View Post

It’s going to be epic: What are you most looking forward to at the Globe this summer?

In Features, London theatre, Opinion, Other Recent Articles, Plays by Debbie Gilpin5th February 2022Leave a Comment

It seems like we’ve been made to wait an inordinately long time for this announcement, but it was definitely worth it as far as I’m concerned.

View Post

‘This is not about romance, it’s about escape’: Romeo & Juliet – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Debbie Gilpin11th July 2021Leave a Comment

Romeo & Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe is a new and vital take on the classic Verona tale, contextualising the characters’ motives – this is not about romance, it’s about escape.

View Post

‘It will do nicely’: THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN (Online review) – Shakespeare’s Globe

In London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by John Chapman31st March 2021Leave a Comment

Thirty-eight Shakespeare plays in a year, that was the aim, and the project is completed by The Two Noble Kinsmen as performed at the Globe Theatre in a 2018 production helmed by Barrie Rutter.

View Post

‘Transporting us by engaging the heart, mind & soul’: How theatre-makers adapted in 2020

In Dance, Features, London theatre, Online shows, Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre, Reviews by Shane Morgan27th December 2020Leave a Comment

Here are Shane Morgan’s picks of how 2020 in theatre has continued to do what it does best: transporting us by engaging the heart, mind and soul.

View Post

40+ ways to get your theatre fix online during lockdown

In Features, London theatre, Musicals, Native, Online shows, Opinion, Plays by John Chapman5th April 2020Leave a Comment

Are you fed up with not being able to go out to the theatre? Don’t be. There’s a wealth of stuff to watch online. Here’s a handy list of current opportunities. OK, so it’s not quite the same as sharing the communal experience with others, but beggars, as they say…

View Post

It’s been a summer of Shakespeare Dreams

In Features, London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Debbie Gilpin31st July 2019Leave a Comment

“What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?” A plethora of productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, that’s what.

View Post

‘Carnival reaches Southwark’: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Debbie Gilpin8th July 2019Leave a Comment

Carnival reaches Southwark in this vibrant new A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with a lively cast &and colourful designs – and don’t get comfortable if you’re a groundling.

View Post

‘A fresh perspective’: HENRY V – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★★

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Debbie Gilpin15th May 2019Leave a Comment

A fresh perspective on the classic Henry V, concluding Hal’s journey from errant prince to conquering king – an action-packed end to the trilogy.

View Post

Text of the Day: Binkie offers an actor a lift

In Features, London theatre, Native, Opinion, Plays by Aleks Sierz11th February 2019Leave a Comment

Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.

View Post

Are we in the middle of a golden age of Shakespeare productions?

In Features, London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre by Debbie Gilpin6th November 2018

So what can be done to make Shakespeare less boring, or prove that Shakespeare isn’t boring (depending on how you look at it)? It does feel to me that we’re in the middle of a golden age of Shakespeare productions.

View Post

‘One of the best productions at the Globe this year’: EYAM – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Debbie Gilpin23rd September 2018Leave a Comment

Eyam is a celebration of the strength of human spirit in the face of seemingly impossible odds, highlighting the power and comfort of community – a stirring watch.

View Post

‘Real & definitive progress could be made’: Here’s to all the women’s stories we’ve yet to hear

In Features, London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Plays by Debbie Gilpin14th September 2018Leave a Comment

Apparently, 2018 is the ‘Year of the Woman’, and it has definitely felt like the world of theatre has stepped up for the occasion.

View Post

What’s Debbie looking forward to in September 2018?

In London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Plays, Regional theatre by Debbie Gilpin3rd September 2018Leave a Comment

On the broader theatrical landscape, there are plenty of things opening this month! In London Eugenius! returns to The Other Palace, Milly Thomas’ Dust transfers to Trafalgar Studios 2, and Foxfinder opens at the Ambassadors.

View Post

What’s Debbie looking forward to in August 2018?

In Edinburgh Festival, London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Debbie Gilpin2nd August 2018Leave a Comment

Though at the moment it looks quiet, I have finally got a draft schedule together for my time in Edinburgh, and it seems as if my plan to ease myself in has just gone out of the window… It’s going to be a hectic week for me up there, but it has to be done!

View Post

‘Exactly the kind of show needed to kickstart the new season’: AS YOU LIKE IT – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Debbie Gilpin22nd May 2018Leave a Comment

As You Like It is exactly the kind of show that was needed to help kickstart the new season at the recently rebranded Globe; bright & joyful and a real celebration of Shakespeare’s work (without being overly reverential).

View Post

Emma Rice at Shakespeare’s Globe: Top 10

In Features, London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Plays by Debbie Gilpin20th April 2018Leave a Comment

I thought it would be great to celebrate some of my favourite things about Emma Rice’s time as the artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe.

View Post

Are theatre programmes ‘the great publishing rip-off of our times’?

In Features, London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Plays by Debbie Gilpin17th February 2018Leave a Comment

However, a couple of interesting tweets popped up from Channel 4’s political correspondent, Michael Crick, that seemed to get people’s juices flowing – one of which makes a rather pertinent point. What do we buy programmes for? What is the point of them?

View Post

Does programming Shakespeare have to be quite so repetitive?

In Features, London theatre, Opinion, Plays by Debbie Gilpin15th January 2018Leave a Comment

You might be forgiven for thinking that only certain Shakespeare plays are allowed to be produced in any given 12-month period – for example, last year I saw five different Twelfth Nights, and this year there are at least three Macbeths already on my radar.

View Post

“Who’s there?” Thoughts on The Globe’s new vision & programming

In London theatre, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Debbie Gilpin8th January 2018Leave a Comment

What is personally the most galling is the programming of Twelfth Night. Emma Rice’s production was my favourite show of 2017. It almost feels like they’re trying to brush it under the carpet by putting it on again so soon.

View Post

Mind the Blog’s best shows of 2017

In Features, London theatre, Musicals, Opinion, Plays, Reviews by Debbie Gilpin6th January 2018Leave a Comment

Any number of shows could have been included in this post; frankly it’s ludicrous that I decided to stick with my whole top 12 idea… As I’ve seen about 90 more individual shows than last year.