Fiddler on the Roof, Playhouse Theatre, review – energetic production whips up an emotional storm

★★★★★ FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, PLAYHOUSE Energetic production whips up emotional storm

A spikily poignant reminder of humanity in politically dark times

In an age where political, social, and gender norms seem to be in perpetual meltdown, it should be pretty much impossible for a musical that begins with a song celebrating ‘Tradition’ to strike a chord. Yet from the moment that the cast of Trevor Nunn’s foot-stompingly fist-wavingly triumphant Fiddler on the Roof launches into the opening number, it’s clear that they have the energy and chutzpah to whip up an emotional storm.

The Twilight Zone, Ambassadors Theatre review – retro wit for our new space age

★★★★ THE TWILIGHT ZONE, AMBASSADORS THEATRE Retro wit for our new space age

Anne Washburn's play for the Almeida achieves lift-off in the West End

As China and the US arm-wrestle for world domination in everything from trade to military power, we find ourselves in the throes of a space race again. After China became the first nation to land on the dark side of the moon this January, it seems particularly apt to revisit The Twilight Zone in all its retro glory to examine what aliens can – among other things – reveal to us about our humanity.

Waitress, Adelphi Theatre review - sweet if sometimes silly musical arrives from Broadway

★★★ WAITRESS, ADELPHI THEATRE Sweet if sometimes silly musical arrives from Broadway

Tale of female emancipation gets a necessary post-interval lift

There's a lovely, quietly subversive musical lurking somewhere in Waitress, and for extended passages in the second act that show is allowed to shine through. The flip side means putting up with an often coarse first act that seems to have taken its cue from its sister show in female emancipation, the Dolly Parton-scored 9 to 5, playing down the street.

Only Fools and Horses, Theatre Royal Haymarket review - rollicking remake of much-loved TV sitcom

★★★★ ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES, THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET Rollicking remake of much-loved TV sitcom

Lovely jubbly! The Trotters return to Peckham

It was TV gold-dust. The original seven series of Only Fools and Horses were broadcast on BBC One from 1981-1991, and a string of Christmas specials kept the show running until 2003. It was showered with awards and critical acclaim, and in 1996 the episode "Time on Our Hands" drew a record-breaking 24.3 million viewers.