What would you do if all the fish suddenly vanished? It’s a question that would have sounded faintly ridiculous a few years ago, but as climate change grips the world, a mass extinction event doesn’t feel that far off.
Mates blogger: Debbie Gilpin
Debbie Gilpin is one of over 45 theatre bloggers who are part of the MyTheatreMates collective. This page features Debbie's posts on MyTheatreMates. Take a look at our full list of theatre bloggers and our aggregated feed of all our Mates' posts. We’re always looking for new theatre bloggers. Could that be you? Learn about how to join us.
Debbie Gilpin stumbled into writing about theatre when she moved to London after studying for a degree in Human Genetics at Newcastle University. She started her website Mind the Blog in November 2014 and also tweets from @Mind_the_Blog. She spent the best part of 2014-16 inadvertently documenting Sunny Afternoon in the West End, and now also writes for BroadwayWorld UK. Debbie’s theatre passions are Shakespeare and new writing, but she’s also a sucker for shows with a tap routine.
The latest from Debbie on MyTheatreMates
Puppetry, top casting & other reasons you should see The Magician’s Elephant
The RSC’s brand-new musical, an adaptation of The Magician’s Elephant, started performances this week at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Earlier this month, the company opened its rehearsal room doors for a sneak peek. Why should you add this show to your list of autumn treats?
‘Shines a disquieting light on a truly terrifying period in history’: THE WITCHFINDER’S SISTER – Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch ★★★★
Beth Underdown’s debut novel The Witchfinder’s Sister, now adapted for the stage by Vickie Donoghue, gives a voice to a possible sister of Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins and interrogates the practice of witch-hunts in the 1640s.
‘An interesting take on the Oscar Wilde classic’: DORIAN: A ROCK MUSICAL – Stream.Theatre (Online review)
Dorian: A Rock Musical is an interesting take on the Oscar Wilde classic, probably better suited to live & in-person shows – Bart Lambert gives an arresting performance as Dorian Gray.
‘This is not about romance, it’s about escape’: Romeo & Juliet – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★
Romeo & Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe is a new and vital take on the classic Verona tale, contextualising the characters’ motives – this is not about romance, it’s about escape.
Book Review: Hamilton & Me – Giles Terera ★★★★★
Illuminating about both the craft of acting and the glorious show that is Hamilton, Giles Terera’s book Hamilton And Me takes the reader on a whirlwind journey through what was clearly an incredibly important period in the performer’s life.
‘What comes across incredibly strongly is a sense of hope’: SHEDDING A SKIN – Soho Theatre ★★★★★
“I’m afraid of the skin I’m in.” Quick out of the blocks in Soho Theatre’s reopening season is Amanda Wilkin’s Verity Bargate Award-winning debut play, Shedding A Skin. The run has socially distanced seating, but for those who can’t attend in person there will be a live-streamed performance on 15 July.
‘Another superb bit of escapism’: THE TEMPORAL SOCIETY – CtrlAltRepeat (Online review) ★★★★
The Temporal Society is another superb bit of escapism from the minds of CtrlAltRepeat, taking you back in time and keeping you on your toes – Rebekah Finch and Rachel Waring are the double act we’ve all been waiting for.
‘A superb hour of movies & dance’: REMEMBERING THE OSCARS (Online review) ★★★★
A superb hour of movies and dance, with a fun concept and brilliant choreography – Aljaž & Janette are absolutely in their element in Remembering the Oscars.
‘Shane Richie gives a momentous performance’: SCARAMOUCHE JONES – Ginger Quiff Media & Stream.Theatre (Online review) ★★★★★
Shane Richie follows in the footsteps of Pete Postlethwaite, taking on Justin Butcher’s one-man play Scaramouche Jones or the Seven White Masks for Ginger Quiff Media and Stream.Theatre.
‘A thrilling piece of entertainment’: THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (Online review) ★★★★★
Not only does it work as a standalone piece of digital theatre, this adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray is also really intelligently linked to the original story.
‘An inventive & compelling retelling of a classic’: A CHRISTMAS Carol – Polka Theatre (Online review) ★★★★
An inventive and compelling retelling of a Christmas classic, the Polka Theatre’s A Christmas Carol is a great introduction to the tale of Mr Scrooge for audience members young and old.
‘It felt like we were all creating something very special together’: A fond farewell to The Show Must Go Online series
I may be woefully behind on my show write-ups, but I couldn’t not mark The Show Must Go Online coming to an end – at least until further notice.
‘Natasha Karp’s performance is particularly moving’: LITTLE WARS (Online review)
At a time when hatred seems to be the new norm (whether antisemitism, homophobia, or literally anything else), narratives like those discussed in Little Wars are more important than ever.
‘Intricately thought out & masterfully constructed’: VIPER SQUAD – CtrlAltRepeat (Online review) ★★★★★
Viper Squad is a highly entertaining and thoroughly engaging piece of interactive Zoom theatre, providing human connection and a welcome sense of escapism.
‘My favourite part of working in casting is meeting fresh, exciting talent’: Sydney Aldridge on the casting process for The Show Must Go Online
I’ve really admired the work of Sydney Aldridge throughout the course of The Show Must Go Online, so who better to talk to about casting and her experiences with this innovative Zoom theatre project?
‘All in all, yet another brilliant show’: AS YOU LIKE IT – The Show Must Go Online (Online review)
From Rome to the Forest of Arden, as The Show Must Go Online next tackles As You Like It.
‘I could have written an entire post about Ruth Page’s performance’: HENRY V – The Show Must Go Online (Online review)
I’m running out of superlatives for The Show Must Go Online. Each show is exceptional, including the latest staging of Henry V, and manages to improve upon the previous week in as many ways as possible.
‘Enlightening & moving at the same time’: INVISIBLE MUSIC (Online review) ★★★★
Platform 4’s Invisible Music presents a beautiful and thought-provoking soundscape that is a wonderful manifestation of creativity in this period of isolation.
’A top quality production’: NIGEL SLATER’S TOAST (Online review) ★★★★
Nigel Slater’s Toast is a top quality production full of heartwarming moments and alimentary temptations – grab yourself a Walnut Whip and make yourself comfy.