Frank Capra's 1946 classic It's a Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart as everyman George Bailey, is probably my favourite film of all time. It's certainly the one I've seen more times tha…
In my #PressPass round-up today of The Elephant Man, one recent clipping that I did not include is the one that got me, and others, so riled up about yesterday on Twitter. It’s S…
After nearly a week of staggered press performances, and one starry gala evening, the reviews are now out for the West End transfer for The Elephant Man, which is now running for a limited 1…
I’ve seen two musicals recently that I’d recommend: Bugsy Malone at the Lyric Hammersmith and Carrie at Southwark Playhouse. Bugsy Malone is set in Prohibition-era New York City …
In my theatregoing, I like to make connections. Are you the same? There are, of course, the physical connections on the night " between performers and audience, between the other theatregoer…
On Sunday, I attended my first Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Awards (or, the SSSSPOTYs, ‘for short’!). The competition is now in its ninth year R…
Monsoon is about as close as I get in my day-to-day life to designer fashion – which is to say, I know NOTHING about fashion that I haven’t picked up from The Devil Wears Prada. …
Since producing and hosting a post-show debate last month on “Women in the Arts” at Trafalgar Studios, I’ve been thinking a lot about gender inequality in theatre, and part…
Tonight, Antony Sher opens in the West End in the RSC’s transfer of Death of a Salesman. But, as acclaimed as the production is, as important as it is in this centenary year of Arthur …
Several weeks after the West End press night, I'm still thinking about Oppenheimer, which, after its premiere in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company has transferred to the Vau…
I’m having trouble shifting my black mood since the 2015 General Election (what would Tony Benn say?!) so why not a suitably dark blog subject to match it? Let’s talk about film …
The Forbidden Broadway actors, winners of the inaugural #AlsoRecognised Award for Best Ensemble Performance, are gifts that keep on giving. First we had Damian Humbley‘s multiple #cert…
My newfound Tony Benn obsession has also got me thinking anew about the “most dangerous” Labour man in Parliament before him: the Welsh politician and founder of the National Hea…
I knew embarrassingly little of Tony Benn before seeing Andy Barrett’s new play Tony’s Last Tape this past Sunday. (Read my separate blog on the production and interview wit…
After success at Nottingham Playhouse, Tony’s Last Tape has transferred to south London’s new fringe theatre, the Bridgehouse in Penge SE20, for a three-week run in election mont…
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 vot…
In amongst the stellar West End revivals of late " not least "mother of all musicals" Gypsy with Imelda Staunton and David Mamet's American Buffalo starring Damian Lewis and John Goodman " a…
I’m so proud of my friend Mark Jagasia, how could I resist pulling together one of my #PressPass round-ups for his debut play? Clarion premiered to rave reviews (really, see below) las…
As Rolls Royce productions go, they don’t get much better than this. Homegrown screen and stage star Damian Lewis returning the stage after a six-year absence, and for the first time s…
The full list of winners are announced today in the inaugural Also Recognised Awards, the new audience-voted, industry accolade set up by the Mates to celebrate lesser-known but equally wort…
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 And…
Less than two days after the star-studded gala to bid farewell to Kevin Spacey at the Old Vic, his successor Matthew Warchus is making headlines with an inaugural year-long season and comman…
One of the most awkward moments at the Olivier Awards last week came during Kevin Spacey‘s acceptance of his Special Award – when he forgot the name of his successor. “As n…
This morning, producers confirmed that – on the back of a shedload of new five-star reviews from last week’s West End opening – Jonathan Kent‘s Chichester Festival pr…
Is Imelda Staunton the best Momma Rose ever? She’s absolutely the best Momma Rose I’ve ever seen – but, then again, she’s also the only Momma Rose I’ve never se…