Pain and prayer: Hannah Greenstreet writes on Matilda Ibini’s witty, moving coming of age story.

Thrusting hope in our faces: Lily Levinson writes on watching Pecs Drag Kings’ Christmas show on election night.

‘It’s time to wank jubilantly with a cross’: Frey Kwa Hawking writes on Breach’s exuberant retelling of the sexual adventures of a 14th century nun.

Revelling in mess: Emily Davis writes on Ell Potter and Mary Higgins’ exploration of masculinity and their relationship to it.

A howl of despair: Maddy Costa writes on Leah Shelton’s latex-clad, lipsync take on the myth of Pandora’s box.

‘It resembles an affably deranged birthday party’: Mert Dilek writes on Kneehigh’s riotous adaptation of Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi.

‘A glimpse of what the world could look like if everything were simpler and the people were kinder’: Emily Davis wells up at Hackney Empire’s Windrush-inspired pantomime.

‘A stumble off the path, into a crack in the ground’: Emily Davis writes on a new adaptation of Knut Hamsun’s book and the politics of the decision to programme it.

Imagining a future: Maddy Costa writes on Danish theatre company Fix & Foxy’s ‘materially sparse, philosophically expansive’ show.

A rallying cry for freedom of the press: Brendan MacDonald writes on the stage adaptation of journalist Can Dündar’s account of his imprisonment.

‘a steady throb like the sound of your heart beat in the bath’: Lily Levinson writes on Ava Wong Davies’ lyrical exploration of a relationship between a daughter and her estranged mother.

Not-so-seriously spooky: Amy Borsuk writes on a witty, magic-trick filled take on Oscar Wilde’s ghost story.

‘It looks like mending, in a way’: Lily Levinson writes on Abigail Boucher and Carolyn Defrin’s dance theatre performance exploring intimacy and activism.

Bear with me: Hannah Greenstreet writes on Eleanor Tindall’s fur-suited monologue about queer sexuality.

Caught in the web: Simon Gwynn writes on John Webber’s new play exploring male violence.