A play worth talking about: Nadine Marshall in Random at the Royal Court. Photograph: Tristram Kenton
On the surface it's the simplest of questions I get asked. "You go to the theatre a lot. What's good at the moment?" But finding a suitable answer can be a minefield.
My initial impulse is always to recommend something I've seen recently and loved, whether it be Pierre Rigal's Press at the Gate Theatre, or Debbie Tucker Green's Random at the Royal Court.
But often this approach backfires, and when I next see the person and ask what they thought, I am faced with a noncommittal shrug, or worse, the faintly accusing stare that all but screams, "I can't believe you made me sit through that." Indeed a friend is still grovelling to her partner after having persuaded them to see last year's ENO production of Kismet.
So sometimes I am tempted to play safe and talk up the dependable, big-name production that's garnered solid reviews, even if I feel deep down that I'm doing both them and myself a faint disservice.
Of course, it all depends on who is doing the asking. If someone is in London for a weekend and is simply looking to "do" the West End, or the enquirer prefaces their question with the phrase "I really ought to go to the theatre more often", then I acknowledge that gabbling on for ten minutes about some show at the Arcola is probably the wrong way to go.
But when you've seen something on stage that moves you, that excites you, it's natural to want to share that with people. When you've encountered a company whose work feels truly fresh and original, it's natural to want to spread the word.
There's a certain joy that comes from meeting someone who feels the same way about a production that you do. And there's a real pleasure that comes from recommending something and later finding out that person loved it too, then proceeds to thank you and passes the recommendation on to their friends.
Recommending a play is not quite the same as enthusing about a book or an album. You're encouraging someone to part with what can be a fair sum plus a night of their time, so more careful thought is needed.
When you do encourage someone to try some theatre outside their comfort zone and they have a good experience and want to see more, then that's surely a good thing. And perhaps in the discussions that follow, you might discover different ways of looking at things, and find that your experience is enriched as a result. Given that, is it best to always follow your gut instinct when recommending a production, or are there occasions when it is wiser to play safe?
