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.
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
‘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.
’It’s perfect to adapt for the internet’: Writers Henry Roadnight & Adam Johnson on musical theatre web series Third Wheel
Writers Henry Roadnight and Adam Johnson have set about adapting their musical Third Wheel into an online production.
‘I was keen to continue to devise in a stimulating creative theatre space’: Actress Lucy Aarden on joining verbatim project Isolation Ensemble
Actress Lucy Aarden is part of #IsolationEnsemble, a company formed by director Abbie Riddell to raise urgent funds for theatres across the UK.
I feel I personally have to advocate for Shakepeare’s Globe even more strongly
Reading that the Globe may struggle to come back from this current crisis without the help of donations and emergency funding didn’t seem quite real.
‘Thoughtfully & inclusively cast’: RICHARD II – The Show Must Go Online
The Show Must Go Online was firmly back in history mode with the beginning of Shakespeare’s second tetralogy in Richard II. Not quite as much bloodshed as the previous set of histories that we’ve seen – more posturing and challenging than anything.
‘Every single week gets more inventive!’ The Show Must Go Online actors discuss their lockdown hit
I posed some questions to The Show Must Go Online returnees Luke Barton, Kristin Atherton, David Johnson and Lucy Aarden about their experiences with this weekly lockdown hit.
‘I’m glad this version has helped me to appreciate the play more’: The Show Must Go Online’s Titus Andronicus (Online review)
Last week was Shakespeare’s birthday, so The Show Must Go Online went all out with their latest production, holding a Titus Andronicus party in the Bard’s honour.
Lockdown has made me realise, as much as theatre, I’ve been missing live music
It feels slightly odd that my final show before the curtains came down wasn’t a play or musical – instead, it was a dance show.
10 wish-list productions for future National Theatre At Home screenings
Following on from the instant success of National Theatre At Home streaming event, it’s got me thinking about all the other wonderful NT Live screenings that I’d love to come to the small screen as part of this series. I have narrowed it down to my top 10.
‘Quite extraordinary innovation’: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW – The Show Must Go Online
The success of Show Must Go Online’s engrossing The Taming Of The Shrew is a real credit to the company’s creativity and the magic of this emerging art form.
‘A roaring success’: The Show Must Go Online’s Shakespeare series makes an impressive start
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.
‘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.