Arifa Akbar is the Guardian's chief theatre critic
August 2024
The Years review – Annie Ernaux’s faint-inducing masterpiece roars into devastating life
Eline Arbo’s profound but playful adaptation celebrates the multitudes contained within a single life, as big history is embodied by womanhood – including Romola Garai’s shatteringly raw abortion scene
The Grapes of Wrath review – dark moments on a long jalopy ride through a shattered world
The hardship in Steinbeck’s classic Depression-era novel is well captured in Frank Galati’s atmospheric adaptation, but you long for more tension, more to happen
Eng-Er-Land review – why Lizzie the football fan wants to be thinner, prettier and whiter
Hannah Kumari’s monologue about family angst and teenage isolation has potential, but despite a squealingly spirited performance by Nikhita Lesler,it doesn’t quite come to life
July 2024
Death of England: The Plays review – Brexit-voting bailiff electrifies this post-Boris revamp
The Promise review – high drama of Labour landslide collapses into argufying
Please Right Back review – exquisitely crafted hybrid of animation and performance
Paris Olympics opening ceremony review – soaring ambition deflated by patchy delivery
Oliver! review – divine yet danger-averse revival could be renamed Fagin!
Fangirls review – sugar rush musical turns a teen crush criminal
Theatre can be a force for change – I went looking for it on the Italy/Slovenia border
Arifa Akbar
Must the show go on? Theatre’s plucky motto may be out of step with our times
Arifa Akbar
Edinburgh festival 2024: 20 theatre shows making a scene this summer
The Hot Wing King review – Katori Hall’s comedy sizzles with joy
Hello, Dolly! review – Imelda Staunton plays the matchmaker with stunning results
Visit from an Unknown Woman review – gripping study of obsession and fantasy
Barnum review – roll up for some old-world big top magic
Slave Play review – Jeremy O Harris’s intense study of sex and race demands debate
The School for Scandal review – gen Z glow up is all style and no snap
Skeleton Crew review – America’s precariat show grit in the face of crisis
Your Lie in April review – high-school musical mixes manga aesthetics with Broadway sound
