In a free-for-all age of journalism, the currency of individual theatre reviews matter a lot less than they used to; all a theatre PR wants is a spread of five-star reviews, and they’re easier to summon than ever if you don’t look too closely which publications they come from. The general public won’t notice the difference, so its a bluff that often works.
News, Reviews and Features
These are all of our in-house news and features as well as syndicated article excerpts from our 45+ theatre bloggers. You can also access All Our Mates' Posts in comprehensive list form and view individual author pages.
Review Round Up: All On Her Own at stream.theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for the digital production of Terence Rattigan’s one-woman play All on Her Own starring Janie Dee.
NEWS: #WeMakeEvents calls on the Government for urgent support as survey shows live events on verge of collapse
#WeMakeEvents has launched a hard-hitting campaign, rallying the UK Government to provide urgent relief to a struggling live events sector. ‘The Government Can’t See Us, Can You?’ shows the devastation the pandemic has wrought on the live event supply chain – told through the stories of the highly-skilled professionals whose livelihoods have been seriously damaged.
NEWS: Actress Seyi Omooba loses tribunal against Leicester Curve & Global Artists
Actress Seyi Omooba has lost her employment tribunal case alleging breach of contract and religious discrimination for her dismissal from a production of The Color Purple.
‘A novel & quite chilling piece of home theatre’: THE WHITE PLAGUE (Online review)
A pandemic sweeps the land and the government introduces new quarantine rules – yes, that is the plot of The White Plague, not the news headlines.
‘Beautifully written & engagingly performed’: ALL ON HER OWN – stream.theatre (Online review)
All On Her Own is an unusual monologue which holds the attention throughout; although perhaps the borderline hysterics of the original version are ultimately truer to the play as written.
‘It really feels as though there is more to explore’: A Coward in Love / Perennial – Living Record Festival (Online review)
Covert Firmament has many pieces available to watch and listen to as part of the Living Record Festival until 22 February 2021.
NEWS: Boris Johnson hints at first steps towards theatres reopening
Nearly one year after theatres were forced to close by the onset of the Covid pandemic, prime minister Boris Johnson has delivered the first indication that auditoria could reopen.
NEWS: A Monster Calls, Girl from the North Country & Cyrano De Bergerac casting directors win at CDG Casting Awards 2021
There was a double win for casting director Jessica Ronane and casting associate Abby Galvin at the Casting Directors’ Guild’s CDG Casting Awards 2021.
When theatre returns can we look forward to some shape-shifting in opinions about are plus-size performers?
As a plus-sized critic myself, I’m not limited in the shows I review; so why should an actor be limited in the roles they’re invited to play?
NEWS: The West End run of Good starring David Tennant is postponed for a second time
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, the producers of the West End production of CP Taylor’s GOOD, starring David Tennant and directed by Dominic Cooke have postponed the forthcoming run which was due to play from 21 April to 17 July 2021. The production is to be rescheduled to run at the Harold Pinter Theatre and will still star Tennant, Fenella Woolgar and Elliot Levey.
NEWS: Leading theatre names call on Government to allow outdoor performances ‘at the earliest opportunity’
Signatories, along with 60 other names, including Annilese Miskimmon (artistic director, English National Opera); Catherine Mallyon (executive director, Royal Shakespeare Company); Neil Constable (chief executive, Shakespeare’s Globe); Oliver Mears (director of opera, Royal Opera House); and Michelle Cawardine-Palmer (executive director, Kneehigh) have called on the Government to allow the outdoor performing arts to spearhead the sector’s return at the earliest opportunity.
‘Corinne Walker plays all the roles with aplomb’: ILLUSIONS OF LIBERTY – Applecart Arts (Online review)
Written by Lorna Wells and directed by Aisling Gallagher, Illusions of Liberty focuses on Liberty Jones (Corinne Walker) – a young cellist who has just had test results from doctors regarding her general state of ‘lethargy’.
‘You’ll be eager to find out what happens next’: Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels – Finborough Theatre (Online review)
Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels has already become a gripping anatomy of relationships and the attempts to manipulate two quite different women.
Theatre tips & treats for families looking for online half term entertainment
After a gruelling half term of home learning, families across the country are gearing up for another half term holiday with nowhere to go. But staying at home doesn’t have to mean having nothing to do, with a wide range of online activities available to entertain children of all ages.
‘The double-edged nature of liberty’: (FIRE) EMBERS (ASH) (Online review)
First performed on stage in 2015, (Fire) Embers (Ash) – which is written and directed by Hailey Mashburn – has been reimagined as an audio play for 2021.
‘Often powerfully affecting’: GOOD GRIEF (Online review)
Straddling the line between theatre and film, Good Grief is a two-hander with moments of searing insight.
NEWS: Musical Cases is back with a new studio album now available
Marking four years since its London premiere, Dominic Powell’s musical Cases returns in a studio album released to all online music stores with a dynamic new score, band and orchestral arrangements, and additional songs performed by an exciting West End cast. The album has already had 10,000 views across all media platforms.
‘Amusing look at love in lockdown’: VALENTINE’S SKETCH SHOW – Northern Comedy Theatre (Online review)
The material in Valentine’s Sketch Show feels a little rough at times, but when things click and the company runs with it, you do have a giggle.
However, Northern Comedy Theatre (based in Merseyside) have followed an amazing run of digita…
NEWS: Hearts For The Arts 2021 winners are announced
The winners have been announced for the annual National Campaign for the Arts’ (NCA) Hearts for the Arts Awards 2021. The awards celebrate the unsung heroes of local authorities who are championing the arts against all odds.