Stuart King, Head Reviewer at London Box Office
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Stuart King, Head Reviewer at London Box Office
@stuartreviews-lbo.bsky.social
Former performer (Evita, Camelot etc) who has been involved in the arts all his life. Regular press night attendee reviewing plays, musicals, opera and dance. Member of the Critics’ Circle.

https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/author/sking
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A GHOST STORY
At Alexandra Palace

Dickens’ perennial favourite adapted by Mark Gatiss, presented amidst the faded grandeur of AllyPally.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/a-...
Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A GHOST STORY at Alexandra Palace Theatre
A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A GHOST STORY — The cavernous expanse of Alexandra Palace plays host to Dickens’ ghostly classic as adapted by Mark Gatiss. Directed by Adam Penford, this year marks the production’...
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 10:49 AM
At Alexandra Palace for the start of A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A GHOST STORY.

It’s the first time I’ve felt Christmassy this year.
November 26, 2025 at 7:06 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ BALLET SHOES
at National Theatre, Olivier.

Adapted from the 1936 book, the show is charming and whimsical, whilst retaining its central clarion call to young women to follow their dreams. 

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/ba...

@londonboxoffice.bsky.social @nationaltheatre.org.uk
Review: BALLET SHOES at National Theatre (Olivier)
Noel Streatfeild’s best selling 1936 children’s story about three adopted sisters, has never been out of print. When it was adapted for the stage by Kendall Feaver, it proved one of the National’s big...
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Pre-set and bows from last evening’s BALLET SHOES at National, Olivier.

Good to see fellow critics joining in with the pre-show ‘ballet class’.

@londonboxoffice.bsky.social @nationaltheatre.org.uk
November 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Back at the National Olivier this evening for BALLET SHOES which returns for its stint which is scheduled to continue through to February next year.

@londoboxoffice.bsky.social @ntsonline.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ THE ENIGMATIST
at Wilton’s Music Hall.

An entire show composed of enigmas, cyphers, conundrums and sleight of hand. David Kwong had us all completely mesmerised by his mental dexterity and audience engagement.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/th...
@londonboxoffice.bsky.social
Review: THE ENIGMATIST at Wilton's Music Hall
American magician and crossword compiler David Kwong (or cruciverbalist to use the correct nomenclature) has brought his immersive magic and puzzles experience entitled THE ENIGMATIST to the UK for th...
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Last evening to Wilton’s Musical Hall for THE ENIGMATIST with David Kwong in full magical, cryptic and enigmatic flow.

He was dazzling!

@londonboxoffice.bsky.social #Magic #Crosswords
November 25, 2025 at 11:28 AM
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ JOBSWORTH
at Park Theatre.

Libby Rodliffe embodies each character with confidence and elan as she deploys an array of distinct accents to deliver her plate-spinning yarn.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/jo...

@londonboxoffice.bsky.social @parktheatrelondon.bsky.social
Review: JOBSWORTH at Park Theatre
In collaboration with Isley Lynn, Libby Rodliffe co-wrote JOBSWORTH which she performs at a blistering pace at Park Theatre’s small space until 6th December. Libby Rodliffe in Jobsworth at Park Theatr...
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 8:06 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️ PARTENOPE
at ENO, London Coliseum.

“…a night of unexpected onstage mishaps and an heroic changing of the guard in the orchestra pit.”

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/en...
Review: PARTENOPE at London Coliseum
Handel’s PARTENOPE made a welcome return to ENO’s London Coliseum on Thursday, though it turned out to be a night of unexpected onstage mishaps and an heroic changing of the guard in the orchestra pit...
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 3:08 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AN INSTINCT
at Old Red Lion Pub Theatre, Angel.

What starts as a frivolous examination of strained compatibility, soon morphs into something altogether more sinister, unsettling and engrossing.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/an...
@londonboxoffice.bsky.social @chloenelkin.bsky.social
Review: AN INSTINCT at Old Red Lion Theatre
A chilly mid-week outing to Angel on Wednesday and my first ever visit to the Old Red Lion Pub Theatre where the three-hander AN INSTINCT has just opened. Penned by Hugo Timbrell, the play was shortli...
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
⭐️⭐️DRIFTING
at Southwark Playhouse.

“…the piece has a tendency to morph into a meandering metaphysical marathon, which isn’t always fully comprehensible nor riveting entertainment.”

Lots of effort, but not my cup of tea.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/dr...

@LBO_Theatre @swkplay
Review: DRIFTING at Southwark Playhouse Borough
A 26 year old man is still living with his parents and feels the all-consuming oppression of being located at a coastal town far from where anything of note ever happens. But does he have the requisit...
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 9:13 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️ THE HUNGER GAMES: ON STAGE at Troubadour, Canary Wharf.

Does the big spectacle constitute spectacular theatrical entertainment?
I found myself impressed by parts, but emotionally unmoved.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/th...

@troubadourldn.bsky.social
@londonboxoffice.bsky.social
Review: THE HUNGER GAMES ON STAGE at Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre
In a dystopian future world called Panem, located somewhere in North America, citizens are divided into individual societies, from the richest residing in the modern central Capitol to the poorest on ...
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM
The Hunger Games pre-set at Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre.

It certainly had a lot of moving parts!

@londonboxoffice.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 12:43 AM
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THE MEAT KINGS! (INC.) OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS
at Park Theatre.

Butchers, job reductions, a burgeoning romance among the cutlets, and an ICE raid. It’s almost like being in blue collar USA.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/th...

@ParkTheatre @LBO_Theatre @KMorleyPR
Review: THE MEAT KINGS! (INC.) OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS at Park Theatre
British-Irish playwright and screenwriter Hannah Doran’s THE MEAT KINGS! (INC.) OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS must be in the running for the most unusual (and one of the longest) play titles this year. Directed...
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November 12, 2025 at 5:59 PM
THE MEAT KINGS! (INC.) OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS.

Bows from last evening’s performance of this pertinent reflection of America’s current blue collar tribulations, exacerbated by ICE raids and lack of due process.

@londonboxoffice.bsky.social @parktheatrelondon.bsky.social @katemorleypr.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 2:14 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️ FATHERLAND
at Hampstead Theatre.

The character-led dialogue lends itself to a 1 hour TV drama. For those who’d like to see the play in the current format, it continues downstairs at Hampstead until 29th November.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/fa...
@londonboxoffice.bsky.social
Review: FATHERLAND at Hampstead Theatre
A life coach seems incapable of getting his own affairs in order, and despite advocating that individuals take control and focus on the positives, his life seems to be imploding. Nancy Farino as Joy a...
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Pre-set for FATHERLAND at Hampstead Theatre.

@londoboxoffice.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 6:57 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
FIGURES IN EXTINCTION
at Sadler’s Wells.

“…a loud, besuited, hyper-animated, corporate, evangelical, climate change denier spews forth his gasoline loving, doctrine of capitalist individuality”.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/fi...
@sadlerswells.bsky.social @londonboxoffice.bsky.social
Review: FIGURES IN EXTINCTION at Sadler’s Wells
Crystal Pite and Complicité co-founder Simon McBurney collaborated over four years to develop the three part work FIGURES IN EXTINCTION. In its creation, they have fused dance, spoken word, documentar...
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:09 PM
At Sadler’s Wells for the extraordinary Nederlands Dans Theater & Complicité collaboration FIGURES IN EXTINCTION.

Evenings like this, remind me why I make an effort to attend and review circa 160-170 productions per year. Breathtaking, inventive, exact, provoking, mellifluous.
November 5, 2025 at 10:31 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ OTHELLO
at Haymarket Theatre Royal.

Full review:
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/ot...
@londonboxoffice.bsky.social
Review: OTHELLO at Theatre Royal Haymarket
David Harewood and Toby Jones in Othello. Photo by Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ OTHELLO
Haymarket Theatre Royal.

Other productions chose to wallow in the murky depths of mental castigation. This OTHELLO is brazenly pitched and entirely accessible. It speaks to a modern West End audience in ways few have managed.
@londonboxoffice.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 1:42 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
DEAD MAN WALKING
at London Coliseum.

The rousing cinematic score with its Bernstein-esque orchestrations, is fleshed with strains of blues and soul elements which surreptitiously find their way into scenes.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/de...

@londonboxoffice.bsky.social
Review: DEAD MAN WALKING at London Coliseum
Michael Mayes in Dead Man Walking. Photo by Manuel Harlan
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 10:48 AM
DEAD MAN WALKING at London Coliseum.

Sister Helen Prejean’s book and subsequent film, has been turned into an opera (commissioned by San Francisco Opera).
November 1, 2025 at 6:57 PM
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THE LINE OF BEAUTY
at Almeida.

Much of the playfully nuanced verbal interaction of the novel finds its way into the stage adaptation, including matters both tawdry and high brow.

www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/th...

@londonboxoffice.bsky.social
Review: THE LINE OF BEAUTY at Almeida
Alistair Nwachukwu and Jasper Talbot in The Line of Beauty. Photo by Johan Persson
www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Pre-set for THE LINE OF BEAUTY at Almeida.

Thatcher’s Britain with its rabid class distinctions and burgeoning gay scene. Hollinghurst’s novel brought vividly to the stage in Jack Holden’s adaptation.

@londonboxoffice.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:27 PM