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.
Best of the Blogs: Upstart Crow, The Prince Of Egypt, Macbeth & more
In our continuing series, editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 1 March 2020), ranging from Love London Love Culture’s thoughts on David Mitchell’s West End debut in the stage adaptation of TV favourite Upstart Crow at the Gielgud Theatre.
‘Inclusive & engaging’: MACBETH – Greenwich Theatre ★★★★
A bold production of the Scottish Play from Lazarus Theatre with a heavy focus on power and ambition – a great introduction to Macbeth and Shakespeare.
‘The passion that Kaye has for his profession & Elton John is clear’: ELTON JOHN: IT’S A LITTLE BIT FUNNY – Touring ★★★★
Elton John: It’s A Little Bit Funny is a whistle-stop tour of Elton John’s outrageous life, with a soundtrack of some of his greatest hits performed by an excellent live band.
‘Compelling & moving from start to finish’: MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE – Peacock Theatre ★★★★
A compelling & human story brought vividly to life by a company that pulses with energy – Sting’s music and Kate Prince’s choreography are a marriage made in dance heaven in Message in a Bottle.
9 (belated) New Year’s Resolutions (sort of) for theatre bloggers
It’s still January – just – and Mates founder Terri Paddock has some new year advice for theatre bloggers, pulled together with input from several other Mates. Originally written for and published by arts PR and marketing agency Mobius Industries.
Best of the Blogs: Les Misérables, Rags, Lullabies for the Lost & more
In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 19 January 2020), including Aleks Sierz’s view that the new production of Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre is marching on to victory.
‘The music is the heart & soul of this show’: ONCE – Touring ★★★★
A welcome return for Once, a gorgeous show with music truly at its heart and soul.
MISSED THE BOAT: Stephen Ward
I very nearly did see this one, but it opened and closed so swiftly that I didn’t really have the chance – I wasn’t living in London at that point, so a bit more planning was required for my theatre trips.
Mind The Blog’s top five musical choices for 2020
If you’re struggling with all the choice, Mind The Blog has come up with her top five musicals you do not want to miss in 2020.
‘Wonderfully conceived & immaculately performed’: FAME THE MUSICAL – Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre ★★★★
An energetic production of Fame that serves as a good reminder that you can’t anywhere without hard work – the choreography is superb.
Mind the Blog reflects on a theatre wish list for 2020
Mind the Blog has a fairly wide-ranging wish list of things I hope to see, including major shows such as Sunday in the Park with George, Evita, Magic Goes Wrong, Uncle Vanya and the Jamie Lloyd Company residency at the Playhouse Theatre.
Mind the Blog’s Favourite female performances of 2019
As with last year, there were too many brilliant performances to restrict this to one combined list – so once again I’ve split them up into male and female performances.
‘A barnstorming show with laughs by the bucketload’: CURTAINS – West End ★★★★
Curtains is a toe-tapping, giggle-inducing spectacular that stays just as true to the whodunnit – Samuel Holmes absolutely steals the show.
‘An absolute treat’: THE RED SHOES – Sadler’s Wells ★★★★★
The Red Shoes is an absolute tour-de-force, and the perfect example of how to make dance (and ballet, in particular) accessible and engaging to a wider audience. It’s an absolute treat.
‘An all-singing, all-dancing festive treat’: WHITE CHRISTMAS – West End ★★★★
White Christmas is an all-singing, all-dancing festive treat, full of showbiz razzmatazz and a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure – though with the memories of war lurking in the background, there is a dark edge that offsets the Technicolor world of the 1950s.