MyTheatreMates is a portal for independent theatre bloggers, run by Terri Paddock. We currently have over 45 bloggers whose sites and content are regularly featured and hundreds more guest bloggers. We love meeting new mates! Are you a champion of theatre? Do you regularly blog and tweet about it? Why not join us?
Terri Paddock co-founded MyTheatreMates in 2015 with the help of leading theatre critic and industry commentator Mark Shenton, a mate for life! Find out more about the ethos behind the site. And join our mailing list.
Editor’s picks
FIRST LOOK: Magic Goes Wrong follows Groan Ups in Mischief Theatre’s year at the Vaudeville
18th September 2019As term starts this Friday (20 September 2019) for Groan Ups, the inaugural production in Mischief Theatre's year-long season of new work at the West End's Vaudeville Theatre, sneak a peek at what's to follow: Magic Goes Wrong, the company's highly anticipated… .. Read more
NEWS: Claudio Macor premieres Different From the Others 100 years after first-ever pro-gay film
17th September 2019Dramatist Claudio Macor, renowned for his dramas centred around little-known historical records, returns to the White Bear Theatre with his latest play. Different From the Others tells the story behind the first pro-gay film ever made – and it premieres… .. Read more
NEWS: Bold take on The Merchant of Venice comes to Drayton Arms
17th September 2019Shakespeare's great drama of mercy and manipulation, The Merchant of Venice, is to receive a striking new revival by theatre companies Poetic Justice Productions and Wolf Sister Productions when it is staged at the Drayton Arms Theatre this autumn. Book… .. Read more
FEATURED SHOW: ★★★★★ reviews & an Offies commendation are in for dystopian At Last
16th September 2019"A modern classic!" First raves and an OffWestEnd.com Offies Awards commendation are in for the world premiere of Proforca Theatre's At Last. We've rounded up selected review highlights below. Don't delay to book - this strictly limited season must finish at the Lion… .. Read more
NEWS: The 2019 winners of The Stage Debut Awards are announced
16th September 2019The 2019 winners of The Stage Debut Awards, in association with Access Entertainment, were announced in a ceremony which took place at The Brewery, London this weekend. The public crowned Jac Yarrow as the winner of the Joe Allen Best West End Debut Award… .. Read more
NEWS: Casting announced for Les Miserables at Sondheim Theatre
14th September 2019Cameron Mackintosh has announced casting for Boublil and Schönberg’s Les Misérables at the newly restored Sondheim Theatre, when the theatre re-opens on 18 December 2019 following its major renovation. Jon Robyns will play Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden Javert, Gerard Carey Thénardier, Carrie Hope… .. Read more
Other recent articles
FIRST LOOK: Magic Goes Wrong follows Groan Ups in Mischief Theatre’s year at the Vaudeville
18th September 2019As term starts this Friday (20 September 2019) for Groan Ups, the inaugural production in Mischief Theatre's year-long season of new work at the West End's Vaudeville Theatre, sneak a peek at what's to follow: Magic Goes Wrong, the company's highly anticipated… .. Read more
Reviewing Proms & other theatre
18th September 2019Concerts are just another form of theatre – especially classical ones which, however hard promoters and co try to de-formalise them, do have an etiquette and light ritual all of their own. Part of the fun, rather than anything off-putting,… .. Read more
Also visit Terri’s social media directory for musicals
At Last Q&A video: Can kindness be a form of rebellion against fascism?
18th September 2019Are you worried about the state of politics and society in the UK today? That’s the question I asked at the start of my post-show Q&A for At Last at London’s Lion & Unicorn Theatre. The hands of all my panellists and… .. Read more
‘Visually spectacular, thrilling entertainment’: BIG THE MUSICAL – West End ★★★★
18th September 2019Dominion Theatre, London – booking until 2 November 2019 This is a lavish revival of the 1996 musical version of the 1988 Tom Hanks fantasy comedy, complete with rootin’ tootin’ orchestra, smashing sets and a very capable cast. It must… .. Read more
Text of the Day: The Doctor
18th September 2019Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk. “I suppose, in one way, I am like a witch. The process of looking at someone, at something about them. Extrapolating evidence.… .. Read more
‘Challenging to say the least’: AMSTERDAM – Orange Tree Theatre ★★★
18th September 2019Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond – until 12 October 2019 Maya Arad Yasur’s Amsterdam had already had an illustrious reception before it hit Paul Miller’s pocket dynamo Orange Tree, Richmond. Award-winner in Berlin new writing prize, it was first staged at the… .. Read more
‘Indulges entirely in cinematic nostalgia’: BIG THE MUSICAL – West End
18th September 2019Dominion Theatre, London – booking until 2 November 2019 A crucial moment in Big the Musical sees Zoltar the fortune-telling machine say “make your wish, make your wish…” and I think my wish is that one day the Dominion Theatre will… .. Read more
NEWS: Claudio Macor premieres Different From the Others 100 years after first-ever pro-gay film
17th September 2019Dramatist Claudio Macor, renowned for his dramas centred around little-known historical records, returns to the White Bear Theatre with his latest play. Different From the Others tells the story behind the first pro-gay film ever made – and it premieres… .. Read more
‘Provides some moments of genuine theatrical magnetism’: SOLARIS – Edinburgh ★★★★
17th September 2019Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh – until 5 October 2019 Guest reviewer: Hugh Simpson Dealing with troubling questions about human interaction, the Lyceum’s adaptation of Solaris is – like all the best science fiction – not really about alien planets but about our… .. Read more
‘It shows its age’: FAME THE MUSICAL – West End
17th September 2019Peacock Theatre, London – until 19 October 2019 Guest reviewer: Amy Toledano “Fame!” – we all know the infamous song. The lyrics, “I’m gonna live forever, I’m gonna learn how to fly, HIGH” are not well known just because of the… .. Read more