All stories by Ian Foster on BroadwayStars

Thursday, February 6, 2020

‘It’s hilarious but also moving’: AFTER(S) – White Bear Theatre by Ian Foster

The perils of midweek drinking writ large – After(s) examines what it means to be in your mid-twenties today at the White Bear Theatre in Kennington.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, February 5, 2020

‘You’ll find it hard not to be won over’: THE MISDAVENTURES OF DAVID & SAM – Vault Festival by Ian Foster

The Misadventures of David and Sam proves a good-natured and light-hearted piece of fun family theatre at the VAULT Festival.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Thursday, January 30, 2020

‘Its power is unmistakeable’: THE SUGAR SYNDROME – Orange Tree Theatre by Ian Foster

A fine revival of Lucy Prebble’s first play The Sugar Syndrome features a strong debut performance from Jessica Rhodes at the Orange Tree Theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Twenty shows to look out for at the VAULT Festival 2020 by Ian Foster

Insofar as it is humanly possible for any one person to know everything that is happening at the VAULT Festival this year, I present a handful of my recommendations for 2020.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Sunday, January 26, 2020

‘A triumphant tragicomedy’: UNCLE VANYA – West End by Ian Foster

Conor McPherson’s adaptation of Uncle Vanya featuring Toby Jones and Richard Armitage at the Harold Pinter Theatre is so good you can forgive the “wanging on”.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Saturday, January 25, 2020

‘A historical epic that demands to be heard’: THE WELKIN – National Theatre by Ian Foster

Lucy Kirkwood returns to the National Theatre with The Welkin, starring a brilliant ensemble led by Maxine Peake.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Thursday, January 23, 2020

‘Delicate but delicious’: YOU STUPID DARKNESS! – Southwark Playhouse by Ian Foster

With its focus on the small things, Sam Steiner’s play You Stupid Darkness! is a delicate but delicious thing at the Southwark Playhouse.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Sunday, January 19, 2020

‘Fascinating drama’: THE STORY / HELA – Touring by Ian Foster

The Other Room’s The Story and Hela make a delightful and daring double bill of Welsh drama at Theatre503.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Friday, January 17, 2020

‘Bold & striking’: THE PROCESS – Bunker Theatre by Ian Foster

BAZ Productions’ The Process proves bold and striking in its use of BSL and spoken English, if a little flawed too, now running at the Bunker Theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Thursday, January 16, 2020

‘Playful & intermittently powerful’: TOM BROWN’S SCHOOL DAYS – Union Theatre by Ian Foster

A musical adaptation of Tom Brown’s School Days at the Union Theatre has some moments, and performances, to treasure.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Sunday, January 12, 2020

‘At the cutting edge of the zeitgeist’: SIX THE MUSICAL – Touring by Ian Foster

As well as providing a welcome opportunity for performers to really cut loose, Six also – sadly – remains at the cutting edge of the zeitgeist.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Saturday, January 11, 2020

‘Toys interestingly with ideas of representation’: ANTIGONE – New Diorama Theatre by Ian Foster

Holy What’s Antigone at the New Diorama shifts the focus of Sophocles’ play onto two young sisters to powerful effect.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Sunday, January 5, 2020

Broadway Album Reviews: The New Yorkers, Kiss Me, Kate! & Beetlejuice by Ian Foster

Ought To Be Clowns tackles a trio of Broadway cast recordings in the shape of Cole Porter’s The New Yorkers, Kiss Me, Kate! and Beetlejuice.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Saturday, January 4, 2020

Ought To Be Clowns’ 10 favourite shows of 2019 by Ian Foster

Ought To Be Clowns barely saw 250 shows this year, quiet by his standards. And as is the way of these things, here’s a rundown of some of the productions that moved me most…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Thursday, January 2, 2020

20 shows to look forward to in 2020 by Ian Foster

Looking ahead to some of 2020’s exciting shows, most with an emphasis away from the West End and instead focusing at the London Fringe and across the UK.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Monday, December 30, 2019

10 of Ought To Be Clowns’ top moments of the decade by Ian Foster

Ever behind the curve, I present 10 of my top moments in a theatre over the last ten years (plus a few bonus extra ones because whittling down this list was hard, and it will probably be dif…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Sunday, December 22, 2019

‘There’s just a whole lot of arrestingly good fun to be had here’: CURTAINS – West End by Ian Foster

A Kander & Ebb premiere in the West End you say? Curtains makes its bow at the Wyndham’s Theatre and I had an arrestingly good time with it.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Friday, December 20, 2019

‘Riding a wave of sweet-sharp emotion’: AMELIE THE MUSICAL – The Other Palace by Ian Foster

Not too much more to say about Amélie the Musical, now in London at The Other Palace, other than book now for un moment merveilleux.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Thursday, December 19, 2019

‘Smartly self-aware, free adaptation’: TEENAGE DICK – Donmar Warehouse by Ian Foster

Teenage Dick at the Donmar Warehouse does extremely well in dealing with disability but I think we’re kidding ourselves if we’re yet in a place where this would happen organically.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, December 18, 2019

‘Challenging but exhilarating reworking’: THREE SISTERS – National Theatre by Ian Foster

Inua Ellams’ relocation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters to the Biafran Civil War proves devastatingly effective at the National Theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Friday, December 13, 2019

‘Bleak & powerful’: A KIND OF PEOPLE – Royal Court Theatre by Ian Foster

Not much festive cheer around at the Royal Court, but plenty of grimly insightful writing in Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s A Kind of People.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Friday, December 6, 2019

‘Ria Jones’ Mama Rose is an undeniably forceful presence’: GYPSY – Manchester by Ian Foster

Because nothing says Merry Christmas like a stage mum going off the rails! Gypsy offers a different festive treat at Manchester’s Royal Exchange.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Wednesday, December 4, 2019

‘A surefire hit if ever there was one’: THE BOY FRIEND – Menier Chocolate Factory by Ian Foster

As light as a madeleine and as frivolous as a macaron, Sandy Wilson’s The Boy Friend proves a festive treat at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Friday, November 29, 2019

‘An absolute triumph’: WEST SIDE STORY – Leicester by Ian Foster

No doubt about it, Nikolai Foster’s production of West Side Story for Curve Leicester is damn close to musical theatre perfection.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Tuesday, November 26, 2019

ALBUM REVIEW: Lea Michele – Christmas in the City by Ian Foster

Jonathan Groff and Darren Criss elevate Glee star Lea Michele’s first holiday album Christmas in the City.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 01:00PM
Monday, November 25, 2019

ALBUM REVIEW: RE:arrangement – An Album by Nick Barstow by Ian Foster

A musical theatre album with a difference, RE:arrangement – An Album by Nick Barstow is refreshingly bold.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Saturday, November 23, 2019

CD REVIEW: Luke Evans – At Last by Ian Foster

Luke Evans’ debut album At Last is full of emphatic pop covers and his powerful voice at full stretch, not always a winning combination.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Thursday, November 21, 2019

‘Searchingly powerful stuff’: DEAR EVAN HANSEN – West End by Ian Foster

There’s much to like about Dear Evan Hansen at the Noël Coward Theatre, not least a brilliant lead performance from Sam Tutty.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Thursday, November 14, 2019

‘There’s a rollicking good time to be had here’: MARY POPPINS – West End by Ian Foster

Really, in the end, Mary Poppins is the kind of production full of uncomplicated fun that can’t help but uplift the soul in the most delightful way.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 04:00AM
Saturday, November 9, 2019

‘Nothing lost & so much gained’: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change – Chiswick Playhouse by Ian Foster

A genuinely updated I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is a really rather lovely thing at the newly renamed Chiswick Playhouse.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 07:00AM
Wednesday, November 6, 2019

‘An alternative festive treat’: SOHO CINDERS – Charing Cross Theatre by Ian Foster

This amiable revival of Soho Cinders makes for an alternative festive treat at the Charing Cross Theatre.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards