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David Benedict

Biography

David Benedict has been a daily columnist and theatre editor on the Independent, arts editor of the Observer and chief London critic of Variety (2006-2014). He is currently writing the authorised biography of Stephen Sondheim and is a regular guest on the BBC. Read David's columns for The Stage every Wednesday.

Recent Articles

Phan fiction: so what is going on with The Phantom of the Opera?

Opinion | 04 Aug 20

Cameron Mackintosh said The Phantom of the Opera would "permanently shut down", but Andrew Lloyd Webber reassured fans it would reopen "as soon as possible" – what is going on with the hit musical? asks David Benedict

The musicals that worked on screen – and those that bombed

Opinion | 28 Jul 20

David Benedict rounds up his pick of the musicals that worked on screen – and those that bombed

Before theatres reopen, someone call the Taste Patrol

Opinion | 21 Jul 20

When theatres reopen, David Benedict is considering forming the Taste Patrol to guide best practice in commercial theatre, and has a number of suggestions of things we don’t want to see when shows return

Downstream: I'd rather watch films of plays than plays filmed

Opinion | 14 Jul 20

Sometimes watching the film adaptation of a play can be far more satisfying than watching a theatre production on screen. David Benedict offers up some of his favourite screenplays that began life on a stage

Video footage? For real theatrical authenticity, it’s a painting for me

Opinion | 07 Jul 20

Searching for evidence of the forgotten musical version of John Osborne’s 1960s play A Patriot for Me, David Benedict discovers that you cannot rely on the internet, but old-fashioned paint and canvas can be far more suggestive

Why put The Da Vinci Code on stage? It’s a mystery to me…

Opinion | 30 Jun 20

An adaptation of Dan Brown’s novel is coming to theatres. But how will it fare?, asks David Benedict

At last, some good news for musicals (just not on stage)

Opinion | 23 Jun 20

For those of us fervently wishing for the return of musicals, it’s hard to have anything but a long face. But there is some good news, albeit not on stage, says David Benedict

We may have to wait two years, but there will be a big hello for Dolly

Opinion | 16 Jun 20

Dominic Cooke’s production of Hello, Dolly! has been rescheduled for 2022 but it should be well worth the wait, says David Benedict

The Tonys are out, but here is my pick of the decade’s winners

Opinion | 09 Jun 20

The Tonys are the latest awards show to be cancelled due to Covid-19, but David Benedict rounds up his pick of the decade’s musical theatre winners

Kramer’s 1985 polemic spoke to many – its anger is a fitting epitaph

Opinion | 02 Jun 20

The irony of playwright and activist Larry Kramer’s death during a pandemic hasn’t been lost on anyone familiar with his 1985 polemic about the AIDS epidemic. The play spoke to many and its priceless anger is a fitting epitaph, says David Benedict