But it’ll be interesting to see which productions end up being selected over time - i.e. realistically it’s not going to be your Cate Blanchett-starring shows… [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 May 2026 11:57 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlqarnpjt224https://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mlnn6emhxc2xThis show can’t always see the wood for the trees narratively, but is so full of delicately crafted visual wonder that it’s a delight. Off to Sadler’s Wells East next, then Blackpool Grand [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 May 2026 11:01 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlnn6emhxc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mlliuoba6k2eLove being blindsided by a new play, and this Hilary Mantel adaptation @liveveryplay.bsky.social did exactly that [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 May 2026 14:39 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlliuoba6k2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mlfzot5ps22tDidn’t love Madge’s aggressively jaunty new musical, with its crazily chaotic first half and naff depiction of a northern community. It ultimately feels like a big TV ad for the bank, but at least has a show-stealing villain from Samuel Holmes [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 May 2026 10:24 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlfzot5ps22thttps://bsky.app/profile/matt-barton.bsky.social/post/3mlb4zaeh6k2fThe new Nyman/Dyson show is short on scares, if not ideas, and never manages to summon the magic of their previous hit, Ghost Stories. Frances Barber’s performance is a treat, but by the end, it’s more hammy than horror [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 May 2026 11:40 +0000at://did:plc:5pojoonrvnv5nui4pu2lpthy/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlb4zaeh6k2f