ColumnsNew models for making theatre (and reviewing it)
It’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…
Shenton's View
Mark Shenton, theatre critic for The Stage and the Sunday Express, offers his daily take on the issues facing theatre today.
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…
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 –…
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…
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…
The search for a Twitter composer – and the X Factor musical
In the current issue of The Stage, which is a musical theatre special, I wrote an insight feature about the apparent lack of investment in new talent. It’s out there – but it isn’t, for…
More mobile phone rage and theatregoers falling out of windows
I (in)famously engaged in a bit of post-performance rage last year against a theatregoer for taking flash photography from her seat regularly during the five-hour, and now Olivier Award winning, Einstein on the Beach at…
ATG plants a flag on Broadway
ATG’s Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire have topped The Stage 100 list of theatreland’s most influential people for four years running now (though this year they shared the top spot with the National Theatre). And…
Jobs & Auditions
