Nick Curtis is Evening Standard’s chief theatre critic, co-host of the Standard Theatre Podcast, a feature writer and an award winning interviewer. Although he has written predominantly for the Standard for three decades his work has also appeared in most major English newspapers and magazines from Radio Times to Tatler to GQ.
ABOUTVIEW
Nick Curtis is Evening Standard’s chief theatre critic, co-host of the Standard Theatre Podcast, a feature writer and an award winning interviewer. Although he has written predominantly for the Standard for three decades his work has also appeared in most major English newspapers and magazines from Radio Times to Tatler to GQ.
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War Horse at the National Theatre: Remains tremendously moving
The return of War Horse to the National Theatre comes with added resonance in our time
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One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: Aaron Pierre is electric
Clint Dyer’s production at the Old Vic is big on intensity and performances but can’t shake some dated aspects of the classic story
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Iphigenia review: A clumsy attempt to make Euripides relevant
This play at the Arcola Theatre by Turkish director Serdar Biliş has a contemporary and experimental approach to Greek tragedy that doesn’t quite pull together
A Doll’s House at the Almeida Theatre: Romola Garai is excellent
Joe Hill-Gibbins’s production feels both faithful to Ibsen and thrillingly new
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Copenhagen review: Dazzling but boggling play about quantum theory
Alex Kingston stars in this look at the universe, physics and human behaviour
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Inter Alia review: A triumphant, freewheeling turn by Rosamund Pike
After it was a hit at the National last year, Pike reprises her role as a judge entangled in toxic masculinity at Wyndham’s Theatre
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The Authenticator: The legacy of slavery tackled head-on, with humour
This play at the National Theatre features two historians investigating slavery documents in a country house and features enjoyable performances
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Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the National: Lesley Manville is sublime
This sumptuous production features killer turns from an imperiously coquettish Manville and an amusedly saturnine Aidan Turner
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding review: Vividly sketches in unseen lives
This show at the Lyric Hammersmith is a likeable workplace comedy set in a Harlem hair salon
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Romeo & Juliet review: Sadie Sink is a magnificent Juliet
Robert Icke’s production with Sadie Sink and Noah Jupe has clarity, speed and dazzling touches
Kinky Boots: Johannes Radebe is the saving grace of this mediocre show
The Strictly star brings the swagger to the Coliseum stage but the rest is drab
John Proctor is the Villain review: terrifically provocative
This riposte to Arthur Miller’s The Crucible deftly examines the way women and girls are manipulated and gaslit
Stephen Fry on his Standard Theatre Award: ‘Being in a play is weird'
Winner of the Award for Comedy, Stephen Fry considers his career on stage and his standout role in The Importance of Being Earnest
Hayley Atwell on her Standard Theatre Award: 'It was unfairly fun'
Winner of the Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress, Hayley Atwell still can’t believe the fun she had on Much Ado About Nothing
Standard Theatre Awards winner Cate Blanchett: ‘I feel alive on stage'
Winner of the Lebedev Award for her performance in The Seagull at the Barbican, Cate Blanchett reflects on the unique qualities of the theatre
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Teeth ‘N’ Smiles at Duke of York’s review: why is everybody shouting?
Fifty-one years ago, this play must have seemed noisily thrilling and radical. Today, it looks coarse and lumpen
Standard Theatre Awards winner Rachel Zegler: ‘Evita was amazing'
Rachel Zegler on winning Best Musical Performance for Evita at the 2025 Standard Theatre Awards
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Consumed at Park Theatre: an uneven comedy with obsidian-black humour
Karis Kelly’s play boasts some hugely enjoyable malign vigour and arresting performances, but ends up feeling a bit underdone
Evening Standard Theatre Awards: Rachel Zegler among the winners
The stars came out for this year’s edition of the historic Standard Theatre Awards
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Summerfolk review: A stunning ensemble bring Gorky's satire to life
A stellar cast update Maxim Gorky’s bittersweet tale in a sumptuous production at the National Theatre
R.O.I at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs: fast-talking, big-thinking
This comedy examines power, global subjects and vast moral dilemmas with bags of confidence