Having just seen the wonderful Wise Children at the Old Vic (touring soon, highly recommended) I was reminded what a unique and distinctive director we have in Emma Rice.
Her off the wall approach to what is sometimes unpromising material really is a joy. Her stage version of Brief Encounter ( an adaptation of the film rather than the original short play by Noel Coward ) was funny, moving and very very theatrical.
Who would expect a staged version of some old episodes of Steptoe and Son to be the magical evening that it was ? I was astonished by it. Wise Children is to some extent about theatre and managed to resurrect in me some of the magic I felt, as a child who was rarely taken to the theatre, enjoying the pantomime at the imposing Empire Theatre in Liverpool.
Add to this some entrancing shows in the Sam Wanamaker theatre during her short time in charge of the Globe and you realise that she is one of the most exciting of our current crop of directors. I look forward to some more magic from her new company.