The week in theatre: Backstairs Billy; The Box of Delights; Brenda’s Got a Baby – review
The Box of Delights review – the RSC makes merry with Masefield’s fantasy
October 2023
RSC to put on work by poet who wrote Stratford theatre’s first words
John Masefield wrote poem for 1932 opening of Shakespeare Memorial theatre, which is now staging The Box of Delights
January 2023
Chichester Festival theatre appoints Justin Audibert as new artistic director
Audibert, who runs the Unicorn children’s theatre in London, will replace Daniel Evans who is moving to the Royal Shakespeare Company
November 2022
Pinocchio review – a truly bold take on Carlo Collodi’s classic
Mosquitos, cats and smartly defined morals feature in a complex and well-crafted reimagining of the beloved tale
May 2020
Lockdown culture
Guardian to stream Unicorn theatre's new Saturday morning family shows
Trio of stories about Anansi, the spider from West African and Caribbean folklore, will be available free and with accompanying activities
December 2019
Enter stage right: 12 theatre stars for 2020
Better, bolder, further to go: the decade in black British theatre
October 2019
Anansi the Spider review – children's theatre with beauty and bite
A mischievous arachnid from folklore is given fresh life in a silky show that leaves its audience charmed
June 2019
All change! Meet the new artistic directors shaking up British theatre
Our critic reflects on the exciting developments sweeping our stages and below, some of the top new recruits share their stories and ways of working
May 2017
The Cardinal review – darkly comic revenge drama is a forgotten gem
A defiant duchess takes on a corrupt clergyman in this vigorous revival of James Shirley’s cracking 17th-century play
April 2015
The Jew of Malta review – prescient, reverberating, immediate
Justin Audibert’s striking new production is a reminder that at his best, Marlowe can give Shakespeare a really good run for his money
March 2015
The Jew of Malta – antisemitic or a satire on antisemitism?
From sketch to stitch: costumes for the RSC's The Jew of Malta – in pictures
November 2013
Unscorched – review
This impressive play takes an unsensational approach to the stresses of having to work professionally with violent or abusive images, writes Michael Billington
