A Christmas Carol

Christmas Past is an irksomely perky young girl and Christmas Yet to Come, in a weird PVC get-up, looks positively silly

Treasure Island

The fighting is well done and the nastiness of the pirates vigorously brought out, but the gaps in the story are a puzzle

Theatre to see in 2010

A new Lear, a Phantom follow up and Dame Judi back on the stage

George’s Marvellous Medicine

A potent potion dreamed up by Roald Dahl makes a fizzing stage show. Just don’t try this at home on your own grandmother

The surprising success of Midsummer

On with the show, out with the show tunes: a messy rom-com with lo-fi music has proved a big success, finds Brian Logan

Antonia Fraser on her affair with Harold Pinter

Their affair scandalised 1970s society, but the details stayed private — until now. The late playwright's wife reveals all

2010: a look ahead at the year in theatre

Three of the world’s finest directors are bringing work to London in 2010: Luc Bondy, Peter Brook and Declan Donnellan

Three stars for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

At only just over two hours, this is a rare example of a panto that doesn’t overrun. But nor does it gel or charm

British theatre's new king and queen

Husband and wife team have become the most powerful people in British theatre 17 years after starting a shopping centre

Three stars for Mickey Rooney in Cinderella

The Hollywood veteran appears bewildered, as well he might, given the references to everything from Katie Price to the MK Dons

Four stars for Aladdin

There are bigger and brasher Aladdins around in London this year, but here’s one that is as good as you could wish for

Cabaret Simon

It may not have the vitality of a great panto but there is an off-kilter sensibility that might fire a young imagination

Sheridan Smith drops the chav act for Legally Blonde

If the buzz is right, the TV actress is set to be a sensation in the musical Legally Blonde, a stage version of the film

Three stars for Twelfth Night

There are almost-excellent performances in Gregory Doran's production but it sometimes succumbs to RSC vices

Four stars for Dick Whittington and his Cat

A glance around at the rows of children, their eyes truly shining, illustrates the delight that pantomime still provides

Cinderella

Phil Porter’s jubilantly dotty creation delicately dips the toe of its sparkling slipper into murky emotional waters

The decade in theatre

“The Decade From Hell” proclaimed a recent Time magazine. Not for the British theatre

Cinderella

More a play than a panto, this version suggests that Cinderella’s stepsisters are more stupid than bad