Theatre is back and getting stronger! Thank you to everyone who has committed so much to mounting productions, online and offline, during these unprecedented times. The Mates are with you! If we can help promote your project, give us a shout!

MyTheatreMates is a portal for independent theatre bloggers in London and around the UK. We have dozens of bloggers whose sites and content are regularly featured here. Find out more about all our Mates and access their posts.

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 original ethos behind the website.
Featured shows

NEWS: See Kashyap Raja’s ‘mesmerising & transcendent’ Earth – A Children’s Story for Adults at the Bridewell Theatre
23rd January 2023After creating the “absorbing and provocative” Version 2.0 and the “eminently lovable” Letters, Kashyap Raja returns to London with his new play Earth – A Children’s Story for Adults at London’s Bridewell Theatre from 31 January to 4 February 2023 (press… .. Read more

NEWS: The UK premiere of One Who Wants To Cross at the Finborough Theatre brings a contemporary human tragedy into focus
20th January 2023Award-winning French playwright Marc Emmanuel Soriano’s One Who Wants To Cross (Un Qui Veut Traverser), a dramatic meditation on migrants, wherever their place of origin, receives its UK premiere at London’s Finborough Theatre from 31 January to 25 February 2023 (press nights… .. Read more
Recent articles

‘Classy staging & nicely judged mood’: WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS – Sonning
31st January 2023The Mill, Sonning – until 11 March 2023 The delightfully picturesque Mill at Sonning offers comfort food both literally and theatrically in this converted 18th century flour mlll on a tiny island in the Thames, about half an hour by… .. Read more

‘A show whose electric ending pushes you higher’: SOUND OF THE UNDERGROUND – Royal Court Theatre
31st January 2023Royal Court Theatre, London – until 25 February 2023 Ever been to a queer club? You know, drag cabaret night at Madame Jojo’s, or the Black Cap or Her Upstairs. No? Well, not to worry — the Royal Court’s latest… .. Read more

‘Lively writing, physical comedy & audience interaction’: AROUND THE WORLD WITH NELLIE BLY – Vault Festival ★★★★
30th January 2023The Cage, Vault Festival – until 5 February 2023 Nellie Bly (1864-1922, played by writer/performer Katie Overstall) is set for an adventure, and she doesn’t want to be stuck writing on her newspaper’s gossip column. Inspired by the novel Around… .. Read more

REVIEW ROUND-UP: Noises Off at the Phoenix Theatre
30th January 2023Find out what is being said about the 40th anniversary production of Michael Frayn’s comedy with our review round up… Broadway World: ★★★★ “Joseph Millson shines for his physical comedy as short-fused Gary Lejeune, proving to his co-workers and audience alike that… .. Read more

‘Chilling & contemporary’: NOTRE DAME – The Space (Online review)
29th January 2023It was just like the old days – or at least like it was three years ago when the pandemic had closed venues down entirely. Although the vast majority of online theatre has consisted of pre-recorded material, every now and… .. Read more

‘A writer who knew that you must both entertain & awaken’: WATCH ON THE RHINE – Donmar Warehouse
29th January 2023Donmar Warehouse, London – until 4 February 2023 Theatre can offer few more topical messages for a nation which might hesitate over Ukraine’s needs than this neglected one-set domestic play by Lillian Hellman. It is an artfully jolting picture of… .. Read more

‘A fantastic debut play’: THE BOYS ARE KISSING – Theatre 503
28th January 2023Theatre 503, London – until 4 February 2023 In a week where a petition to remove LGBTQ+ education from the primary school curriculum has reached the threshold for a parliamentary debate, you will struggle to find a more relevant piece… .. Read more

‘Narcissistic behaviour is central to the performance’: PICASSO – Playground Theatre
28th January 2023Playground Theatre, London – until 4 February 2023 Grandeous narcissistic behaviour is central to the performance throughout Picasso, which brings the world renowned artist Pablo Picasso to life in the production currently playing at the Playground Theatre. Peter Tate’s performance… .. Read more

‘There is an incredible energy that is infectious’: DIRTY DANCING – Dominion Theatre ★★★★
27th January 2023Dominion Theatre, London – until 29 April 2023 The musical makes its return to the West End. As someone who always wanted to learn to dance (but never have really had the confidence to), Dirty Dancing was always a film… .. Read more

‘A great foundation to an unconventional story’: PROJECT ATOM BOI – Vault Festival
27th January 2023VAULT Festival, London – until 29 January 2023 Guest reviewer: Luisa De la Concha Montes Project Atom Boi follows the story of Yuanzi (Xiaonan Wang), a doomer who, pressured by a self-indulgent Filmmaker (Francesca Marcolina), starts re-exploring the memories of her… .. Read more