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Matt Barton

Matt Barton

About Matt Barton

Matt Barton is a freelance theatre critic who has written for the Financial Times, the Observer, Exeunt and WhatsOnStage.

Recent Articles

Even These Things review

Even These Things review

Reviews
James Macdonald directs Rory Mullarkey’s sensitive but scattershot play about the 1996 IRA bomb in Manchester
Return to the Forest review

Return to the Forest review

Reviews
Theatre-Rites and choreographer Gregory Maqoma bring ancient museum artefacts to life for a forest-set visual feast
The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher review

The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher review

Reviews
Alexandra Wood adapts Hilary Mantel’s short story into an incendiary and provocative new play
Bank of Dave: The Musical review

Bank of Dave: The Musical review

Reviews
Rob Madge’s larky new musical, directed by Nikolai Foster, falls short of a solid investment in its social story
The Psychic review

The Psychic review

Reviews
Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s new supernatural thriller is haunted by an identity crisis
Twelfth Night review

Twelfth Night review

Reviews
Visual splendour backdrops an uneven queer reading of Shakespeare’s comedy
Conteh review

Conteh review

Reviews
Warm, splashy bio-drama about the boxing legend glosses over the man behind the myth
Planet Omar review

Planet Omar review

Reviews
Well-meaning, warm-hearted but underpowered adaptation of Zanib Mian’s children’s books
Good Golly Miss Molly review

Good Golly Miss Molly review

Reviews
Politics is drowned out by pop in this revival of Bob Eaton’s overstuffed documentary musical
Living review

Living review

Reviews
Leo Butler’s sprint through five decades of British history prioritises breadth over depth
The Secret Garden – the Musical review

The Secret Garden – the Musical review

Reviews
Musically lush, stripped-back new revival proves more stately than spellbinding
Small Island review

Small Island review

Reviews
Helen Edmundson’s adaptation of Andrea Levy’s novel gets a wonderfully performed, visually expansive regional premiere
Crime and Punishment review

Crime and Punishment review

Reviews
Dostoevsky’s huge novel is compressed into a gruelling and confusing two-hour production
Two review

Two review

Reviews
Jim Cartwright’s pub-set two-hander feels shallow and dated
Operation Mincemeat review

Operation Mincemeat review

Reviews
Production values and breezy energy overwhelm the hit show’s plucky story and fringe origins
Matt Barton
The Stage
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