The Kitchen

Based on his own experience, Arnold Wesker's 1959 work place play boasts a cast of 30, a clash of nationalities and a faltering romance as the Tivoli restaurant's staff slave away feeding the diners and lining the boss's
pockets.

Tempers blaze, the temperature rises, and although pans sizzle and gas rings flare, Bijan Sheibani's busy, carefully choreographed production captures the repetitive drudgery without quite achieving the sweaty, frenetic frazzle the dialogue demands.

– Louise Kingsley

Olivier at The National, South Bank, SE1 9PX
Tube: Waterloo
nationaltheatre.org.uk
Until Nov 9
£12-£30