Whimsy and trauma in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

Classical news: New Year Gala; National Youth Orchestra; Handel; Holst; Life and Death of Alexander Litvinenko

Review: Spring Awakening at the Almeida Theatre

Lucy Popescu’s theatre news: Folk; Measure for Measure; ShakeItUp; Thrill Me; David Suchet; Five Guys Named Moe

Grooves rings in the new year

A life of Labour

Turn over a new leaf

Eye on the past

Thousands of Holloway inmates never to be forgotten

Cowboy brothers saddled with each other in The Power of the Dog

Review: The Tiger Lillies’ Christmas Carol: A Victorian Gutter, at Purcell Room

‘He was utterly devoted to radio’ – Piers, by his peers

Crimbo limbo is so hard for restaurants to stomach

Lucy Popescu’s theatre news: The Fir Tree; Peggy For You; Life of Pi; Gangsta Granny; Force Majeure; Spring Awakening

Michael White’s classical news: Kit Armstrong; Heath Quartet; Mariá de Buenos Aires; Il Farnace

The book of revelations

Santa and all his works

Show time!

Review: Best of Enemies at the Young Vic Theatre

Michael White’s Classical news: Nabucco at the ROH; Messiahs; St John’s Smith Square Christmas Festival