National Theatre, Olivier

The Amen Corner

West End, Drama

• Rating: 4/5
• Critics' choice

A sort of ecstatic tragedy set in a Harlem church, James Baldwin’s 1954 drama has gospel music right at its heart. But Rufus Norris – a showman director who could probably coax a decent vocal performance out of a spork – turns ‘The Amen Corner’ into something...

Edward II

West End, Drama

Director Joe Hill-Gibbins, associate director at the Young Vic and responsible for recent successes including 'The Girlfriend Experience' and 'The Changeling', makes his National Theatre debut with this production of Marlowe's violent, erotically-charged...

Emil and the Detectives

West End, Drama, theatre & performing arts (kids)

Last year, when the NT put its big Olivier Christmas show on sale early, things didn't go so well – Richard Bean's script for 'The Count of Monte Cristo' was (according to Bean) deemed unstageable, and a last minute replacement play had to be found. Fingers...

Othello

West End, Drama, Shakespeare

• Rating: 4/5
• Critics' choice

He fucked a pig for Charlie Brooker (in ‘Black Mirror’) and presumably paid off the mortgage with his recurring role as an MI6 dogsbody in the recent Bond films, but balding, babyfaced Rory Kinnear is apparently too normal-looking for the stardom that...

The River

Things to do

• Free

As part of the National Theatre's ongoing relationship with its local parish church, they host an exhibition of Canadian artist Daniel Inglis's interpretations of The Thames. The paintings are set to be displayed at St John's Church next year, so this...