#MindTheBaubles: round-up

As usual, things have slipped behind – despite a surprisingly efficient start… After my final two shows of the inaugural #MindTheBaubles last Thursday, I’ve been supplementing the week proper with a few more films, TV programmes, and podcast episodes just to bolster the resources. And – to be fair – I’ve been trying to fit […]

This Wooden O: The Tempest (2022)

For me, despite its poetical brilliance, The Tempest is a difficult play to get right. Its central figure is a man who has become more and more reliant on magic, claiming ownership over an island when he was deposed from his dukedom – and the tone of the comic relief side plot doesn’t always blend […]

#MindTheBard: King Lear / Julius Caesar / Richard III

King Lear, Globe Theatre ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I’ve been reluctant to revisit King Lear since seeing the Chichester production (starring Ian McKellen), as it was pretty much the perfect production in the perfect venue, but when Kathryn Hunter was announced as the titular monarch in this Globe season I thought it was about time I gave the play another […]

Challenge Week 2022: Mind The Bard

We’ve had Mind The Bard, we’ve had Mind The Bard: 2 Bard 2 Spurious, we’ve had Mind The Bard 3: Hospital Shift – and now… Mind The Bard 4: Tyrant Fever. I’m hoping this will rejuvenate my will to write a bit more, as I’ve been severely lacking over the past few weeks – despite […]

Globe 2021: “Pomp, pageantry, politics & power”

The day is finally here – 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. In the words of Artistic Director, Michelle Terry: “The world beyond may be uncertain, but these plays are sure to guide us through […]

Most popular posts of 2021

Unsurprisingly, in terms of hits 2021 was the worst year on record – I don’t actually remember writing as much as I did, so I’m glad that you’re still reading the minimal output I provide! And despite the lack of motivation, I still managed to complete a couple of challenge weeks. I was obviously still […]

Play by Candlelight 2021-22: preview

You know things are starting to feel a bit more normal when Shakespeare’s Globe is able to announce their winter season, with a return to the beautiful candlelit surroundings of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Intriguingly, this will be the first time that £5 tickets for productions in this performance space, with 48 standing tickets available in […]

#MindTheBard 2021: round-up

You know what? I think this hybrid form of challenge week might be here to stay. Despite the fact that it’s taken me almost a week to write this round-up post, it’s actually felt pretty manageable – and I don’t know whether I’ll have the energy to go out to the theatre every single night […]

This Wooden O: Romeo & Juliet (2021)

“Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.” The traditional view of Romeo & Juliet is that of a tragic love story, but is that all it ever has to be? Not if you’re Ola Ince. Her brand new production of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, having been delayed by COVID in 2020, has finally […]

#MindTheBard 2021: Diary

As I’m not doing much in the way of reviews for this #MindTheBard, I thought the best way to keep things going throughout the week was to do a daily ‘diary’ update – this way I can give you a little bit of feedback on whatever version of the day’s play I end up seeing. […]