AuthorsIt’s business as (un)usual at the Royal Court at the moment, where on the one hand they’re putting on lots of new plays and events, but unusually are ones that have been chosen and suggested…
Mark Shenton
Mark Shenton is a full-time freelance theatre journalist and critic. He is theatre critic for the Sunday Express and regularly contributes to The Stage, including a daily online column, reviews and features. He is also London correspondent to Playbill.com, and a contributing editor for Theatrevoice.com, for whom he hosts a monthly recorded critical round-up. He regularly hosts live public interviews, with guests that have included Tom Stoppard (at the British Museum), Stephen Sondheim and Peter Shaffer (at the National Theatre), Michael Ball, Arlene Phillips, Maria Friedman and Kerry Ellis (at the Shaw Theatre) and Nicholas Hytner, Michael Codron, Bill Kenwright, Howard Goodall, Sylvia Young, Rob Ashford, Craig Revel Horwood, Janie Dee, Stiles and Drewe, Simon Russell Beale and Jeremy Sams (for the Theatrical Guild at Jermyn Street Theatre and Soho Theatre). He is also currently chairman of the Drama section of the Critics' Circle.
Different forms of theatrical madness and wiggery
Reviewing the opening of Sweet Bird of Youth at the Old Vic last week, the Daily Telegraph’s Charles Spencer awarded it five stars, and declared: “I seem to be gaily scattering five star reviews like…
The week ahead June 17-23 in London and beyond
This week brings new plays by Conor McPherson and David Edgar, as well as Daniel Radcliffe back to the West End in the third production of Michael Grandage’s West End season at the Coward, and…
Theatrical trivia, fun and quotes of the week
Twitter is, of course, a fatal time waster; but it can also be the source of endless fun, too. A hashtag game played out earlier this week was for #tubemusicals; and amongst the suggestions put…
Life on the factory floor
As he swaps James Bond for Roald Dahl, directing the West End’s biggest new musical of the year, Sam Mendes talks exclusively to Mark Shenton about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
New musicals bearing fruit
I spend a lot of time flying the flag for new musicals, and particularly British ones, both in print and here on this blog, as well as in my roles on various judging panels –…
Sam Mendes rules himself out of the running for National Theatre job
Sam Mendes has admitted that while he was “interested”, he has not applied to succeed Nicholas Hytner as artistic director of the National Theatre. Mendes is to return to the National Theatre this autumn to…
The joys of SE1
Last night I was at the opening of The Amen Corner at the National, a production that not only brings James Baldwin’s historic play back to London for the first time since the Tricycle produced…
The Tony Robbery
OK, let’s not beat about the bush: Matilda was robbed at this year’s Tony Awards on Sunday of the nod for Best Musical. And no, this isn’t a case of misplaced national pride, nor just…
The week ahead in London, June 10-16
Vicky Feathertsone’s tenure at the Royal Court kicks off in earnest, and the rest of the week’s big shows
A death threat to the fringe, and press nights that don’t help the press
I’ve written often here before about the lack of transparency and potential exploitation of actors on the unpaid fringe, or rather ‘profit share’ as it is sometimes euphemistically called. That’s recently been formally put to the…
Revealing reviews (and not so revealing interviews)
Critics, like the interviewees we sometimes encounter when we turn inquisitors, sometimes choose to reveal themselves in print (or at least on the web) in interesting ways. Some of this is entirely intentional, as I…
Marketing blitzes and jumping the critical gun
Nowadays there’s no stopping the constant commentary, conversation or even mere sniping about shows that begins the moment they are announced, let alone go into production or open to the public and then the press….
Differences of critical opinion
I’ve often noted here how shows can get a wide range of critical opinions, and I have equally often said how healthy this is. There’s no right and wrong in theatre criticism, after all; it’s…
The week ahead in London, June 3-9
As we head into June, the relentless parade of theatre openings continues unabated, with a significant opening (or two) every single weekday night in London, let alone beyond it. It’s no wonder my theatrical diary…
In the spirit of openness
After reaching audiences through film and TV, Robert Sean Leonard talks to Mark Shenton about his passion for theatre and his current role in To Kill a Mockingbird
Chasing the dream… and musical nightmares
Undoubtedly the most famous moment in the history of Britain’s Got Talent remains Susan Boyle’s audition with ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ – a song from a musical that propelled her into a global celebrity, though…
Establishing a house style and identity
We all have our preferred ways of working, and techniques that have paid off in the past that means we are tempted to try them again (and sometimes again and again). But life is evolution…
Broadway Across London
One of the biggest theatrical producers in the US is Broadway Across America, which presents touring product in cities across the nation (as well as owing Broadway.com). But right now we seem to have Broadway…
The week ahead, May 28 to June 2
A busy week of new plays, Shakespeare and a venerable 70s British musical, too, in its first major London revival since then are amongst the highlights of the week ahead. All that, and Al Pacino…
Jobs & Auditions
