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David Benedict

David Benedict

David Benedict has been a daily columnist and theatre editor on the Independent, arts editor of the Observer and chief London critic of V...

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A new take on The Turn of the Screw shows the potential of mixing forms

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Lucy St Louis, Phantom's new star – ‘My position in this show has blown the door off its hinges’

Lucy St Louis, Phantom's new star – ‘My position in this show has blown the door off its hinges’

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Stitched up: Commercial producers need to work with designers to avoid a costume crash

Stitched up: Commercial producers need to work with designers to avoid a costume crash

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Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter: ‘In the rehearsal room my job is to be the rock for the performers’

Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter: ‘In the rehearsal room my job is to be the rock for the performers’

Features by Liz Hoggard

Exclusive: Rebecca Kane Burton leaves LW Theatres after five years

Exclusive: Rebecca Kane Burton leaves LW Theatres after five years

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Opinion

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Let’s re-enter the industry with fresh eyes and be ready for a challenge

Stitched up: Commercial producers need to work with designers to avoid a costume crash

Rules have been relaxed but the crisis for theatre still has a long way to go

Without swift action it won’t just be Cinderella facing Closure Day

People are more important than art. Theatre must do more to protect them

What’s the secret to a great adaptation? Focus on form as well as content

People are more important than art. Theatre must do more to protect them

How can we support freelancers? Give them salaries and a seat at the table

Theatre has become a money-making machine. We have a chance to change

Covid passports are on their way, but will there be any theatre left to watch?

From Angela Lansbury’s Auntie Mame to Constellations of stars, casting is key

I love theatre, but not its damaging long-hours culture – it’s no way to live

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Lucy St Louis, Phantom's new star – ‘My position in this show has blown the door off its hinges’

Lucy St Louis, Phantom's new star – ‘My position in this show has blown the door off its hinges’

Features by Amanda Parker

Stitched up: Commercial producers need to work with designers to avoid a costume crash

Stitched up: Commercial producers need to work with designers to avoid a costume crash

Opinion by Catherine Kodicek

Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter: ‘In the rehearsal room my job is to be the rock for the performers’

Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter: ‘In the rehearsal room my job is to be the rock for the performers’

Features by Liz Hoggard

Exclusive: Rebecca Kane Burton leaves LW Theatres after five years

Exclusive: Rebecca Kane Burton leaves LW Theatres after five years

News by Matthew Hemley

David Benedict

David Benedict

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.

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What’s the secret to a great adaptation? Focus on form as well as content

From The Sound of Music to Glee, the path to Schmigadoon! is paved with box-office gold

From Angela Lansbury’s Auntie Mame to Constellations of stars, casting is key

Opinion

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Let’s re-enter the industry with fresh eyes and be ready for a challenge

Stitched up: Commercial producers need to work with designers to avoid a costume crash

Rules have been relaxed but the crisis for theatre still has a long way to go

Without swift action it won’t just be Cinderella facing Closure Day

People are more important than art. Theatre must do more to protect them

What’s the secret to a great adaptation? Focus on form as well as content

People are more important than art. Theatre must do more to protect them

What’s the secret to a great adaptation? Focus on form as well as content

Without swift action it won’t just be Cinderella facing Closure Day

Rules have been relaxed but the crisis for theatre still has a long way to go

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The rules may be relaxing, but that doesn’t mean all theatre audiences are

Advice

Amanda Stuart Fisher: 'We need to think about global challenges and theatre’s role in meeting them'

Amanda Stuart Fisher: 'We need to think about global challenges and theatre’s role in meeting them'

Kaysha Woollery: 'My first job came during the first lockdown. It was a godsend'

Kaysha Woollery: 'My first job came during the first lockdown. It was a godsend'

Sterre Maier: 'You never know where one job may lead'

Sterre Maier: 'You never know where one job may lead'

Lottie Walker: 'I wouldn’t be doing my current show without my first job'

Lottie Walker: 'I wouldn’t be doing my current show without my first job'

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Let’s re-enter the industry with fresh eyes and be ready for a challenge

Let’s re-enter the industry with fresh eyes and be ready for a challenge

Let’s re-enter the industry with fresh eyes, says actor and director Paul Clayton, and be ready for the new challenges we will face

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East London’s Yard Theatre saved from flooding by team’s ‘Herculean’ efforts

East London’s Yard Theatre saved from flooding by team’s ‘Herculean’ efforts

The Yard was flooded on July 25 as heavy rainfall hit London, after having fully opened for first time in 17 months only the day before

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Castings

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Lucy St Louis, Phantom's new star – ‘My position in this show has blown the door off its hinges’

Lucy St Louis, Phantom's new star – ‘My position in this show has blown the door off its hinges’

Features by Amanda Parker

Stitched up: Commercial producers need to work with designers to avoid a costume crash

Stitched up: Commercial producers need to work with designers to avoid a costume crash

Opinion by Catherine Kodicek

Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter: ‘In the rehearsal room my job is to be the rock for the performers’

Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter: ‘In the rehearsal room my job is to be the rock for the performers’

Features by Liz Hoggard

Exclusive: Rebecca Kane Burton leaves LW Theatres after five years

Exclusive: Rebecca Kane Burton leaves LW Theatres after five years

News by Matthew Hemley

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English National Opera expands free ticketing scheme to under-21s

English National Opera expands free ticketing scheme to under-21s

News by Matthew Hemley

This time last year: shows that opened in Aprils gone by

This time last year: shows that opened in Aprils gone by

Features by Tristram Kenton

Coronavirus: English National Opera launches drive-in opera series

Coronavirus: English National Opera launches drive-in opera series

News by Matthew Hemley

The Marriage of Figaro

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Advice

Amanda Stuart Fisher: 'We need to think about global challenges and theatre’s role in meeting them'

Amanda Stuart Fisher: 'We need to think about global challenges and theatre’s role in meeting them'

Kaysha Woollery: 'My first job came during the first lockdown. It was a godsend'

Kaysha Woollery: 'My first job came during the first lockdown. It was a godsend'

Sterre Maier: 'You never know where one job may lead'

Sterre Maier: 'You never know where one job may lead'

Lottie Walker: 'I wouldn’t be doing my current show without my first job'

Lottie Walker: 'I wouldn’t be doing my current show without my first job'

Recommended for you

Lucy St Louis, Phantom's new star – ‘My position in this show has blown the door off its hinges’

Lucy St Louis, Phantom's new star – ‘My position in this show has blown the door off its hinges’

Features by Amanda Parker

Stitched up: Commercial producers need to work with designers to avoid a costume crash

Stitched up: Commercial producers need to work with designers to avoid a costume crash

Opinion by Catherine Kodicek

Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter: ‘In the rehearsal room my job is to be the rock for the performers’

Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter: ‘In the rehearsal room my job is to be the rock for the performers’

Features by Liz Hoggard

Exclusive: Rebecca Kane Burton leaves LW Theatres after five years

Exclusive: Rebecca Kane Burton leaves LW Theatres after five years

News by Matthew Hemley

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Across The Stage this week

Lloyd Webber: Without government support now I could be forced to sell my theatres

Hamlet

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Chichester Festival Theatre postpones world premiere to allow for more development

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Lloyd Webber working with Equity to pay Cinderella cast during closure

First-look images of Theatre Royal Drury Lane released after £60m restoration

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