Khaled Hosseini | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | Directed by Roxana Silbert

Khalid Hosseini’s much-loved 2007 novel tells the deeply affecting story of an unlikely friendship between two Afghan women, both married to the same husband. The narrative spans several decades, starting in 1992 in an Afghanistan ravaged by civil war.

Lin-Manuel Miranda | Victoria Palace Theatre | Directed by Thomas Kail

Manuel Lin Miranda’s box office smash Hamilton, playing at the Victoria Palace in London, is a theatrical phenomenon. Musicals being ‘current’ and ‘relevant’ has become almost cliched but with a Trump administration in the White House full of anti-immigrant rhetoric, this show feels razor sharp and bang on the money.

Arthur Miller | Wyndham’s Theatre | Directed by Jonathan Church

The metaphorical price of the life decisions we all make is what this play really excavates and in this, Jonathan Church’s production successfully mines the depths of Miller’s writing.

John Kani | Swan Theatre | Directed by Janice Honeyman

South African actor, activist and playwright John Kani’s new two-hander weaves weighty and wide-ranging personal themes with a nation’s political history in this world premiere at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon Avon.

Peter Shaffer | Cambridge Arts Theatre | Directed by Ned Bennett

A striking and violent image dominates the imagination of the audience in this complex and disturbing play: six horses have been wilfully blinded with steel spikes. Why would anyone commit such a brutal act?

Alexis Michalik | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | Directed by Roxana Silbert

French theatre phenomenon premieres at The Birmingham Rep.

William Shakespeare | RSC, Stratford | Directed by Justin Audibert

Matriarchy replaces patriarchy in this vision of an upturned world of gender power relations. More info

James Kettle | Birmingham Rep | Directed by Didi Hopkins and Selina Cadell.

Miles Jupp delivers a crisp and poised performance in this one man show about the life of Mary Poppins actor David Tomlinson. More info

Martin Crimp | National Theatre | Directed by Katie Mitchell.

Martin Crimp’s new play, which had it’s world premiere on the National Theatre’s Dorfman stage last month, is billed as a shocking and explosive exploration of sex, desire and violence. More info