In beginning conversations about theatrical diversity, theatres and critics alike need to recognise that we need each other. Looking for solutions together rather than attacking might be a more constructive route.
Diary of a Theatre Addict: Mark recalls more summer pleasures, on and offstage, in Provincetown
If I have found some relief from my habit of compulsive theatregoing that I typically adopt in London and New York whenever I’m there, the temptation is never too far away. So I’m particularly proud of myself that despite contemplating a quick jaunt to New York this coming weekend, I’ve resisted it (so far).
Diary of a theatre addict: Time for a critical reboot
I came to a belated realisation: my life was not a dress rehearsal — and it really didn’t matter if I missed a few (dozen) shows. So when it came to booking this year’s P-town trip, which we do every January, we asked about availability for an extended stay.
Diary of a Theatre Addict: 13 shows in London, 5 beyond, 11 in New York in April
Across April I’ve duly seen 13 shows in London, one of them twice within the space of four days – namely the current revival of Guys and Dolls. I’d seen it twice before that, first when it originated at Chichester two summers ago and then when it transferred to the Savoy in January, and now again when it moved across town to the Phoenix with a substantially re-cast set of principals and I reviewed it for a third time. Then I returned to it yet again the same weekend to accompany a friend who was in town visiting from New York (yes, it’s that good!).
Diary of a Theatre Addict: Maggie Smith and me – and sharing a hip surgeon!
I’ve seen twenty shows in the last three weeks, including a welcome return visit to The Book of Mormon – and also discovered that Maggie Smith and I share a hip replacement surgeon!
Diary of a Theatre Addict: 49 shows in six weeks, getting up to date
I’ve not updated my diary of a theatre addict for six weeks now — I was last here on January 31 — since when I’ve seen all of 49 shows, including outings to Newbury, Dartford, Clwyd, Manchester, Bromley and Cardiff, plus a week in New York. I’ve also taken an active part in two more shows by appearing onstage as a contestant in a theatrical re-run of Mr and Mrs with husband (so it was really Mr and Mr, we’re pictured above with host Samuel Holmes) and as part of David Bedella and Friends, his monthly chat show at the St James Studio.
Diary of a Theatre Addict: From New York to Edinburgh & Eastbourne, plus meeting Judi Dench
I’ve not been here with my usual weekly diary of a theatre addict for a month now. So today I’m catching up, not on a week, but on an entire month — during which time I’ve been to Edinburgh, Barbados, New York, Eastbourne and of course London. I’ve interviewed Andy Nyman, Sheridan Smith, Joe McElderry, composer Lucy Simon, Janie Dee and Diana Rigg.
Diary of a Theatre Addict: Doing the timewarp again, revisiting Gypsy on TV, and catching up with Linda
I’ve been out and about over the pre- and post-Christmas week, including trips to Brighton, Manchester and Leeds, with lots of catching up to do in London, too.
Diary of a Theatre Addict: School’s out (sort of), but I’m still catching up
At Thursday night’s opening of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the Donmar Warehouse, it felt like the last day of term for many critics, so some were demob happy: it was the last big London first night of the year, at the end of a day that had earlier embraced two more press openings for the West End returns of The Gruffalo in the morning and Goodnight Mister Tom in the afternoon.
Diary of a Theatre Addict: School’s out (sort of), but I’m still catching up
At Thursday night’s opening of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the Donmar Warehouse, it felt like the last day of term for many critics, so some were demob happy: it was the last big London first night of the year, at the end of a day that had earlier embraced two more press openings for the West End returns of The Gruffalo in the morning and Goodnight Mister Tom in the afternoon.
Diary of a theatre addict: Peter Pan goes right, the National lacks Wonder, Funny Girl is very funny
I’ve been consciously taking it easy (or at least easier than I usually do!) over the last week after dislocating my newly replaced hip the week before, as I described in a posting here last week was a bit of a wake-up call — I had actually scheduled some ten shows (including out-of-town trips to Leicester and Leeds) just ten days after coming out hospital the first time; but then had the wake-up call that took me out of commission entirely.
Diary of a Theatre Addict: Being forced to take a break by disclocating my new hip
I’m being forced to take a theatre break thanks to dislocating my brand-new hip! But perhaps I can finally catch up some movies and TV series…..
Diary of a theatre addict: from a pool in Gran Canaria, a sense of perspective, at last
I am writing this sitting beside a pool, in glorious sunshine, at a private hotel across the street from a beach in Gran Canaria. This is the sort of holiday my husband and I always give ourselves at least once a year — a place with no theatre at all.
Diary of a Theatre Addict: Officiating at a New York wedding (and catching some shows while I was there!)
My theatre addiction still saw me seeing 7 shows in New York last week – but it all faded into insignificance next to the show I presided over: the wedding of my friends Dana P Rowe and Andrew Scharf!
Diary of a Theatre Addict: Starring with a cast of 500 Supporting Actors, and Two Trips to Yorkshire (with a day in London inbetween)
You Me Bum Bum Train isn’t exactly a train journey, but it provided the ride of my life; I also made two separate train journeys to Yorkshire that provided musical and comic diversions of their own.
Diary of a Theatre Addict: Finding myself centrestage at my public birthday party
This week I had another birthday — but it wasn’t any birthday: Scott Alan threw a public birthday bash for me. And it was the best of my life!
Diary of a Theatre Addict: Returning twice over to two Shows in the same week, plus other reprises
I did a week full of repeats of shows I’ve seen before – two of which I repeated again in the self-same week. (And one of them I even saw twice in less than 24 hours!)
Diary of a theatre addict: From P-town to DC & NYC
I’ve been to P-town, New York, DC and WIlliamstown in the last fortnight – and I finally catch up in my latest diary today!
Diary of a Theatre Addict: (Not Quite) Taking a Theatre Break
I saw just five shows last week between London, New York, Boston and Provincetown! I’m having a break….!
Diary of a theatre addict: nine shows, one film and twelve steps!
I managed another nine show (plus one movie!) week, with one of those theatre visits in Southampton, and even managed to have one night off in the middle of it for an office dinner! So I’ve hardly had time to catch my breath all week, but am looking forward to three weeks off now as I head back to the US tomorrow — or at least ‘off’ from London, with only a few theatre outings planned while I’m out there for a change.