It was already pretty exciting for writer Lita Doolan that her play The Wyre Lady Of Fleetwood was having its world premiere at this year’s Brighton Fringe, but now she has even more to celebrate with the announcement that the popular digital show has been extended until 11 July 2021.
WATCH: Want to know more about S&S Theatre Productions? Terri Paddock chats to some the creatives
Even lockdown couldn’t stop some of the creative minds behind the recently launched S&S Theatre Productions (previously the S&S Award) getting together to talk about the new company, via Zoom of course.
NEWS: West End & UK theatres to close with immediate effect
In light of the continued coronavirus emergency and advice from Prime Minister Boris Johnson that people should avoid “pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues” during the pandemic, SOLT and UK Theatre has announced that member venues will close from the evening of Monday 16 March 2020.
‘Akin to a beautifully composed piece of music’: THE SON – West End
The Son is akin to a beautifully composed piece of music. A perfect balance of light and shade with an inevitable surge to a heart thumping climax.
NEWS: Did you hear? My Theatre Mates dominates Vuelio’s Top 10 UK Theatre Blogs
Leading media experts Vuelio has named My Theatre Mates has one of the Top 10 UK Theatre Blogs and therefore one of the leading influencers within the theatre industry blogger network.
‘They captured my heart, engaged my mind & punched me in the gut’: In Praise of Theatre in 2018
In my round-up of theatre in 2017, I warned 2018 that it had “big shoes to fill”. Not only did 2018 not need the door to be opened, but it also didn’t even need anyone to hold its coat.
‘Witty & warm-hearted’: MURDER FOR TWO – The Other Palace
The Studio at The Other Palace is the perfect setting for Murder For Two, which is an affectionate homage to black and white murder mystery movies and to camp musical theatre. It is written by an American pair, Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair, who clearly have a love for both of the genres that they are sending up.
‘One of the most exciting pieces of work seen on a Bristol stage in a long time’: A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE – Bristol
With this View From The Bridge, Tobacco Factory Theatres Artistic director Mike Tweddle has orchestrated a piece of theatre so seamless, so beautifully directed that his own work is invisible.
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME – Touring
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is Simon Stephens’ charming adaptation of Mark Haddon’s novel of the same name. The story of Christopher Boone is one that has touched many people over the years, telling of an intelligent and inquisitive 15-year-old with Asperger’s Syndrome.
My frenetic night live-tweeting the 2016 #OlivierAwards
Mates co-founder Terri Paddock was in Twitter duty for @MyTheatreMates as well as her mad-about-musicals site @StageFaves and her own @TerriPaddock. How’d she do?
Year in Review: More Top 10 #theatre2015 lists from me and my Mates
After rounding up various publications’ #theatre2015 highlights yesterday, it’s time to reflect on my own year in the stalls (well, mainly in the stalls, occasionally in the dress circle)… My top ten lists include: new plays, revivals, musicals, performances, events and ones to watch.
Have you checked out Terri Paddock’s new venture Stage Faves yet?
Ok so I realise I’m a little to the party, but have you read about Terri Paddock’s new venture? Well, I suggest you do because if, like me, you are a musical theatre enthusiast then this is just the sort of site you need in your life! So be inspired, read on and check it out, all the links are incorporated here, so you can be enthused by this rather brilliant new musical theatre heaven.
The Mates welcome criticism, especially of ourselves
Terri Paddock today responded to Megan Vaughan’s recent article in The Stage on MyTheatreMates’s “damaging business practices” – and here she explains why, however fallacious, she welcomes Megan’s harsh criticism. This is a full version of Terri’s piece – as well as links to the two articles for The Stage.
How to handle criticism (unless you’re an actor)
Most actors don’t read their reviews – or, at least, most actors say they don’t read their reviews. And when it comes to stage acting, I can see their point. Critics review a single performance, one night. After reviews are published, the actors have still got to go out onstage every night and critical words […]
Popular vs personal: How did my own choices fare against the #AlsoRecognised winners?
On Monday, we announced on MyTheatreMates.com the winners of our inaugural #AlsoRecognised Awards. The first year of these Awards has caught the imagination of the industry, the audience voters and the nominees and winners more than I had hoped to imagine. Your winners are lovely, truly lovely and appreciative. Just look how they’ve embraced – […]
First-ever Award for Best Musical Direction goes to…
Readers of Daily Mail columnist Baz Bamigboye may have spotted that the Mates gave the brilliant Baz a sneak peek at one of our winners in our inaugural Also Recognised Awards. We’re so proud of introducing the UK’s first-ever Award for Best Musical Direction – along with our partners and passionate campaigners, musical director Mike Dixon and Andrew Keates – that we couldn’t keep it a secret any longer. So, without further …
The past, present and future of theatre criticism
Mark has been taking part in a workshop as part of the Young Critics programme held at Winchester’s Theatre Royal. He gave the following speech to young critics on 4 April 2015.
No one ever built a statue to a critic, it was once famously said, but in 2013 two critics received OBE’s in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. Michael Billington and Philip French, theatre and film critics for The Guardian and The Observer,were honoured after writing reviews in their particular disciplines for a 100 years between them. And in New York, there are not one but two Broadway theatres named after critics, Brooks Atkinson (pictured left) and Walter Kerr. We don’t yet have a Ken Tynan or even a Jack Tinker Theatre here, let alone a Billington.
And 2013 marked another centenary: that of the Critics’ Circle itself. So critics have been around for a long time, and are still having a demonstrable influence in setting the cultural agendas of the areas they cover. But will they be around much longer?
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Curtain Up podcast on MyTheatreMates and The Father: When projects converge
I had a curious but highly enjoyable afternoon this past Friday, when I dropped in on lovely chappies Tim McArthur and Nathan Matthews, presenters of the weekly Curtain Up show on London radio station Resonance FM. Initially, I’d been invited in to talk about the launch of the My Theatre Mates website as well as the […]
A funny thing happened on the way to the (theatre) Forum
In the years that I ran WhatsOnStage, the site’s Discussion Forum, a.k.a. “The Board”, was often the bane of my life. Producers would pull me aside on press nights to complain about it – insiders were revealing secrets about their shows that they shouldn’t be, they lamented; competitors were dishing dirt on their shows and […]
Press pass: Embracing My Theatre Mates and the Also Recognised Awards + lots of thanks
For all the planning and preparation I’ve been doing with Mark Shenton over the past few months, even I am a little taken aback by the response to our launch yesterday of MyTheatreMates.com and the Also Recognised Awards, including the UK’s first-ever award for Best Musical Direction. I couldn’t be more delighted, and, on […]
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