Let’s stamp out mobile phone usage in theatre with a zero tolerance policy
Theatre Producer Adam Gale has this week reported to The Stage, that during a performance of A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic Theatre, he was hit after asking a woman sat next to him to put her phone away. The Stage said “Adam Gale, from New York, alleges he was “hauled” out of his […]
Be careful who you invite as your plus one, especially if they are RUDE!
On Sunday evening I was delighted to attend the Evening Standard Theatre Awards at London’s Drury Lane Theatre. Hosted by the hilarious Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The winners were pretty predictable, celebrities who were most likely to sell the most newspapers the following day but as I have said before, recognition is recognition and everyone deserves to […]
Alternative Christmas Shows to see this festive season
Not feeling the panto spirit this year? Fancy going to see something a bit different instead? Well here’s a round up of some of the other christmassy feeling shows in London and around the UK this festive season. Winter’s Tales Print Room at the Coronet, 6-22 December Well-known faces, Mel Giedroyc, Emeli Sande, Penelope Wilton, […]
BLOG: I’m moving to Paris!
Yes, it’s true. I can officially announce that on 27 January 2018 I will be packing up the luggage (la la la) and getting on the Eurostar to Paris… to live! Why? Well, why not? My partner in crime Pete is re-locating out there for his work and I’m tagging along to start a new […]
BLOG: Do you need to be a ‘good actor’ to be in a Musical?
Yesterday, TV soap actor Ben Freeman said online “you don’t need to be that good an actor to be in a musical”, which has caused understandable upset amongst theatre actors who have spent years training and honing their craft. Ben is best known for his role in Emmerdale but has appeared in several West End […]
BLOG: Should we keep labels for boxes and not people?
Last week, The Metro chatted to West End stars Rachel Tucker and Emma Williams at the Wilma Awards about the need for more accessible performances within the theatre industry, following the introduction of the Achievement In Creating Accessible Theatre Award at the ceremony. The headline used by The Metro was ‘Wicked’s Rachel Tucker leads host […]
Kristin Chenoweth visits the Theatre Cafe
This week Broadway (Wicked) and American TV star (The West Wing/Pushing Daisies) Kristin Chenoweth was in London for a special one-off concert at the London Palladium. On Wednesday, after lunch with Elaine Paige and before going to watch the London production of Wicked (for which she originated the role of Glinda on Broadway in 2003), […]
Producers shouldn’t be allowed to extend a show’s run and then close early
I’ve written about this subject many times (mostly recently in June 2017 ) but yet again it has happened and annoyed me so much that I feel the need to write about it. It’s a crafty little Marketing trick in the world of theatre, that if a show needs a boost in ticket sales, they […]
Inappropriately touched at the theatre
When a reviewer wakes up the morning after seeing a show, the first thing you would hope they think about is what they thought of the show. Sadly, eight hours after seeing Le Grand Mort at Trafalgar Studios 2, I am still primarily focused on thinking about the rubbing of my leg and groaning from […]
Is an ‘Interval’ really necessary at the theatre?
This week, the highly anticipated production of Stephen Sondheim‘s musical Follies started previews at the National Theatre starring Janie Dee, Tracie Bennett and Imelda Staunton. With a running time of two hours and ten minutes, I was surprised to see that there is no interval (although this could possibly change before the official opening night) […]