Our experts round up the best plays and musicals
CRITIC’S CHOICE Hedda Gabler Ibsen’s play premiered to negative reviews in Munich in 1891, yet Hedda remains his greatest character. This aristocratic young woman can’t be reduced to a mere archetype. Rather, as we find in Nicola Daley’s extraordinary performance, Hedda is one of the most enigmatic, tragic figures in world theatre. Arch, sharp and unashamedly snobbish, Daley’s Hedda smiles with BEST OF THE REST The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ – The Musical Turning one of the most cherished books of the Eighties – Sue Townsend’s The Secret Diary of… – into a musical? That’s a big risk. So it’s an unexpected pleasure to report that this all-singing, all-dancing Mole comes up trumps. It does that rare thing: both making you laugh and tugging at your heartstrings. Dominic Cavendish Curve Theatre, Leicester, to April 4; 0116 242 3595, curveonline.co.uk The Royale Boxing is well suited to theatrical exploration. The confines of the ring produce an intimacy barely disguised contempt for her husband (hapless academic Tesman) and his stultifyingly bourgeois Aunt Juju. Yet, on account of her sex, she lacks the freedom to live as she would choose. Amanda Gaughan’s fine production features strong acting across the piece, but it’ll be remembered for the brilliant performance in the title role. Mark Brown Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, to April 11; 0131 248 4848, lyceum.org.uk and immediacy. In this percussive new play from US writer Marco Ramirez, set in 1905, Jay Jackson (Nicholas Pinnock) dreams of becoming the first African-American heavyweight champion of the world. It captures both the beautiful frenzy of boxing and the (sadly still) volatile state of race relations in America. Ben Lawrence Bush Theatre, London W12, to April 18; 020 8743 5050, bushtheatre.co.uk BOOK NOW The Audience Peter Morgan’s hit play returns, with Kristin Scott Thomas taking over as the Queen, in the role first played by Helen Mirren. Apollo, London W1, from May 5; 0844 482 9671, nimaxtheatres.com