Beginning, Middle and End form a trilogy charting the ups and downs of different relationships. Audiences have taken them to their heart – one couple saw the first play on a date, got married and had its title engraved on their rings

It is a fraught time of cuts, rewrites – and alcohol. Our writer goes behind the scenes at The Divine Mrs S just as the official opening night looms and not everyone’s ready to face the music

David Eldridge’s insightful play about a pair of singletons sizing each other up at the end of the night is relocated for a funny and moving revival

Danny Boyle’s Matrix-inspired spectacular opens in Manchester, Succession star Brian Cox returns to the stage and standups Maisie Adam, Guz Khan and Catherine Cohen are on tour

The author of a new book about the greatest openings in theatre history asks stars of stage to recall their most thrilling first nights – and the occasional disasters that befell them

David Eldridge, Simon Stephens and Alecky Blythe have all been moved by watching non-professional productions of their plays. They explain the appeal

David Eldridge’s new play is a poignant real-time examination of relationships with two damaged people reaching out at the end of a party

Did he duck the big issues? Did he capture the diversity of today’s Britain? And were his choices a bit blokey? As Hytner’s 12-year reign at the National ends, Michael Billington gives his verdict