Monday, March 9, 2026

UK’s performing arts industry ‘inhospitable to parents’, research warns by Rachel Hall

Long hours, lack of flexibility and last-minute scheduling driving parents, particularly mothers, from industry The performing arts industry in the UK is “inhospitable to parents” and fa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:18AM

‘Utterly winning’: Paddington becomes first new West End musical to land nine WhatsOnStage awards by Rachel Hall

Using state-of-the-art animatronics to bring Paddington to life, the new musical has wowed critics and delighted audiences since it opened in December Paddington has become the first new Wes…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:18AM

‘The smell wasn’t healthy’: the artist who wore 24 nappies to highlight sewage pollution – and fell ill by Kate Wyver

zack mennell made a costume out of nappies and waded into filthy waterways saying: ‘I’m going to be the parasite.’ The performance artist’s project became more literal than originall…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:18AM

‘Four teens in their 30s!’ Lovable New York comedy gang Simple Town land in London by Brian Logan

They wowed the Edinburgh fringe with whip-smart sketches about Nasa engineers and what their audience were thinking. Now the slacker troupe are back on stage – but a long way from TV scree…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:18AM
Sunday, March 8, 2026

The Mesmerist review – Rufus Hound magically unravels a family mystery by Arifa Akbar

Watford Palace theatrePaying tribute to his grandfather whose 1983 show at the same venue lasted only one night the actor and comedian skilfully unveils a big reveal worthy of Inside No 9 Th…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:54PM

The Uncontainable Nausea of Alec Baldwin review – slapdash absurdism by Kate Wyver

New Diorama theatre, LondonA man bearing the same name as the actor wants to apologise to a woman for something he has ‘accidentally’ done in this patience-testing undisciplined drama �…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:24PM

‘I feel I am not yet grown up’: Alan Bennett’s diary of his 90th year by Alan Bennett

He got stuck in the bath and met the queen. But despite a few wobbles and procedures, the author still can’t believe his age Windsor. The royal dolls’ house at Windsor Castle is being re…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:42AM

Crime and Punishment review – gripping portrait of Dostoevsky’s murderous antihero by Mark Fisher

Cast, DoncasterLaurie Sansom’s bold decision to stage the literary classic with a cast of three pays off in parts thanks to compelling performances and an atmosphere of shadowy dread You m…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:36AM
Saturday, March 7, 2026

The Ladies Football Club review – squad of 11 salute Sheffield’s pioneering players by Catherine Love

Crucible theatre, SheffieldA dynamic team of actors capture the spirit of female footballers during the first world war – though the storytelling is sometimes fumbled The rise of interest …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:18AM
Friday, March 6, 2026

The play that changed my life: ‘There were cheers, screams and gasps at our story – we couldn’t believe it!’ by Nick Ahad

Dramatising Onjali Q Raúf’s refugee tale The Boy at the Back of the Class brought cheers and boos from a young audience – showing they can handle the truth I’d never heard of The Boy …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:36PM

Ballet de Lorraine: Acid Gems and a Folia review – clubby cool with a wild streak by Lyndsey Winship

Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London Adam Linder delivers a zingy riff on Balanchine’s Jewels while Marco da Silva Ferreira masses a raucous party crowd In 2008 Adam Linder won t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:18PM

I had a front row seat at the Blur v Oasis frenzy – here’s what a new play gets bang on and bafflingly wrong by John Harris

In 1995, the bands tussled for No 1 – and the Britpop crown. Our writer was on the inside of the mad-for-it contest. Does The Battle accurately capture this divisive moment? And what was N…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:06AM

Leslie Odom Jr, Broadway’s original Aaron Burr, to join London cast of Hamilton by Chris Wiegand

Actor who won a Tony award in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical will reprise the role for West End debut Leslie Odom Jr, who originated the role of Aaron Burr in Hamilton on Broadway, is to…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:06AM

‘Having 36 dancers waiting for me fills me with dread’: choreographer Crystal Pite on her seminal productions by Lyndsey Winship

The Canadian dance director has created a dazzling body of work that tackles human relationships and the big questions of our times. She talks through pivotal moments in her career There are…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:42AM

James Acaster review – standup in terrific form with tangled tribute act to himself by Brian Logan

Clapham Grand, LondonIn his touring show, Acaster introduces a new alter ego, adding even more layers to his material, along with some trenchant political gags ‘I’m the UK’s No 1 James…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:42AM
Thursday, March 5, 2026

The Manningtree Witches review – Ava Pickett’s gripping follow-up to Tudor hit 1536 by Arifa Akbar

Mercury theatre, Colchester The targets of the infamous 17th-century ‘witchfinder general’ narrate a powerful play based on AK Blakemore’s novel ‘It does not matter what is true,” …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:24PM

Ballet Black at 25 review – dazzling double bill brings forth resistance and hope by Sanjoy Roy

Linbury theatre, LondonFor its quarter of a century celebrations, the company combines an eloquent new dance that speaks of idealism with a revival of its punchy social drama It’s 25 years…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:06PM

The RSC’s music cuts fundamentally diminish our experience of theatre | Tom Service by Tom Service

From Mendelssohn’s scherzo in A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Grieg’s Morning Mood from Peer Gynt, music composed for the theatre was never just ‘incidental’ News that the Royal Shake…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:06AM

Paddington and Into the Woods up for 11 Olivier awards each by Chris Wiegand Stage Editor

Two musicals dominate nominations while Tom Hiddleston and Bryan Cranston vie for best actor, with Cate Blanchett and Rosamund Pike up for best actress• Olivier awards 2026: full list of n…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:06AM

Olivier awards 2026: full list of nominations by Guardian Stage

Into the Woods and Paddington the Musical are this year’s most-nominated shows with 11 nods each. See who else is in the running at this year’s awards Best new musicalHere We Are, book b…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:01AM

The Legend of Davie McKenzie review – Butch, Sundance and the ultimate cinematic send-off by Mark Fisher

Òran Mór, GlasgowCovering friendship, addiction and death, this dark comedy from the team behind Dancing Shoes celebrates one man’s life and his passion for film The title is ironic. The…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:01AM
Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Twists in the tale: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding explores immigrant experience through a day at the salon by Precious Adesina

As Jocelyn Bioh’s play about life in a Harlem hairdresser’s gets a London run, she and director Monique Touko explain why its story of west Africans styling themselves for life in the US…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:18PM

Broken Glass review – Arthur Miller’s shattering drama chills with new political resonance by Arifa Akbar

Young Vic, LondonJordan Fein’s revival finds hypnotic power in Miller’s 1994 play, as Pearl Chanda and Eli Gelb bring haunting emotional force to a story of paralysis and denial Some mig…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:18PM
Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Ukraine Unbroken review – five searing dramas about the history and horror of Russia’s invasion by Arifa Akbar

Arcola theatre, London Nicolas Kent directs a set of short plays by British and Ukrainian writers giving devastating vignettes from the conflict Nicolas Kent’s concept for a series of shor…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:01PM

‘I won’t be on roller skates!’ Nick Mohammed to host Olivier awards in 50th anniversary year by Chris Wiegand

Ted Lasso star and Celebrity Traitors finalist will take the helm at Royal Albert Hall ceremony in London next month as special award recipients are announced Nick Mohammed has been named as…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:01AM

‘How incredibly stimulating!’ Retirees on discovering a new world through dance by Sanjoy Roy

As Angela Rippon’s Let’s Dance campaign aims to get the nation moving this week, older dancers share how they overcame nerves to relish the benefits In retirement, Suzanne Tarlin heard h…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:42AM
Monday, March 2, 2026

Brave Bettie review – one night for daring duo to save a mighty oak by Chris Wiegand

Arts Depot, LondonTwo new friends attempt to protect a cherished tree from destruction in Tatenda Naomi Matsvai’s evocative play for young audiences Two stories are entwined in Tatenda Nao…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:01PM

My rookie era: in a period of heartbreak, learning to pole dance gave me structure by Bec Zhuang

I disliked my first encounter with pole, but two years later my experience with the sport has made me appreciate my body and my self-determination Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:01AM

Andrew ‘Sid’ Siddall obituary by Richard Hurford

My friend and colleague Andrew “Sid” Siddall was an outdoor performance maker who worked for many years with Emergency Exit Arts (EEA) as a project manager, designer, builder, pyrotechni…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:48AM

Rosa Garland: Primal Bog review – a slippery dive into desire with live tattooing by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonFearlessly provocative and covered in gunk, Garland delivers a wild and elusive show about queerness and carnality ‘It’s divisive.” Well, you’d think so, a “kin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:48AM

Flinging circus into the 21st century: how the immersive Walk My World became a Budapest must-see by Imogen Tilden

Hungarian director Bence Vága’s latest work showcases a modern style of acrobatics where performers soar above as the audience wanders from room to room Imagine an empty 6,000 sq metre wa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:48AM

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off