... Reflection London International Mime Festival: ICA Tanya Khabarova's series of stark, disjointed visual images fills the void of the stage with a surplus of potential meanings which do not eventually form anything coherent. Stnking and unsettling in the extreme as some of these visuals are. their jarring dislocations of the body and stuttering eloquence remain localised and hermetic. Starting ...

... Uplifting call to freedom Lyttelton The Island The first few minutes of this work are among the most staggering in 20th century theatre. We see two black South Africans, imprisoned on Robben Island for anti-government activities, miming the backbreaking manual work in which they are engaged, to such effect that we can almost see the mound of earth they are transfer ring to wheelbarrows and ...

... More Talking Heads Cardiff The notable success of the Sherman Theatre's innovative production of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads last year has, not surprisingly, led to this follow-up. Taking another three of the memorable monologues written specially for television, the theatre's company has interwined them into one continuous play. While losing none of the claustro phobic heartache, the ...

... Crowded confusion Birmingham Arthur Part One This world premiere of David Bintley's ballet marks the end of an era for the Hippodrome, which closes at the end of January for a £29 million redevelopment programme. It reopens in March 2001 with part two, which one hopes will be an improvement on this offering. The problem comes from trying to embrace too many issues and moments in history, ...

... Le Quatuor London International Mime Festival: Queen Elizabeth Hall These four musicians, from what first looks like a scruffily ordinary string quartet, turn out to be comic geniuses of dazzling inventiveness and daunting cleverness. Their brilliant performances of a series of sketches about music are all variations on the themes of ironizing excesses and parodying stylistic tics and ...

... The Grapes of Wrath Finborough The Steam Industry does an admirable job in conjuring the yawning expanses of the American mid-west onto a tiny stage in Frank Galati's powerful, if occasionally unfocused, adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel. It is an ambitious ensemble piece featuring a 12-strong cast. They portray the lives of itinerant workers seeing the society and the identities they knew ...

... Deadly Manoeuvres Basingstoke Gerald Moon says he is delighted that his latest comedy thriller is getting its world premiere at the Haymarket. His first contribution to the genre, a murder mystery involving twins-more 'which-wasit' than 'whodunnit', opened here before conquering the West End. So fingers are crossed that fame and fortune will strike again. This time round he directs as well ...

... Cast revel in glorious music Roval Opera House Otello Great works which fetch up in other forms usually get the thumbs down. However, with Otello, Rossini did not set out, as did Verdi and Boito, to reproduce Shakespeare's tragedy-although Byron obviously thought so: They have been crucifying Othello into an opera. True, Rossini's superb Act III, launched with an offstage gondo lier's ...

... Newcomer has plenty of style Redruth Langford Productions Showcase Somerset' s Langford Productions is a relative newcomer to the showcase scene, but judging by this stylish presentation, at the Penventon Hotel, the company will be a welcome addition. Compering a showcase is hard work, but Stevie Young's friendly energy made him the right man for the job. His skill shone through in the first ...

... Things We Do For Love Northampton Alan Ayckbourn makes a welcome return to the Royal's stage with this welHoved piece, directed by David Grindley. It is set in a Victorian London house which is owned by neurotic spinster Barbara, who has done little to lose her very apt school nickname of Spiky. The property is divided into three flats in which we encounter postman and bore Gilbert, in the ...

... Blithe Spirit Colchester Settling down to a new production of this Noel Coward favourite is like returning to your favourite holiday hotel you are prepared to welcome any improvements as long as the old place remains reassuringly familiar. But the Mercury's version left me feeling uneasy. Director Dominic Hill presumably decided to blow a few cobwebs off our expectations and offer a modem feel ...

... Glacial show is full of majesty Salisbury The Winter's Tale Little Mamillius, the King's son, pronounces that a sad tale is best for winter but this one is jolly and magical. The first production directed by Joanna Read since she became artistic director of the Playhouse, it augurs well for the venue. Lucid and attractive, it has an impressive cast who make emotions and sudden changes of mood ...