George Ormerod and John-Robert Partridge. Photo by Andrew Maguire.   Sherlock Holmes and The Sign of Four. Performed by Tread the Boards at The Attic Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. Running until 8 March 2026. Directed by John-Robert Partridge. Review by Charles Essex   The Sign of Four is one of Conan Doyle’s less well-known Sherlock Holmes stories but Tread the Boards (TTB) delivered an outstanding all-round production.  Set designer Adam Clarke gave the intimate Attic Theat

Enid played by Wendy Kay, Gerald played by Dean Mills, Doris played by Melanie Lee. Photo by Martin Pulley. The Stranger by Agatha Christie at Rugby Theatre from 7-14 March. Directed by Debbie Hibberd. Preview   A recently discovered Agatha Christie thriller is next up from the talented performers at Rugby Theatre. The Stranger tells the story of a woman called Enid, who rejects her long-term fiancé for a handsome and charming stranger called Gerald. But when the pair move to

l-r: Nadine Batchelor-Hunt, Michael Barker, Sue Moore, Anna Butcher. Photo by Richard Smith Photography. Doubt: A Parable, The Loft Theatre, Leamington from 25 February to Saturday 7 March 2026. Written by John Patrick Shanley, directed by Chris Gilbey-Smith. Review by Ashley Hayward. This award winning play is set in a Bronx Catholic School in 1964 and concerns the conflict between the school’s principal and the parish priest. Sue Moore gives a very commanding performance a

Vitamin String Quartet at Warwick Arts Centre. Image by Ollie Rosenblatt. Vitamin String Quartet: The Music of Billie Eilish, Bridgerton, and Beyond at Warwick Arts Centre on Monday 16 March 2026. Preview Vitamin String Quartet (VSQ), the celebrated classical crossover ensemble kick off their much anticipated UK tour at Coventry's Warwick Arts Centre on 16 March 2026. Their spellbinding show, titled Vitamin String Quartet: The Music of Billie Eilish, Bridgerton, and Beyond,

Murder at Midnight, a comedy thriller by Torben Betts, directed by Philip Franks,  at The Belgrade Theatre from 3 to 7 March. Preview   A murder mystery like no other... Starring national favourites Jason Durr (Heartbeat, Casualty), Susie Blake (Victoria Wood’s as Seen on TV, Coronation Street) and Max Bowden, best known for his role as Ben Mitchell in EastEnders and Katie McGlynn (Waterloo Road, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks). It’s New Year’s Eve in a quiet corner of Kent and

Game of Crones at The Albany Theatre. A & E Comedy presents Game of Crones at The Albany Theatre, Coventry on Saturday 7 March 2026. Preview Sharpen your swords and fill your goblets—the dragons have returned! A long, long time ago, 2018, A&E Comedy first embarked on a mighty quest with Enter the Dragons, slaying the beast of midlife with fearless buffoonery. Now, destiny calls them once more to the battlefield in their epic sequel : Game of Crones. Our dauntless fools must d

Cast members of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. Photo by Tyler Fayose. A New Musical - The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind at The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until 28 March 2026. Book and lyrics by Richy Hughes, Music and Lyrics by Tim Sutton. Adapted from and based on the book by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer and Potboiler Productions Film. Director Lynette Linton. Review by Ann Evans , WOW! What a show! What a story! And what brilliant performances by all the cast! T

Hannah McDermott as Peter Pan, Olivia Leaf as Wendy and Matthew Jolliffe as Captain Hook. Photo by Gwyn Davies  Wendy and Peter Pan, presented by the Talisman Youth Theatre, at The Talisman Theatre & Arts Centre, Kenilworth, from 12 – 14 March. Directed by Ellie Wellicome. Preview   The Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre invites audiences on a magical journey to Neverland with its enchanting new production of Wendy and Peter Pan, Ella Hickson’s imaginative adaptation of the be

The Boy at the Back of the Class, the Belgrade Theatre from 25 – 28 February 2026. Based on the novel by Onjali Q.Rauf. Adapted by Nick Ahad. Directed by Monique Touko. Preview   After delighting audiences across the country, the smash-hit, joyful play based on the best-selling novel is back with a celebration of friendship kindness and compassion. There used to be an empty chair at the back of the class, but now a new boy called Ahmet is sitting in it. He’s nine years old (j

James Phelan – The Man Who Was Magic at Warwick Arts Centre, 20 February. Review by Amanda Burden   Given the world events of the past few years, we’d be forgiven for believing we already live in a world of illusion. The most powerful man in the Western world confidently speaks of “alternative facts,” a contender for UK leadership promises to cancel human rights in one fell swoop, and a former prince once dubbed the world’s most eligible bachelor now faces the prospect of a l

Playbox perform The Mysteries this Easter. Photo courtesy of Playbox Theatre.   The Mysteries performed by Playbox Theatre at the Dream Factory, Warwick from 2 – 4 April 2026. Directed by Emily Quash and Mary King. Preview A landmark production reimagined for a new generation. Playbox Theatre continues its 40th Anniversary Season with the powerful return of one of its most iconic large-scale productions, The Mysteries  - restaged at The Dream Factory in Warwick this Easter. O

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and Unicorn Theatre announce the cast for  A Midsummer Night’s Dream . A world premiere production, the fresh retelling of Shakespeare’s classic comedy is for everyone aged seven and upwards. It is the first major collaboration between the Unicorn, the UK's leading theatre for young people and the RSC, representing a landmark partnership in children’s theatre between two industry leaders. A Midsummer Night’s Dream  will open at the Unicorn

The Battle: Oscar Lloyd, George Usher. Photo by Helen Murray. The Battle by John Niven, at Birmingham Rep until 7 March 2026. Directed by Matthew Dunster. Touring next in Manchester Opera House until 21 March. Review by Ellie Blackwell Recreating Britpop’s ferocious fight for the chart’s top spot, John Niven’s slick, new play perfectly encapsulates this iconic movement and a cut-throat pop culture where artists had nothing to lose and everything to gain. ‘I’m fine with a war

l-r: Anna Butcher, Nadine Batchelor-Hunt, Sue Moore, Michael Barker. Photo by Richard Smith Photography. Loft Theatre Presents the Award‑Winning Drama - Doubt: A Parable from Wednesday 25 February until Saturday 7 March. Written by John Patrick Shanley, directed by Chris Gilbey-Smith. Preview. John Patrick Shanley’s acclaimed drama premiered on Broadway in 2005, winning the Pulitzer Prize and multiple Tony Awards, including Best Play. Set in a 1960s Bronx convent school, the

19th Century true crime. A spooky night is promised at the Anglican Chapel set in the London Road Cemetery on the new date of Saturday, 28 February at 7pm.  Presented by Don’t Go Into The Cellar – the theatre company that brings new adaptations of 19 th  century literature’s greatest ghost and horror stories to modern day audiences.   If you dare, you’ll see how Scotland Yard Investigates infamous true-life crimes. During the course of this macabre performance, you’ll encount

Olivia Cunningham as Jane Eyre. Photo courtesy of Steve Vent. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, performed at The Priory Theatre, Kenilworth, from 14 – 21 February 2026. Directors: Ashley Hirons and Emma Marshall. Review by Charles Essex.   The full house for the opening night reflects the enduring popularity of this story of female vulnerability in Victorian England.  It follows the journey of Jane (Olivia Cunningham) from being a 10-year-old orphan ungraciously taken in by an a

l-r: Charlotte Ellingham (Aladdin), Jason Riley (Prince Charming), Ken Simpson (Barista Hardup), Shannon Lee (Cinderella) and Alyssa Swiney (Jasmine). Photo courtesy of Paul Bovey. Pantonia! Co-written and directed by Paul Bovey and Geoff Manns. A report from Paul Bovey After a busy but enjoyable run this week, Saturday 14 February saw the final and matinee performance of the Saints Drama Society’s latest production, Pantonia! Co-written and directed by Paul Bovey and Geoff M

Tim Raistrick and Adam Schumacher. Photo courtesy of Second Thoughts.   Shakespeare on Love Performed by Second Thoughts Productions at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Saturday 14 February 2026. Review by Charles Essex.   In a novel format, two narrators (Nic Walsh and Gill Hines) took us on a tour of a medley of Shakespeare’s love scenes featured in both his comedies and tragedies.  The scenes were acted out as short vignettes, either from the original script or m

Rebecca Chandler and Stephen Brown. Photo courtesy of the artists. The fabulous Improvesarios were back at the Loft Studio Theatre on Valentine's Night for another of their hilarious improvised operas.  With suggestions from the audience they come up with the setting for a new opera, then instantly, on the spot, make up the story, the music and the songs' lyrics. With Saturday being Valentine's Day, there couldn’t have been anything more appropriate than a wedding themed ope