Misc. Mini-Reviews: Henry V / As You Like It

Initially I was going to write separate, full reviews for both of these – however, as I’ve left it a little while since watching Henry V and both of them are closing fairly soon I took the executive decision to clump them together here instead. Other than the fact that they are both Shakespeare plays (and […]

Most popular posts of 2022

Unsurprisingly again, in terms of hits 2022 is now the worst year on record – I did have some bursts of motivation at certain points in the year, but at times was definitely more ambitious than I should have been. At least I did manage some challenge weeks, as well as some lengthier film-based projects […]

#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 […]

#MindTheBaubles: Last-minute theatre gift ideas

There’s always someone who hasn’t quite got themselves organised by the week leading up to Christmas – even with the threat of Royal Mail strikes hanging over the season this year – and if that’s you, I’m here to help. These days there are plenty of ways to treat the theatre lover in your life, […]

Spooks & Sparklers 2022

The foulest stench is in the airThe funk of forty thousand yearsAnd grizzly ghouls from every tombAre closing in to seal your doom Too old for trick or treating? Local fireworks display cancelled? You could stay in and binge-watch a Netflix boxset, or plan a scary movie marathon – or you could try something a […]

This Wooden O: I, Joan

The last few weeks have been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for I, Joan – and the show only opened last night! It sparked a debate not only about Joan of Arc’s identity, but the nature of using theatre to explore ideas in a physical format; without having seen the show, people had decided […]

Midsummer Mechanicals 2022

After their runaway success Pyramus & Thisbe, the Midsummer Mechanicals returned to tread the boards once more, this time as part of the Duke’s anniversary celebrations. Though it wasn’t plain sailing the first time round, what with Bottom suddenly acquiring a donkey’s head, they’re set for a few more challenges in this follow-up – and […]

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 […]

This Wooden O: Henry VIII

Written in collaboration with John Fletcher, Henry VIII is quite possibly Shakespeare’s final play – but, despite this country’s continued obsession with all things Tudor, it remains a rarely performed piece. Imagine the delight of Shakespeare completists everywhere when it was announced as part of the Globe’s 2022 summer season, this time in a slightly […]