Choice: Theatre

Tongue of a Bird, Almeida Theatre, London N1 (0171-359 4404) 7.30pm

Fans of fine ensemble acting have had many a feast at the Almeida this year what with Ivanov and Heartbreak House and now Tongue of A Bird. Director Peter Gill (himself a playwright which makes him a particularly astute choice for a piece of new writing) has drawn warm, richly sympathetic performances from his five-strong cast in Ellen McLaughlin's beautiful new play about flight. The depth of the acting alone should entice you, but there's more. The production has a comforting confidence and assurance hanging over it, most evident in its use of humour, which balances an extraordinarily poignant, moving play which a lesser playwright could have turned maudlin and inert.