The longest-running play in world history is in good shape, despite the lackluster and mechanical cast

Jordan Tannahill’s queering of Renaissance art is riotously vulgar and completely unapologetic mash up

Explore the work of a handful of British theatre’s brightest and most exciting writing talents

Text of the day: “See this is what you don’t understand about writing, it’s the detail, it’s the human interest, the small intimacies of great souls.”

This time, I have time travelled with my companion Lia Ghilardi, crossing four hundred years of British theatre history.

Yes, it’s spooky! Coups de theatre and sudden shocks in trilogy of shorts from television duo

The Critic releases a howl of anguish as he goes against the will of the people

New drama about the downfall of Margaret Thatcher is theatrically exciting and immensely enjoyable

New staging of Shelagh Delaney’s 1958 play is more of a vivid cartoon than a reimagined classic

Arinzé Kene’s one-man show sparkles with critical know-how, but can’t quite disguise its postmodern thinness

Alice Birch’s experimental new play prioritises form over content — and is at heart depressingly reactionary

The death of David Bowie provokes the Critic to take a trip down the motorways and side alleys of memory

Pix of the week: sneak preview of The Time Traveler’s Guide to British Theatre.

Intriguing Cold War thriller is thoroughly immersive, but lacks a convincing sense of historical reality

Latest episode in this venue’s examination of the culture of fear is surreal, silly and oddly satisfying

Miniature masterpiece by Duncan Macmillan is emotionally honest, and funny, but also sometimes a bit clichéd

Censorship appears to be simple, but is actually quite complicated.

Poetic two-hander combines epic myth, family relationships and gender politics in an exciting evening

Sarah Kane’s last play is completely revitalized in this revival by Deafinitely Theatre

Debut play about the parliamentary ruling class is timely, and amusingly perceptive, but ultimately unsatisfying

The final episode of Florian Zeller’s domestic trilogy is powerfully, even melodramatically, effective

Comedy about Labour Party history is starry, but politically reactionary and tediously overblown

Tanika Gupta explores an episode from her family history that is both highly relevant and humane

On the 50th anniversary of 1968 David Edgar looks back at his younger self and explores the results of radical politics

Clarification of the week: on Sunday 24 March, The Observer ran a news story that, in its headline, called David Greig’s new play, The Events, a musical about Anders Breivik and ...

Text of the day: “The only thing you are infected with is fear.”

Jack Thorne’s account of local austerity politics is at its best when it pulls down its pants to expose excruciating emotions

Nick Stafford’s sturdy beast rides again — and retains its colt-like freshness and wild beauty

More overviews of British new writing from the In-Yer-Face Theatre archive.

Michael Frayn’s meta-comic masterpiece easily stands the test of time — even when things go wrong!

New play about participation and democracy is entertaining enough, but a bit too tricksy and too so-what-ish?

The classic TV serial takes to the stage like a politician to a pay rise, but lags a bit behind reality

American writer explores issues of belief and redemption during the New Orleans floods

Television tie-in features live real-time voting: it’s timely but, hey, isn’t it more of a silly stunt than a satisfying drama?

Magnificent revival of David Greig’s 1990s visionary classic is timely, tough and tender, brutal and brilliant

New play about teenage death, mourning, coincidence and healing is sensitive and heartfelt

In the Brexit era, this site-specific revival of Agatha Christie’s 1953 courtroom drama works like a treat

Brilliant revival of Brian Friel’s modern classic raises questions about the National Theatre’s biggest theatre space

Text of the day: “If it wasn’t for people like us, this place would still be a shithole.”