All stories by Phil Willmott on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Phil Willmott: Is Brecht still relevant? by Phil Willmott

My first introduction to the theatre of German expressionist playwright Bertolt Brecht was as a kid when we did his The Caucasian

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Phil Willmott: Why are there no gay characters in Chekhov? by Phil Willmott

Why are there no gay characters in Chekhov? I found myself wondering that the other day. Think about it. He was the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Phil Willmott: What’s bugging you about the theatre industry? by Phil Willmott

Knowing I’d be covering a few of Mark Shenton’s blog spots while he was on holiday, I asked, via Facebook and other

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00AM
Friday, October 23, 2015

Phil Willmott: Where are today’s great show tunes? by Phil Willmott

The signage outside every show that opens in the West End quotes some critic or other declaring it a triumph and the

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Thursday, October 15, 2015

Phil Willmott: Can gay actors play straight characters convincingly? by Phil Willmott

The answer is, of course, unequivocally, yes. An actor’s sexuality is no barrier to conveying the journey and sexuality of any character,

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00AM
Friday, August 14, 2015

Phil Willmott: Proof that free theatre is valuable theatre by Phil Willmott

Every August for more a decade I’ve made a big classical production and a family show that around 30,000 people watch for

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Phil Willmott: Is theatre inherently ageist? by Phil Willmott

I recently wrote a provocatively worded article, ruffling feathers from Islington to Charing Cross, proposing that, now Equity’s National Minimum Wage case

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AM
Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Phil Willmott: Here’s why a new generation of directors is too scared to make theatre by Phil Willmott

Is Equity’s ‘Year of the Fringe’ over yet? I do hope so. Let’s get the formalities out of the way. Like all

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:00AM
Monday, June 1, 2015

Phil Willmott: What should we tell young actresses? by Phil Willmott

For the last four weeks I’ve been directing The House of Bernarda Alba at the Court Theatre Training Company. Drama School work

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:00AM
Friday, May 1, 2015

Phil Willmott: 7 tips for dealing with bad theatre reviews by Phil Willmott

I’ve waited a little while to write this, until I don’t have a show running or about to open, so that it

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00AM
Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Phil Willmott: 6 things we should be writing plays about by Phil Willmott

Last week I wrote a satirical list of things I didn’t want to keep seeing in theatre. It got picked up across

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:00AM
Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Phil Willmott: The 21 deadly sins of theatre production by Phil Willmott

Scratching your head about what to produce or write next? Here are some pointers for things to avoid… 21. Plays which reveal

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:00AM
Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Phil Willmott: Directors need to be fearless with old scripts by Phil Willmott

When an old play by a long dead writer is little known and little loved, but you can see its faults whilst

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:00AM
Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Phil Willmott: How to achieve artistic satisfaction in 10 minutes by Phil Willmott

Bored? Fancy a quick hit of artistic satisfaction? Try this. You’ll need 10 minutes when and where you won’t be disturbed and

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AM
Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Opinion: Phil Willmott: Are you a workplace bully? by Phil Willmott

We’re a pretty liberal bunch in British theatre and I don’t get the feeling that there’s anyone out there who’d consider what’s traditionally regarded as bullying – verbal and ph…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:00AM
Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Opinion: Phil Willmott: How to be miserable and jealous this February by Phil Willmott

A glance through Facebook and Twitter suggests the biggest problem besetting performers and creatives at the moment is the winter blues. It’s not something that’s unique to artis…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:00AM
Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Opinion: The four things every successful performer needs by Phil Willmott

As usual I’ve picked both experienced actors and newcomers for my current cast. Everyone benefits. The youngsters get to learn from the seasoned pros and they in turn bring fresh energy an…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AM
Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Opinion: 5 tips for the modern Shakespeare director by Phil Willmott

Last week I had the privilege of watching Anthony Sher playing Falstaff. A masterclass in making every word clear, meaningful and motivated – and as a result truthful, poignant and funny. …

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AM
Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Opinion: Phil Willmott: Casting is like a jigsaw, but with more sonnets by Phil Willmott

I was recently casting my adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry VI (now entitled Play of Thrones) for the Union Theatre. Casting a low budget classical show is often more of a slog because of …

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AM
Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Opinion: Phil Willmott: my 10 golden rules of auditioning by Phil Willmott

Over two decades of going through the auditioning process five or six times a year (low paid and well paid, musicals and drama), I’ve identified 10 things I’d like actors to understand b…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AM
Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Analysis & Opinion: Here’s the real reason you didn’t get called to audition by Phil Willmott

It’s audition week. In some ways, for me, auditions are the most vital part of the production process. As such they always make me feel slightly anxious. On the one hand, I really want to&…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AM
Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Opinion: Fringe directors need clarity about minimum wage rules by Phil Willmott

I’m alarmed to see Christmas is fast approaching. I love all the festivities but hate that dreary few weeks when I’ve finished directing panto and paid work starts again in Janua…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:00AM
Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Opinion: Have we considered the unseen perils of a minimum wage deal? by Phil Willmott

A number of theatre companies have recently announced their intention to pay the hourly minimum wage instead of the dreaded ‘profit share’ agreement under which most of us work when we�…

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AM
Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Phil Willmott: In musical theatre, it's Twitter that creates the hits – not critics by Phil Willmott

While big musicals with big money behind them are closing in the West End, Phil Willmott has managed to keep his show Lost Boy flyingThere was a certain amount of unseemly glee from the medi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:17AM
Sunday, February 2, 2014

Review:King Lear at curtainup.com-London by Phil Willmott

If you're new to Lear, it's a clear, uncluttered account, the perfect introduction. If you're a Lear veteran, the freshness of the ideas will keep you hooked and allow you to rethink your pr…

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 03:44PM

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