Featuring the marvellous Sophie Isaacs, Jodie Steele and T’Shan Williams, Together Again might be Thespie’s best Reunited gig yet.
Mates blogger: Ian Foster
Ian Foster is one of over 45 theatre bloggers who are part of the MyTheatreMates collective. This page features Ian'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.
Since 2003, Ian Foster has been writing reviews of plays, sometimes with a critical element, on his blog Ought to Be Clowns, which has been listed as one of the UK's Top Ten Theatre Blogs by Lastminute.com, Vuelio and Superbreak. He averages more than 350+ shows a year. He says: "Call me a reviewer, a critic or a blogger, and you will apparently put someone or other's nose out of joint! So take it or leave it, essentially this is my theatrical diary, recording everything I go to see at the theatre in London and beyond, and venturing a little into the worlds of music and film/TV where theatrical connections can be made."
The latest from Ian on MyTheatreMates
‘Fierce & fresh’: LIVING NEWSPAPER – Royal Court Theatre (Online review)
Sneaking in in the nick of time, I catch the delights of the second edition of the Royal Court’s Living Newspaper.
‘Streaming feels like the show’s ideal home’: The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special – Soho Theatre (Online review)
Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme tackle Christmas the only way they know how in the highly entertainting The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special.
‘A theatrical enterprise growing from strength to strength’: The Theatre Channel – Episode 4 Holiday Special (Online review)
Nipping in just before Santa arrives, The Theatre Channel’s fourth episode delivers festive treats aplenty in The Holiday Special.
Album Reviews: A Hadestown Holiday Album / Leslie Odom Jr / Michael Ball & Alfie Boe
A trio of festive album reviews with If The Fates Allow: A Hadestown Holiday Album, Leslie Odom Jr – The Christmas Album and Michael Ball and Alfie Boe – Together at Christmas.
‘Just the kind of inclusive comedic treat we need’: THE COMEBACK – Noël Coward Theatre
The Comeback proves to be a piece of warmly inclusive comedy at the Noël Coward Theatre, it’s perfect festive fare.
‘Wonderful delights galore’: THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE – Palace Theatre
Sasha Regan’s All Male The Pirates of Penzance proves a feast for ears and the eyes in a glorious but short run at the Palace Theatre.
‘Treat after treat’: UNLIMITED: The SONGS OF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ (Online review)
Check out Wicked alumni Nikki Bentley, Sophie Evans, Alice Fearn, Alexia Khadime, Liam Tamne and more in Unlimited: The Songs of Stephen Schwartz.
‘I was happy to give it a whirl’: The Theatre Channel – Episode Three (Online review)
Exploring the world of rock musicals, Episode 3 of The Theatre Channel features Alex Gaumond, Shan Ako, John Owen-Jones, Francesca Jackson, Aisha Jawando and Rob Houchen.
’An unalloyed pleasure’: MARRY ME A LITTLE – Barn Theatre, Cirencester (Online review)
Rob Houchen and Celinde Schoenmaker star in a beautifully sung, beautifully filmed digital version of Sondheim’s revue Marry Me A Little for the Barn Theatre.
‘There’s quite the digital treasure trove in store’: HOARD: REDISCOVERED – New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme (Online review)
Theatrical archaeology meets real archaeology in Hoard – Rediscovered as the New Vic Theatre revisits their Staffordshire Hoard Festival for the streaming age.
CD Review: Mazz Murray – Midnight Mazz – Here We Go Again / Mascherato the Musical / Howard Goodall’s Songs from the Musicals Vol 1
This set of album reviews covers Mazz Murray – Midnight Mazz – Here We Go Again, Mascherato the Musical (Original Studio Cast Recording) and Howard Goodall’s Songs from the Musicals Vol. 1.
‘Offers startlingly fresh perspective on these tales’: 15 HEROINES – Jermyn Street Theatre & Digital Theatre (Online review)
Reinterpreting the women of Greek mythology for today, the theatrical enterprise of 15 Heroines is a major achievement and a highlight of the year, digital or otherwise.
‘The show’s coup comes with a spine-tingling performance from Linzi Hateley’: The Theatre Channel – Episode Two (Online review)
Episode Two of The Theatre Channel takes its Halloween theme and has a ball with it, with brilliant performances from the likes of Linzi Hateley, Jordan Shaw, Bradley Jaden and Sophie Isaacs.
‘Touches on subjects that feel so powerfully resonant today’: SHIFT+ALT+RIGHT – ALP Musicals (Online review)
This innovative production by ALP Musicals of Hilmi Jaidin’s new digital musical Shift+Alt+Right points towards the future of new musical theatre.
‘I kinda thought, huh, this is a modern classic?’ – BETRAYAL – Theatre Royal Bath
An hour plus of a straight white man justifying his affair or a modern classic? I go in for more Betrayal at the Theatre Royal Bath.
‘Moments of piercing emotion’: NOW. HERE. THIS – Golden Goose Theatre
The newly opened Golden Goose Theatre brings some interesting musical theatre to Camberwell with Now. Here. This.
Album Review: Lucie Jones Live at the Adelphi
Covid-19 may have cut her time in Waitress short but Lucie Jones Live at the Adelphi is a great reminder of the leading lady she is and will surely continue to be.
‘Deftly experienced hands are shaping this new kind of experience’: MACBETH – Big Telly Theatre Company (Online review)
Not quite ‘when shall we three Zoom again’, Big Telly Theatre’s imaginative online version of Macbeth has some impressive moments.
‘You have to admire a creative response to this Coronavirus bullsh*t’: SEEDS / At YOUR PERIL (Online review)
A rare foray into the world of podcasts sees Ian Foster listening to the Nina Sosanya-starring Seeds and getting properly freaked out by horror anthology At Your Peril.