James Cotterill News Today

Alun Armstrong and Marion Bailey are excellent in Richard Beans otherwise restrained comedy about ageing parents and their middle-aged children

Richard Bean’s new comedy runs until 25 November

Hampstead Theatre brings Richard Bean's uproarious new comedy, To Have and To Hold, to stage next month. Alun Armstrong will play Jack Kirk and is joined by Marlene Sidaway as his wife Flo Kirk. Alongside Armstrong and Sidaway as Jack and Flo's children are Christopher Fulford and Hermione Gulliford. The cast is completed with Rachel Dale and

Co-writer Maxine Peake stars as an am-dram actor playing the former Commons speaker in Sarah Frankcom’s end-of-the-pier-style production

LETS face it, there isnt much to laugh about at the moment.

Sarah Frankcom's production, starring Maxine Peake, runs until 14 January

The piece continues its run at the Hampstead Theatre until 29 January 2022

Greig is funny and commanding. But, do not expect to get a full dose of a play’s duty to profit and please you equally.

Alan Plater’s 60s-set play honouring agent Peggy Ramsay hasn’t aged well – her once maverick ideas now look outmoded<br>

There are strong performances in this tale of sex, power and morality reimagined by director Blanche McIntyre