Dolly Alderton: Ghosts review - a love story beyond romance

★★★★ DOLLY ALDERTON: GHOSTS A light but enjoyable examination of the life of the new thirty-something

A light but enjoyable examination of the life of the new thirty-something

There’s something simultaneously cringey and also addictive about Dolly Alderton’s prose. Ghosts is definitely feminism lite, a palimpsest for young women in London who are into yoga and small plates. But that is not to detract from the fact that it is eminently readable, and frequently charming.

Louise Alder, Roger Vignoles, Wigmore Hall review - German Romanticism meets French eroticism

★★★★★ LOUISE ALDER, ROGER VIGNOLES, WIGMORE HALL German Romanticism meets French eroticism

Music by Berg, Bizet and Poulenc makes for a heady lunchtime amuse-bouche

We may have started out among the wholesome pleasures of nature, but we ended up in the bedroom – once, that is, we had recovered from the flying breasts… Soprano Louise Alder’s recital – the last in the Wigmore Hall’s month-long lunchtime series – had a twinkle in its eye and the weekend firmly in its sights.

The Best Films Out Now

THE BEST FILMS OUT NOW theartsdesk recommends the top movies of the moment

theartsdesk recommends the top movies of the moment

There are films to meet every taste in theartsdesk's guide to the best movies currently on release. In our considered opinion, any of the titles below is well worth your attention.

Enola Holmes ★★★★ Millie Bobby Brown gives the patriarchy what-for in a new Sherlock-related franchise

Sunnymead Court, Tristan Bates Theatre review - a lovely lockdown romance

★★★★ SUNNYMEAD COURT, TRISTAN BATES THEATRE A lovely lockdown romance

Socially distanced dramedy is short and sweet, with a knockout performance from Remmie Milner

The first words of Sunnymead Court, a new play at the Tristan Bates Theatre, are ominous. “We are transitioning from human experiences to digital experiences.” Oof. Thankfully, this isn’t another gloomy lockdown drama about the evils of Zoom quizzes – it’s the story of an unlikely romance between two women who live metres from each other, but have never spoken. 

Broken Hearts Gallery review - effortfully entertaining

★★★ BROKEN HEARTS GALLERY Natalie Krinsky romcom tries hard & tugs us along

Natalie Krinsky romcom tries hard and tugs us along

Remember when romcoms didn't try so hard? That question kept going through my head for the first half, or more, of Broken Hearts Gallery, a film from Canadian writer-director Natalie Krinsky that ultimately in tugging at the heart but has to go through some fairly tortured narrative hoops to get to that point.

How to Build a Girl review - riotous fun

★★★★ HOW TO BUILD A GIRL Caitlin Moran’s film debut is a hilarious ode to self-love

Caitlin Moran’s film debut is a hilarious ode to self-love

Ever felt like you could express yourself more freely, if only you could get away from everything that made you who are?

Come As You Are review - a road trip with a difference

★★★★ COME AS YOU ARE Comedy about sex and disability is full of heart and laughs

Comedy about sex and disability is full of heart and laughs

At a point in the early noughties, every third film was a teen comedy about a road trip to lose one's virginity. It’s a genre most were glad to see the back of. What a pleasant surprise Come As You Are is then, which brings much needed heart and relevancy to this tired trope.

Love Sarah review - missing key ingredients

★★ LOVE SARAH Missing ingredients in cookery-themed comedy that needs spicing up

Cookery-themed comedy needs spicing up

The cakes look great, but it's back to the recipe books in almost every other way for Love Sarah, a subpar film from director Eliza Schroeder about the struggles of a west London patisserie in the age of Brexit. The emergence of Schroeder's feature filmmaking debut just now may benefit from a citizenry eager to get back out to their local baker.

Banana Split review - likable if essentially timid romcom

On-the-shelf romcom deserves both a proper airing - and an epilogue

Is friendship mightier and more durable than sex? That's the proposition put forward by the engaging if ultimately cautious Banana Split, the Los Angeles-set romcom in which two teenagers become friends unbeknownst to the long-haired himbo boyfriend whom they have shared.