The cast and creative team involved in Public Domain, streamed from Southwark Playhouse, succeeded in creating a brilliant show which is timely and incredibly thought-provoking.
From stage to screen (small & big): The adaptations keep on coming
In the last 30 years or more, roughly half of every new musical that arrives on Broadway or in the West End seems to be based on a film.
‘It’s still enormously relatable even in the modern day’: Charlotte Wakefield stars in the online revival of Gatsby A Musical
Actress Charlotte Wakefield chatted to us about the upcoming revival of Gatsby A Musical, being filmed at the Cadogan Hall and streamed from 12-14 February 2021.
‘There are some memorable songs’: PUBLIC DOMAIN – Southwark Playhouse (Online review)
Public Domain is a verbatim musical winner which lifts the lid on life online and joins an august group of productions streamed from Southwark Playhouse. Strongly recommended.
Mark Shenton kicks off his new ShenTens podcast with a top ten favourite musicals
I’ve launched a brand-new weekly podcast, called ShenTen, in which I will countdown my personal top tens in different theatrical categories.
‘The music in the show should feel like diving headfirst into the internet’: Francesca Forristal & Jordan Paul Clarke on their new musical Public Domain
Francesca Forristal and Jordan Paul Clarke spoke to Emma Clarendon about their new musical Public Domain being live streamed from the Southwark Playhouse on 15 and 16 January 2021.
There’s nothing like it: TV dips into theatrical friendships from Staged to Dames
I’ve just gorged on the second series of Staged, the blissful second series of the actors-in-lockdown zoom show, directed and co-written by Simon Evans, with Michael Sheen and David Tennant playing (versions of) themselves.
NEWS: Finalists announced for new online theatre award OnComm
Since the start of the Covid pandemic closures in 2020, many independent, alternative and fringe theatre venues and companies across the UK and beyond responded to the challenges of lockdowns by taking their shows online – and OffWestEnd has responded to this whole new strand of theatre by launching a new award, the OnComm, for the best of this new stream of online theatre.
‘Whatever your taste, there’s bound to be something to appeal’: Online@TheSpaceUK – Season 2 (Online review)
A second online season from TheSpace has an eclectic range – even if what I saw was all comedy.
‘People can now have an audience for their work across the planet’: Mark Potter launches online company Crowd Pleaser Theatre
Director Mark Potter chatted about his new online theatre company Crowd Pleaser Theatre.
From The Beatles to Brexit, from Cats to Covid, Mark Shenton reflects on the latest industry news
Now that I’m getting into a rhythm on these daily columns, I’m going to try to introduce some regular features. And starting today, I’m planning on launching the week with column of disparate “diary” items — some fun, some not, that of stories that have made the news in the previous week.
‘Will be just the kind of theatre magic we’ve all been waiting for’: SWINGIN’ THE DREAM – RSC (Online review)
The RSC, Young Vic and Theatre for a New Audience have a difficult but fascinating task ahead in re-creating lost work Swingin’ the Dream that honours the original while offering something new to modern audiences.
‘Country music’s loss is certainly musical theatre’s gain’: AN EVENING WITH DAVID BEDELLA – Crazy Coqs (Online review) ★★★★
David Bedella made each song his own during his cabaret An Evening with David Bedella, an show full of fun boasting a great choice of songs and a slick performance.
‘Things in it which were admirable’: LAZARUS (Online review)
Prominent among other commemorative David Bowie events is a three-day streaming of Lazarus, the theatre piece that he was working on towards the end of his life and which was ultimately produced to extremely mixed reviews.
How will the West End look when theatre is back in business?
It’s difficult to know exactly what the West End might look like when it finally returns: already there’s been some shape-shifting.
’An easy informality that elevates this concert to the best kind of cabaret’: TOGETHER AGAIN – Thespie
Featuring the marvellous Sophie Isaacs, Jodie Steele and T’Shan Williams, Together Again might be Thespie’s best Reunited gig yet.
What productions Love London Love Culture is looking forward to in 2021
Emma Clarendon selects the shows that she is most looking forward to catching in 2021.
NEWS: OffWestEnd announces 47 finalists for its Offies Awards 2021
OffWestEnd announces 47 finalists for its Offies Awards 2021, across 15 categories, covering 24 venues across London.
‘No production need die anymore when the final curtain comes down’: How NT Live became a game changer on the road to digital streaming
ll producers going forward will build digital preservation of their productions into their business models — and a future revenue stream will be available that means that no production need die anymore when the final curtain comes down, either.
Being at home with who & what you are: Is actors’ openness about their sexuality the sign of a better future?
Mark Shenton reflects on the careers of two young gay actors, the late Marcus D’Amico and Jonathan Bailey (recently seen in Bridgerton), & their different experiences of the arts industry in different eras.