PRE OR POST CHRISTMAS THEATRE TRIPS

Pic: Craig Fuller

Forget Christmas pantomimes for a while and look at a more serious play.      DANIEL’ S HUSBAND***** (at Marylebone Theatre until 10 January 2026) can be rated as one of the best plays of 2025/6. It’s primarily the story of a gay couple, Daniel (Joel Harper-Jackson) and Mitchell (Luke Fetherston) who have been living together for seven years. Both have good careers and share a lovely home where they are happy to invite their gay friends, Barry(David Bedella) and his much younger New boyfriend, Trip (Raiko Gohara) who works as a home carer.  Daniel and Mitchell really love each other but disagree strongly on marriage. While Daniel believes that marriage shows that clear commitment, Mitchell disagrees and refuses to contemplate marriage.  The play develops from a witty comedy into something much deeper. This involves Daniel‘s mother, Lydia (Liza Sadovy) who interferes in a devastating manner. The writing, by Michael McKeever is superb covering not only gay marriage and the rights of a gay partner, but relationships between older and younger men, and between mother and son.  Director, Alan Souza, brings his cast together in a show of high emotion, beautifully acted by all five. A most attractively designed set with good lighting enhances the production. Go see!

pic: Johan Persson

Another unmissable play is on at Hampstead Theatre. A new production of Tom Stoppard’s INDIAN INK***** (until 31 January 2026) is a must see for those who relish excellent writing delivered by a first class cost. Ruby Ashbourne Serkis takes over the part of Flora Crewe originally performed by Felicity Kendall in 1995.  Kendall now plays Flora’s  sister Mrs. Swan. A Bloomsbury Group poet, Flora has come to India because of her health. Apart from the English expats she meets up with, Flora makes a close connection with a local Indian artist, Nirad Das (Gavi Singh Chera), who sketches and paints her.  This is in 1930. And 50 years later we see Mrs. Swan discussing a nude painting of Flora with Eldon Pike (Donald Sage Mackay), biographer ofFlora, later with Anis Das (Aaron Gill), the son of Nirad. The play deals with Anglo- Indian relationships and interracial connections. The setting of the play is exceptional, with one side of the stage showing Flora in India and another part Mrs Swan having tea with her visitors in 1980s England. The play is directed by Jonathan Kent who gives us the quality of Stoppard’s language delivered by a top tier cast

Lorna Want, Ciarán Dowd, Stephen Ashfield, Ako Mitchell and Monique Ash-Palmer in Dracapella, © Craig Sugden

For a bit of fun before or after the Christmas rush do try to catch DRACAPELLA***** at the Park Theatre (until 17 January 2026). Devised by Dan Patterson and Jez Bond, the force has a cappella singing and the most fantastic one man human sound system by ABH Beatbox (Alexander Belgarion Hackett) who is on stage throughout and produces a complete variety of sounds to match the action. He really is the star. However, the rest of the cast perform admirably in this madcap caper of a play. It’s Bram Stoker ‘Dracula’ , although told and performed in an hilarious new version. It’s set in Victorian times and costumes, set design and general activity show us the era. Lighting is suitably scary, but the audience soon relax into the show which is admirably directed by Jez Bond who brings out a constant stream of comic moments. Unmissable.

Happy holidays to everyone,

CARLIE NEWMAN