Articles by Neil Dowden
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Theatre Review: While the Sun Shines At Orange Tree Theatre

A surprisingly risqué approach to sexual liaisons.

 ★★★★☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

August Wilson’s King Hedley II Overstrains For Mythic Significance

Lenny Henry brings some much-needed humour to an epic production.

 ★★★☆☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Tennessee Williams Turns On The Heat In Southern Gothic Drama Orpheus Descending

A rich brew of eccentric, colourful characters in the rarely revived drama.

 ★★★☆☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Reform And Tradition Clash In Ibsen’s Rosmersholm

Guilt, secrets and traumatic events.

 ★★★★☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Battle Of The Sexes Rages In Strindberg’s Creditors At Jermyn Street Theatre

Psychosexual game-playing with a savagely primal edge.

 ★★★★☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Theatre Review: Three Sisters At Almeida Theatre

Anton Chekhov’s classic tragicomedy is given a fresh approach

 ★★★★☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

The Bay At Nice Paints A Picture Of Disappointed Hopes

Dame Penelope Wilton is the star of the show.

 ★★★☆☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Richard III Storms The People’s Palace

Alexandra Palace Theatre hosts its first play in 80 years.

 ★★★★☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Theatre Review: Betrayal - Tom Hiddleston Gives A Nuanced Performance In One Of Pinter's Best Works

Peeling back the layers of deception.

 ★★★★★
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Theatre Review: Blood Knot Depicts Divided Brothers In Apartheid South Africa

Exposing the insidious divisions of a racist society.

 ★★★★☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Theatre Review: Florian Zeller’s The Son At Kiln Theatre

Family breakup causes mental breakdown in the finale of Florian Zeller's 'family trilogy'.

 ★★★★☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

New Production Of Psychodrama Equus Is A Galloping Success

Surreal humour seamlessly interwoven with heavy drama.

 ★★★★☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Prison Drama Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train Asks Tough Questions

A dark comedy drama set in New York’s Rikers Island prison.

 ★★★☆☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Arthur Miller’s The Price Reveals The Cost Of Life Decisions

David Suchet steals the show with his vaudevillian-style patter.

 ★★★★☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Cate Blanchett Plumbs The Depths Of Sexual Desire In When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other At National Theatre

12 scenes that play like a psycho-sexual experiment.

 ★★★☆☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Restoration Comedy The Double Dealer Revels In Duplicitous Love

The web of erotic overdoes the wink-wink-nudge-nudge approach.

 ★★★☆☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Pinter Perplexes And Perturbs In Double Bill

Pinter short play season continues.

 ★★★☆☆
On Stage
By Neil Dowden

Pinter Plays Explore Landscape Of Loneliness and Alienation

Tragedy alternates with comedy.

 ★★★★☆