Revenge is sweet: the music, TV and theatre about getting your own back by Jason Okundaye, Jessica Kiang, Miriam Gillinson, Hugh Morris and Sam Jordison

From Shakespeare’s dithering Dane to Desperate Housewives’ steely-eyed Bree, our critics serve up the coldest revenge dishes In Desperate Housewives, when her gay son, Andrew, sleeps wit…

ORLANDO Jermyn St theatre WC2 by Libby Purves and Friends

WOOLFING ROUND THE GENDER BEND A bit of a conversion experience for me, this. Disliked Woolf for years, Lighthouse and Waves and all, and therefore never read Orlando. Thought of it as a bit…

OKLAHOMA Young Vic, SE1 by Libby Purves and Friends

A DARKER HAZE ON AMERICA’S  MEADOW Traditionally, audiences don’t go to Oklahoma to be unsettled . On the other hand you don’t go to the Young Vic to have your expectations cosily met…

Broken Nose, American Writers Festival, and a Crystal Ball by Kerry Reid, Micco Caporale and Salem Collo-Julin

Looking for some mid-month fun? Check out the following events and ideas. FRI 5/13 Broken Nose Theatre continues its season with the Chicago premiere of Zoe Kazan’s dystopic drama After th…

‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ to Close on Broadway, a Month After Reopening by Nicole Herrington and Michael Paulson

The musical, which shuttered temporarily in January as the Omicron variant spread, has struggled with the slow return of tourists to the theater.

THE BREACH Hampstead Theatre NW3 by Libby Purves and Friends

TEENS FALLING, UNPROTECTED     An empty basement in a working class Kentucky neighbourhood in the mid 70s.  An offstage adult world is preoccupied with unemployment,  the mained young c…

ShotSpotter’s deafening impact by Grace Del Vecchio and Matt Chapman

Chicago has quietly expanded the surveillance technology’s footprint—but it’s still disproportionately listening to Black and Brown communities. The post ShotSpotter’s deafening impa…

CHINESE BOXING Touring by Libby Purves and Friends

A SCRUTABLE TAKE ON CHINA     This is a beguiling  70-minute solo show from the actor, writer, wandering maverick entrepreneur  and China pundit Mark Kitto.  He plays three parts in seq…

People in performing arts twice as likely to have depression, Equity finds by Harriet Sherwood Arts and Culture Correspondent

Actors’ union says Covid exacerbated contributory factors such as job insecurity and low pay People working in entertainment and performing arts are twice as likely to experience depressio…

Mystery Actions debut a new blast of anti-war punk rock by J.r. Nelson and Leor Galil

Local four-piece Mystery Actions remind Gossip Wolf of the cool, slightly intimidating kids from the Chicago street-punk scene in the late 80s and early 90s, when it centered on Clark and Be…

What a Time to Be a Woman by Women and Theatre

In this post, we weigh in on last week’s leaked Supreme Court decision. We talk about the importance of bodily autonomy and the power of collective rage.

Giant puppet Little Amal to meet Ukrainian refugee children in Poland by Harriet Sherwood Arts and Culture Correspondent

Model of 10-year-old Syrian girl that has become symbol of compassion will visit border town of Przemyśl Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates After last year’s 5,000-mile journey across Eur…

Most Broadway theaters have ended vaccination checks as coronavirus cases are rising. by Matt Stevens and Rachel Sherman

Tony Nomination Snubs and Surprises: Daniel Craig, ‘Funny Girl’ and ‘Paradise Square’ by Michael Paulson and Scott Heller

Several stars, including Daniel Craig and Sarah Jessica Parker, were not nominated for their performances, while “Paradise Square” became one of the season’s most-nominated shows.

THE CORN IS GREEN Lyttelton, SE1 by Libby Purves and Friends

VOICES FROM THE VALLEYS       It is a curious feeling to be half charmed and half irritated by a production: one moment absorbed in a confrontation and engaged with a character, the next…

Most of Broadway Ends Vaccine Checks as Cases Rise in New York by Matt Stevens and Rachel Sherman

While for-profit theater owners and operators agreed to stop checking proof of vaccination this week, several nonprofit Broadway theaters continue to require it.

Most of Broadway ends vaccine checks as cases rise in New York by Matt Stevens and Rachel Sherman

The industry hopes that ending vaccine checks will make theatergoing more attractive, and that the remaining mask mandate will help keep audiences safe as cases have risen.

MARYS SEACOLE. Donmar, WC2 by Libby Purves and Friends

NURSING ACROSS CONTINENTS      Kayla Meikle, stalwart in Victorian dignity and Caribbean matriarchy, addresses us firmly at the start of Jackie Sibblies Drury’s manic, sometimes  chao…

MIDDLE Dorfman, SE1 by Libby Purves and Friends

IN THE MIDDLE OF LIFE’S JOURNEY..THROW A PLATE OR TWO      Ah, middle age! Waists spreading outwards, options  contracting, marriage all too familiar, parents getting older fast and ch…

Dave Chappelle attacked by man with replica gun at LA comedy festival by Nadia Khomami Arts and Culture Correspondent

Incident raises further questions over comedian safety after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at Oscars The comedian Dave Chappelle was attacked during a performance in Los Angeles, according t…

Isidora Kecman by Women and Theatre

Meet actor and creator Isidora Kecman! We talk about speaking out for those who don’t feel comfortable doing it for themselves, asking for what you want, addressing the roots of system…

Union demands compensation for Cinderella cast after sudden closure by Nadia Khomami Arts and Culture Correspondent

Equity says ‘sacking by press release’ from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End show caused pain and distress Current and future cast members of Cinderella must be compensated for their los…

A Dancer’s Farewell, Not as Choreographed by Julia Jacobs and Zachary Small

Abi Stafford Lillo left City Ballet amid a family feud and a dispute over whether a choreographer had body-shamed her or she lacked the strength to dance her final role.

Footage of racist violence traumatises black children, says author by Lanre Bakare Arts and Culture Correspondent

Claudia Rankine, whose latest play, The White Card, is to tour the UK, warns of negative effect on mental health Footage of violent racist incidents such as the murder of George Floyd is tr…

Russia’s Bolshoi theatre cancels shows by directors who spoke out over Ukraine by Staff and Agencies

Moscow venue drops Timofey Kulyabin’s opera Don Pasquale and Kirill Serebrennikov’s ballet Nureyev Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates Russia’s Bolshoi theatre has upset opera and balle…

Theatres need more plus-sized black actors, says Broadway and West End star by Nadia Khomami Arts and Culture Correspondent

Marisha Wallace wants to inspire young girls and call out lack of diversity as she takes on role in Oklahoma! A professional career in theatre was not always on the cards for Marisha Wallace…

PRIMA FACIE Harold Pinter Theatre, WC1 by Libby Purves and Friends

SEXUAL ASSAULT , HARD LAW, AND AN ASTONING WEST END DEBUT    Forget the cold sadistic clotheshorse Vilanelle from Killing Eve.  Actually, forget all Jodie Comer’s screen awards.  This …

RSC to stage adaptation of animated fantasy film My Neighbour Totoro by Harriet Sherwood Arts and Culture Correspondent

Royal Shakespeare Company’s version of celebrated Studio Ghibli movie will be first opening ‘of this scale’ in nearly 40 years The Royal Shakespeare Company is to stage an adaptation o…

Find a Way In! by Women and Theatre

In our first themed blog post, we talk about the many ways to build a career in theatre and share some resources for people who are getting started…

BARRY HUMPHRIES ; THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK Touring towards London by Libby Purves and Friends

HALF A CENTURY OF HAPPY MISCHIEF Full disclosure: I have been following this man around for the best part of 50 years. Went with my brother Mike to his first show, Housewife Superstar, at th…

HENRY VI REBELLION: and THE WARS OF THE ROSES Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford by Libby Purves and Friends

NOW THE TWO PLAYS TOGETHER HENRY VI: REBELLION.        ENGLAND IN FERMENT, AND SOME DANGEROUS WOMEN       We are in the 1450s, in a dangerous doldrum: Henry V of Agincourt is long dea…