The Stage

David Benedict

The Stage

About David Benedict

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

Recent Articles

My Favourite Play: Lucy Kirkwood

My Favourite Play

Which productions most inspired, moved and delighted our leading theatremakers? Playwright Lucy Kirkwood selects a firm favourite that teams serious politics with slapstick comedy

My Favourite Play: Nina Raine

My Favourite Play

Which productions most inspired, moved and delighted our leading theatremakers? Director and playwright Nina Raine selects a production that made her laugh and then sob

Tamerlano review

Reviews

Scattershot production of Handel’s rarely revived work

My Favourite Play: Jeremy Sams

My Favourite Play

Which productions most inspired, moved and delighted our leading theatremakers? Director Jeremy Sams chooses a joyful, recent hit show that made him go back for more

My favourite play: Michela Meazza

My Favourite Play

Which productions most inspired, moved and delighted our leading theatremakers? Dancer and choreographer Michela Meazza picks the Annie Ernaux adaptation that became the talk of the industry

My favourite play: Toheeb Jimoh

My Favourite Play

Which productions most inspired, moved and delighted our leading theatremakers? Actor Toheeb Jimoh chooses a modern adaptation of a classic that he watched multiple times while working as an usher

My Favourite Play: David Pugh

My Favourite Play

Which productions most inspired, moved and delighted our leading theatremakers? West End and Broadway producer David Pugh selects the 1981 production of Dreamgirls in New York

My Favourite Play: Lolita Chakrabarti

Features

Actor and writer Lolita Chakrabarti selects Robert Lepage’s Needles and Opium as her favourite production, which was a formative experience for her

My favourite play: Hiran Abeysekera

Features

Which productions most inspired, moved and delighted our leading theatremakers? Actor Hiran Abeysekera selects a production of Asinamali! that he saw at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2007

My favourite play: Ron Cook

Features

Which productions most inspired, moved and delighted our leading theatremakers? Actor Ron Cook chooses director Robert Icke’s reworking of Sophocles’ pivotal ancient drama

My favourite play: Rupert Goold

Features

Incoming Old Vic artistic director Rupert Goold chooses Richard III, featuring a legendary performance from Antony Sher, as his favourite play

My favourite play: Arinzé Kene

Features

Actor and playwright Arinzé Kene chooses his first experience of seeing a show by debbie tucker green as his favourite play

Partenope review

Reviews

Christopher Alden’s revival of Handel’s opera features a sensational ENO debut by Hugh Cutting

My favourite play: Roy Williams

Features

For his favourite play, writer Roy Williams chooses David Eldridge’s ’risky’ debut at the Bush Theatre

My favourite play: Sheila Hancock

Features

Actor and author Sheila Hancock on her favourite theatre production, a farce that first brought home to her the power of comedy and the unique talent of comic performers