Last week saw the first production of The Show Must Go Online, a series devised by Rob Myles (who Mind the Blog regulars will recognise from Merely Theatre’s Twelfth Night and his insight into Shakespeare dramaturgy) which will bring a different Shakespeare play to YouTube each week with a rotating cast of actors.
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
‘Suffering & hope beautifully portrayed’: CAN I HELP YOU? – Omnibus Theatre ★★★★★
Can I Help You? is a sensitively and engagingly performed play that tells an all-too-familiar tale of the battle for hope when all seems lost.
‘Inclusive & engaging’: MACBETH – Greenwich Theatre ★★★★
A bold production of the Scottish Play from Lazarus Theatre with a heavy focus on power and ambition – a great introduction to Macbeth and Shakespeare.
‘The passion that Kaye has for his profession & Elton John is clear’: ELTON JOHN: IT’S A LITTLE BIT FUNNY – Touring ★★★★
Elton John: It’s A Little Bit Funny is a whistle-stop tour of Elton John’s outrageous life, with a soundtrack of some of his greatest hits performed by an excellent live band.
‘Compelling & moving from start to finish’: MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE – Peacock Theatre ★★★★
A compelling & human story brought vividly to life by a company that pulses with energy – Sting’s music and Kate Prince’s choreography are a marriage made in dance heaven in Message in a Bottle.
‘The music is the heart & soul of this show’: ONCE – Touring ★★★★
A welcome return for Once, a gorgeous show with music truly at its heart and soul.
MISSED THE BOAT: Stephen Ward
I very nearly did see this one, but it opened and closed so swiftly that I didn’t really have the chance – I wasn’t living in London at that point, so a bit more planning was required for my theatre trips.
Mind The Blog’s top five musical choices for 2020
If you’re struggling with all the choice, Mind The Blog has come up with her top five musicals you do not want to miss in 2020.
‘Wonderfully conceived & immaculately performed’: FAME THE MUSICAL – Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre ★★★★
An energetic production of Fame that serves as a good reminder that you can’t anywhere without hard work – the choreography is superb.
Mind the Blog reflects on a theatre wish list for 2020
Mind the Blog has a fairly wide-ranging wish list of things I hope to see, including major shows such as Sunday in the Park with George, Evita, Magic Goes Wrong, Uncle Vanya and the Jamie Lloyd Company residency at the Playhouse Theatre.
Mind the Blog’s Favourite female performances of 2019
As with last year, there were too many brilliant performances to restrict this to one combined list – so once again I’ve split them up into male and female performances.
‘A barnstorming show with laughs by the bucketload’: CURTAINS – West End ★★★★
Curtains is a toe-tapping, giggle-inducing spectacular that stays just as true to the whodunnit – Samuel Holmes absolutely steals the show.
‘An absolute treat’: THE RED SHOES – Sadler’s Wells ★★★★★
The Red Shoes is an absolute tour-de-force, and the perfect example of how to make dance (and ballet, in particular) accessible and engaging to a wider audience. It’s an absolute treat.
‘An all-singing, all-dancing festive treat’: WHITE CHRISTMAS – West End ★★★★
White Christmas is an all-singing, all-dancing festive treat, full of showbiz razzmatazz and a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure – though with the memories of war lurking in the background, there is a dark edge that offsets the Technicolor world of the 1950s.
‘Revels in its ridiculousness’: WE WILL ROCK YOU – Touring ★★★★
What can really elevate a show of this nature is the cast, and a remarkably talented set of performers have been assembled for this tour of We Will Rock You.
‘You’re guaranteed to have a good time’: & JULIET – West End ★★★
& Juliet is a camp classic that’s perfect nostalgia hit for the children of the 90s, and a guaranteed hit for fans of the music – this isn’t the Shakespeare you’ll recognise from your schooldays…
‘Sams’ adaptation is excellent’: WHAT’S IN A NAME – Touring ★★★★
What’s In A Name is a comedy-drama that’s packed full of great one-liners while maintaining a dark edge – the cast is uniformly excellent.
‘The cast of five excel themselves’: THE HOUSE OF YES – Hope Theatre ★★★★
Excellent direction combines with all design elements to create a truly atmospheric piece in The House Of Yes at the Hope Theatre, a bold choice of play that serves as a fitting end to Matthew Parker’s tenure.
‘A brilliant way to introduce audiences to (more) opera’: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE – King’s Head Theatre ★★★★★
This rom-com opera, The Elixir of Love is great fun and incredibly engaging – a ray of sunshine on a cold autumn evening.
’True testament to the power of music & storytelling’: WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF – Soho Theatre ★★★★★
Loud, bold & full of heart, What Girls Are Made Of is full of dynamic performances – a true testament to the power of music & storytelling.