Conor McPherson’s adaptation of Uncle Vanya featuring Toby Jones and Richard Armitage at the Harold Pinter Theatre is so good you can forgive the “wanging on”.
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
‘A historical epic that demands to be heard’: THE WELKIN – National Theatre
Lucy Kirkwood returns to the National Theatre with The Welkin, starring a brilliant ensemble led by Maxine Peake.
‘Delicate but delicious’: YOU STUPID DARKNESS! – Southwark Playhouse
With its focus on the small things, Sam Steiner’s play You Stupid Darkness! is a delicate but delicious thing at the Southwark Playhouse.
‘Fascinating drama’: THE STORY / HELA – Touring
The Other Room’s The Story and Hela make a delightful and daring double bill of Welsh drama at Theatre503.
‘Bold & striking’: THE PROCESS – Bunker Theatre
BAZ Productions’ The Process proves bold and striking in its use of BSL and spoken English, if a little flawed too, now running at the Bunker Theatre.
‘Playful & intermittently powerful’: TOM BROWN’S SCHOOL DAYS – Union Theatre
A musical adaptation of Tom Brown’s School Days at the Union Theatre has some moments, and performances, to treasure.
‘At the cutting edge of the zeitgeist’: SIX THE MUSICAL – Touring
As well as providing a welcome opportunity for performers to really cut loose, Six also – sadly – remains at the cutting edge of the zeitgeist.
‘Toys interestingly with ideas of representation’: ANTIGONE – New Diorama Theatre
Holy What’s Antigone at the New Diorama shifts the focus of Sophocles’ play onto two young sisters to powerful effect.
Broadway Album Reviews: The New Yorkers, Kiss Me, Kate! & Beetlejuice
Ought To Be Clowns tackles a trio of Broadway cast recordings in the shape of Cole Porter’s The New Yorkers, Kiss Me, Kate! and Beetlejuice.
Ought To Be Clowns’ 10 favourite shows of 2019
Ought To Be Clowns barely saw 250 shows this year, quiet by his standards. And as is the way of these things, here’s a rundown of some of the productions that moved me most…
20 shows to look forward to in 2020
Looking ahead to some of 2020’s exciting shows, most with an emphasis away from the West End and instead focusing at the London Fringe and across the UK.
10 of Ought To Be Clowns’ top moments of the decade
Ever behind the curve, I present 10 of my top moments in a theatre over the last ten years (plus a few bonus extra ones because whittling down this list was hard, and it will probably be different tomorrow anyway!).
‘There’s just a whole lot of arrestingly good fun to be had here’: CURTAINS – West End
A Kander & Ebb premiere in the West End you say? Curtains makes its bow at the Wyndham’s Theatre and I had an arrestingly good time with it.
‘Riding a wave of sweet-sharp emotion’: AMELIE THE MUSICAL – The Other Palace
Not too much more to say about Amélie the Musical, now in London at The Other Palace, other than book now for un moment merveilleux.
‘Smartly self-aware, free adaptation’: TEENAGE DICK – Donmar Warehouse
Teenage Dick at the Donmar Warehouse does extremely well in dealing with disability but I think we’re kidding ourselves if we’re yet in a place where this would happen organically.
‘Challenging but exhilarating reworking’: THREE SISTERS – National Theatre
Inua Ellams’ relocation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters to the Biafran Civil War proves devastatingly effective at the National Theatre.
‘Bleak & powerful’: A KIND OF PEOPLE – Royal Court Theatre
Not much festive cheer around at the Royal Court, but plenty of grimly insightful writing in Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s A Kind of People.
‘Ria Jones’ Mama Rose is an undeniably forceful presence’: GYPSY – Manchester
Because nothing says Merry Christmas like a stage mum going off the rails! Gypsy offers a different festive treat at Manchester’s Royal Exchange.
‘A surefire hit if ever there was one’: THE BOY FRIEND – Menier Chocolate Factory
As light as a madeleine and as frivolous as a macaron, Sandy Wilson’s The Boy Friend proves a festive treat at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
‘An absolute triumph’: WEST SIDE STORY – Leicester
No doubt about it, Nikolai Foster’s production of West Side Story for Curve Leicester is damn close to musical theatre perfection.