All stories by Susan Elkin on BroadwayStars

Monday, April 9, 2018

How do we really get the word out to the public about great pub theatres by Susan Elkin

How do we get the word out – really out – about fringe theatre in general and pub theatres in particular. There’s cutting-edge work going on all the time at, for example, the Finboroug…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 10:00AM
Wednesday, April 4, 2018

‘Infuriating, offensive & bloody rude to the performers’: Don’t flash your phone – even to read the programme by Susan Elkin

It’s unusual these days to sit in the theatre for more than a few minutes without the darkness and your concentration being disturbed by someone nearby flashing a mobile phone on. It’s i…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 12:00PM
Sunday, April 1, 2018

Student showcases are like mini-parties, I aim to review as many as possible by Susan Elkin

I used to review large numbers of graduating student showcases for The Stage. Then last year an editorial policy decision was made at the Stage not to cover them any more. So I didn’t go t…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 11:00AM
Wednesday, March 21, 2018

‘Living up to its wonderfully optimistic & assertive name’: Hurrah for Ramps on the Moon by Susan Elkin

So Ramps on the Moon is living up to its wonderfully optimistic name. It really is creating ramps – ways in – to fabulous, moon-like opportunities to talented people of all sorts. Bravo!…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 10:00AM
Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Performing arts: plenty to feel positive about by Susan Elkin

Rejoice with me at the sheer breadth, energy and healthy eclecticism of it all – especially if you’re feeling gloomy about the arts and their future.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 02:00PM
Monday, March 5, 2018

Scarlett Leigh Fawcett: 5 tips for playing an iconic role by Susan Elkin

Scarlett Leigh Fawcett recently finished playing Dorothy in Trinity Theatre’s 2017 Christmas production of The Wizard of Oz. Having entered the industry as

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00AM
Friday, March 2, 2018

If I accept an invitation to see your show then please expect me… by Susan Elkin

So it isn’t press night – because you were at another show then. You arrive at the box office and say politely: “Hello. My name’s Susan Elkin. There should be a press comp for me for…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 12:00PM
Monday, February 19, 2018

Katherine Vernez Gray: 5 tips for working with special needs children by Susan Elkin

Katherine Vernez Gray trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she received the gold medal in acting. She has

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:00AM
Friday, February 16, 2018

‘A new way of watching performed arts’: Interview with Digital Theatre CEO Justin Cooke by Susan Elkin

Susan Elkin chats to Justin Cooke, CEO of Digital Theatre. Digital Theatre offers access to films of live theatre, ballet, opera and classical concerts to individual subscribers and educatio…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Thursday, February 15, 2018

‘If you invite a critic then criticism is what you’ll get’: No correspondence will be entered into by Susan Elkin

I stand by everything I write in any review and will not make changes just because someone’s feelings may be a bit bruised. In fact I’m not prepared even to discuss it. We’re all grown…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Susan Elkin: Teachers must stop expecting theatre to do their job for them by Susan Elkin

When school groups go to the theatre to watch dramatised versions of the novels on the curriculum, there is a problem: English

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Monday, February 5, 2018

‘Greed is widespread’: Want diverse audiences? Cut ticket prices by Susan Elkin

So how on earth do greedy producers justify their obscene top ticket prices? Last week we heard that the best tickets for Hamilton are now £250 each. Okay, so I know you can sit elsewhere i…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 08:00AM

Jamie Fletcher: 5 tips on directing, highlighting and celebrating diversity by Susan Elkin

LGBTQ+ activist Jamie Fletcher, who is transgender, is a film and theatre director and also a musician. She creates multidisciplinary queer work

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Monday, January 29, 2018

Chris Cuming: 5 tips for directing and choreographing community theatre by Susan Elkin

Chris Cuming, who teaches at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Rose Bruford College, recently choreographed the musical Yank!

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Wednesday, January 24, 2018

The RSC way: How to teach Shakespeare… & what he teaches us by Susan Elkin

The RSC provide resources, support, workshops and more to help children to start Shakespeare earlier, do it on their feet and see it live as set out in the RSC’s 2006 Manifesto, Stand Up F…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 01:00PM
Tuesday, January 16, 2018

The secret to success in the theatre industry? Create your own work by Susan Elkin

In a vibrant, growing but overcrowded industry, which is also swamped with good young people desperate to be part of it, the ability to create work independently has never mattered more.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM

Which postgraduate drama course is best for you? by Susan Elkin

Are you a non-drama student who has decided that a theatre career is for you? Are you an actor looking for focused

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:00AM
Monday, January 8, 2018

Press conference dynamics: Is @The_Globe in safe hands with Michelle Terry? by Susan Elkin

Last Thursday [while much of the UK was still on holiday], I attended the press conference at which Michelle Terry revealed her first season at The Globe. And the dynamics in the room were f…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM
Wednesday, January 3, 2018

INTERVIEW: Spotlight On… The Woman in White’s Ashley Stillburn & Chris Peluso by Susan Elkin

“It keeps a show fresh if you’re innovative, but it’s no good setting out to be ‘different’ for the sake of it. It’s essential that you remain true to your character and the situ…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 06:00AM
Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Matthew Campling: 5 tips for writing plays based on your own experience by Susan Elkin

Matthew Campling’s 10th produced play, The Secondary Victim, which recently had a four week run at the Park Theatre, was inspired by

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 12:47PM
Thursday, December 21, 2017

Aladdin review at Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells – ‘funny and fresh’ by Susan Elkin

John-Jackson Almond, the new director of the Assembly Hall Theatre, has clearly got the measure of what works in Tunbridge Wells. While

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 07:54AM
Wednesday, December 20, 2017

The Wizard of Oz review at Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells – ‘immaculately performed’ by Susan Elkin

Trinity Theatre artistic director John Martin negotiated for four years for the rights to John Kane’s lovely version of The Wizard of

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:22AM

What makes a good pantomime? 5 key ingredients by Susan Elkin

Children – for the most part, don’t find filth and innuendo funny even if they understand it. Actually, neither do I if it’s there simply because it’s smutty. A joke has to be really…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 09:00AM
Monday, December 18, 2017

Ebony Feare: 5 tips for creating a non-human character by Susan Elkin

Ebony Feare trained at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and has worked in theatre, television and radio since graduating. She is currently

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 02:00AM
Thursday, December 14, 2017

Sleeping Beauty review at Central Theatre, Chatham – ‘vibrant and fresh-feeling’ by Susan Elkin

A trumpet playing, narcoleptic good fairy (Nicola Bryan) sets the tone for Chatham’s traditional yet fresh pantomime. It’s a treat, featuring delightful

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 11:12AM

Dick Whittington review at the Arts Centre, Hounslow – ‘good jokes’ by Susan Elkin

Now this is how you produce a decent local panto on a very low budget. With a cast of eight and a

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:59AM
Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Cinderella review at Orchard Theatre, Dartford – ‘sparky choreography’ by Susan Elkin

The innate glitziness of the Orchard Theatre – with its strips of multicoloured, flashing neon lights around the auditorium – makes it

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 09:02AM
Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Christmas gift ideas: 9 books for thespy people by Susan Elkin

If you’re looking for a present, bound to make your beloved theatre person giggle all Christmas morning, then West End Producer’s shiny new book is the obvious 2017 choice.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 12:00PM
Monday, December 11, 2017

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs review at Churchill Theatre, Bromley – ‘a mixed bag’ by Susan Elkin

The rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas at the end of this year’s Churchill Theatre panto is one  of the funniest sequences

SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 01:03PM
Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Making the Bard work: The world’s largest Shakespeare festival by Susan Elkin

The world’s largest Shakespeare Festival ends this week after 292 performance nights in theatres all over the country. I refer, of course, to Shakespeare Schools Foundation which, every ye…

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 10:00AM
Monday, December 4, 2017

THE SNOW QUEEN – Polka Theatre by Susan Elkin

The idea of four modern-ish children improvising a story is not particularly original but it works splendidly in Mike Kenny’s adapatation of The Snow Queen for a cast of four.

SOURCE: mytheatremates.com at 05:00AM

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