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We knew that theartsdesk.com had plenty of supporters out there – we’ve always had a loyal readership of arts lovers and professionals alike – but the response to our appeal to help us relaunch and reboot has been something else.

Adam Sweeting |

Reviews of The Hunting Wives have been taking the line of “it’s complete trash but I love it!”, which seems a perfectly reasonable response. It’s an everyday story of deceit, murder, weird sex and all kinds of corruption, set deep in the heart of Texas where they have some very strict ideas about guns and religion, especially the entirely taboo topic of abortion.

Kieron Tyler
“Ace tribute to The Doors” is what the poster says. And after The Fire Doors stroll on stage and blast into “Break on Through (to the Other Side),”…
Adam Sweeting
If any readers can still remember 2024’s first iteration of Red Eye, they will have an approximate idea of the kind of things they can expect from…
Heather Neill
Egad, what a simply spiffing time is to be had at the Orange Tree just now! Director Tom Littler has taken Sheridan's first play, and (with his…

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Kieron Tyler
Unadorned chronicle of the Brian Jones years
Adam Sweeting
Writer David Farr gives John le Carré's characters a new lease of life
David Nice
A young soprano truly blossoms and the conductor cuts a dash
Markie Robson-Scott
Ira Sachs brings Linda Rosenkrantz's taped project to life
Sebastian Scotney
Natural harmonics ring out subtly, gloriously, magically
Sebastian Scotney
Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson on cracklin’ form as a Neil Diamond tribute band
Jenny Gilbert
There's no denying it: dance has been on a roll
David Nice
Festival threads and outstanding one-offs in abundance
Veronica Lee
Some stars shone brightly
theartsdesk
So many channels, so little time...
David Nice
Ensembles and stand-out performances came first this year
Sarah Kent
Five of the best of the year's shows
Kieron Tyler
Fresh slants on the known, in a year when Yeah Man, It's Bloody Heavy!! was the most startling archive release
Matt Wolf
From big, bold musicals to solo shows, London theatre landed again on multiple fronts
Helen Hawkins
Josh Safdie's relentless directing style is by turns entertaining and exhausting
Nick Hasted
Saxophonist's beautiful, bittersweet melodies confront a time of war
Boyd Tonkin
Bach's Christmas marvel shines like new
Gary Naylor
Good illusions but pacing stymies the shocks
Mark Kidel
Music illuminates the heart at the darkest time of the year
Kieron Tyler
Home-counties prog rockers are collected in a box
Boyd Tonkin
No cosy comfort in this major modern act of faith
Adam Sweeting
From stage to screen to five-part TV series
Kieron Tyler
Intensity, jazz-oriented psychedelia and the joys of recontextualisation
Nick Hasted
A forensic documentary on journalism and state power

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