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

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

David Hare’s latest is set in an alternative reality that is more 2008 than 2018

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

Super-star James McAvoy triumphs in Martin Crimp’s magnificent makeover of the French classic: a jaw-dropping success!

Text of the day: “Cor, what a miserable rainy day!”

One woman’s journey to explore the legacy of the slave trade is brilliantly personal and provocative

New blood courses through the veins of the West End’s longest-running musical

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

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

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

French meta-theatrical update of Klaus Mann’s classic novel has some brilliant moments, but lacks metaphorical force

Toff antics, nostalgic politics and troubled masculinity in Laura Wade’s exceptionally pertinent new play

Magnificent futuristic fantasy is a political fable that examines both the monarchy and the media

New play about a lost teenage youth has an impressive production, but is thin on plot and character

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

A short evening of satirical swipes at politicians, plotters and prophets is only fitfully funny and occasionally sharp

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

Tim Crouch returns! And his experimental exploration of belief and determinism is touched by genius

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s television hit returns to the stage, still rocking with laughter and coolness

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

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

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

Welcome new play about China is fascinating, but also a bit too complicated and too dense

James Graham does it again: his account of the “coughing major” scandal is great entertainment

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

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

New drama about a transgender lesbian is not only hugely enjoyable, but also thought-provoking

Frank, funny and occasionally ferocious revival of the late Kevin Elyot’s 1982 Bush Theatre debut

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

The poet laureate’s verbatim play about Brexit sinks into journalistic and untheatrical banality

David Greig’s much-lauded mountaineering survival story fails to reach the dizzy heights

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

This time, I have taken a critical look at about 75 years of British theatre history.

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