My Master Builder My Master Builder @ Wyndham's - Ibsen given a post-MeToo update where the word master is heavily loaded. Nice concept, gorgeous modernist set but the script did tend to the pedestrian in places. Acting strong except, interestingly, Ewan McGregor who just dialed it in.

Finally caught Titanique, The Musical out of curiosity on how it had attracted so much musical talent to its cast. Not seen the film so wasn't in on all the in-jokes but scored higher on the topical & gay stuff. Went in kinda hoping it would sink, but left having been swept away by the fun.

Here We Are National Theatre: Jane Krakowski & Rory Kinnear score high on Tom's fantasy lead casting wishlist & they deliver in this discombobulating Stephen Sondheim swansong which dissects the meaning of life alongside the meaning of brunch. Whacky, powerful & vaguely profound.

Shucked Open Air Theatre comes alive with the one-liners & corny puns delivered with perfect timing by Keith Ramsay, Georgina Onuorah & the fantastic, always watchable Steven Webb. The plot is as weedy & stilted as the crops they grow but the leads are all in magnificent voice.

The Frogs Southwark Playhouse: was worried this'd croak but nope! The frog chorus are fantastic. Kevin McHale & Dan Buckley are hopping hilarious. Carl Patrick total scene stealer. The whole production is a delight - staging, choreo, ad libs & all. Was jumping for joy throughout. 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

After the Act Royal Court - packs a punch during the verbatim histories of those who lived through Section 28, though the power was in the words rather than the song & dance. Transcripts of political speeches come across as unnecessary padding and occasionally verge on pantomime.

Stereophonic Stereophonic: Live in the West End - a wholly original concept and one into which I felt entirely immersed in the recording studio. The cast are all awesome. But I was expecting more plot development, more denouement. The band played to a decent beat but I hoped for a few more notes.

Fiddler on the Roof Barbican Centre - didn't want to miss out after the rave reviews. It's a powerful story of persecution, renewal and upheaval, with beautiful staging. The darker second act is very strong.

London Road National Theatre is tremendous - an operatic dissection of a community in pain. It reminded me of similarly Suffolk-set Peter Grimes. I was a young reporter sent to cover the hunt for Eastern Daily Press & this revival brought back the visceral shock felt in Ipswich at the time.

4:48 Psychosis Royal Court is profoundly uncomfortable viewing: a disquiet hangs over the theatre as the 3 actors keep us captivated yet squirming. Perhaps the most intense play I've seen, the clinical monotone layered over the play's history makes it morose yet utterly powerful.

To EVITA where Rachel Zegler pouts & stomps through a rock concert-esque production: this Eva is firmly in her Brat era. The balcony is now a victim of its own success & was giving very us-&-them vibes. Not usually a fan of ALW schlock but this feels a definitive version.

Till The Stars Come Down Till The Stars Come Down is a wedding that ties the family in knots. Melodrama to the max - racial & sexual tension with a healthy dose of no-nonsense Nottinghamshire humour. Well acted throughout & lots of fun. It's a good year for Notts drama on screen & stage!

Sing Street Lyric Hammersmith Theatre - you cannot fault the exuberance of the actor-musicians & the new-romantic numbers are both fun & well performed. However the first act needs tightening, it has a curious ending and, perhaps appropriately(?), the staging gives very school musical vibes.

To Burlesque Burlesque The Musical - expecting a car crash but it they've actually delivered a really impressive show. Todrick Hall dominates the 1st act but takes a back seat for the 2nd where Jess Folley, Orfeh & a host of jacked dancers have all the attention. It's cohesive & fun.

Four Play King's Head Theatre - great title and good fun. A modern morality play with a little lashing of bedroom farce from a very believable, very cute foursome of musical theatre talent playing straight - in a manner of speaking. Jo Foster is as mesmeric as ever. Well worth seeing.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Bridge Theatre is the funniest thing I've seen all year. Genuine tears of mirth in the mechanicals' performance. A fantastic immersive show, which no one does like The Bridge. David Moorst, Emmanuel Akwafo & Lily Simpkiss the standouts of a strong cast.

Good Night, Oscar Barbican Centre ticks many boxes - the art of making television, the duty of performance, the limits & choices of exploitation, the humour in pain. Expertly played by Sean Hayes in a bravura showing, enthralling the audience. Shouldn't he be in the concert hall?

Born With Teeth @wyndhamtheatre is an intriguing game of cat and mouse in which Ncuti Gatwa gets to bear his fangs but - as is pretty clear from the premise - not for long. He's a powerful, engaging actor but I'm afraid these teeth are blunted by a script that doesn't really fly.

Juniper Blood Donmar Warehouse follows in a fine tradition of pastoral, arable plays - town vs country, capitalism vs agrarianism, ideology vs pragmatism. It's long & it's earthy - how best to nurture & nourish our ground & our society. But it's impressive & very interesting.

Interview Riverside Studios is a cat & mouse story that sadly struggles to get out of the second dimension. Possibly the fault of the 2002 source material but the fresh update (Ukraine / influencers) doesn't ring true & nor do the stakes or the pacing. Paten Hughes is good though.