With its defiant, irresistible, glitter-ball spirit, the La Cage aux Folles showstopper has been embraced at Pride marches and the Paralympics " and defined many a diva I was leaving a weddi…
Pam Tanowitz hit home at last, Akram Khan and David Bintley bowed out, and the dance world looked back to Merce Cunningham and Margot Fonteyn This felt like a year that belonged to women. F…
American composer and lyricist best known for Mame, Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles The composite image of a Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, who has died aged 88…
Royal Court, LondonGurpreet Kaur Bhatti's engaging drama examines privilege and power in modern BritainThe British Sikh playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti is best known for 2004's Behzti, contr…
There was fearless new work, revelatory sound design and a seismic shift in the tussle between Chekhov and Ibsen. The Observer's theatre critic introduces her 10 best shows of the year My to…
Royal Festival Hall, LondonA global cast of performers let their talents do the talking in this nostalgic, high-octane circus show Roll up, roll up and lose yourself in a reverie of hipster …
Crucible, Sheffield; Kiln, London; Leeds PlayhouseRobert Hastie's new Guys and Dolls is an instant classic, Mike Bartlett's arguments are a slow burn, and for a thrilling trip to Oz, there i…
The Emmy-nominated actor (and Lily's little brother) talks new films, family and fatherhood When Alfie Allen was nominated for an Emmy earlier this year, for his performance in Game Of Thron…
In this series writers celebrate a person who changed their lives. Lou Sanders thanks Nick, who made her a better person " and taught her to share cake Dear Nick, People teach us all the tim…
Writer of music and lyrics to shows such as La Cage aux Folles won two Tony awards for best musical The composer Jerry Herman, who wrote the cheerful, good-natured music and lyrics for such…
As karaoke versions of musicals take off, we chat to punters at two West End shows " strictly during the interval, of course " to gauge opinion on audience participation 'It'll have them sin…
Sketch comedy double act Amy Gledhill and Chris Cantrill on the things that make them laugh the most Chris Cantrill: Cancel all your plans and seek out the undisputed queen of character come…
From Jojo Rabbit to Craig David, here's our pick of the best films, concerts, exhibitions, theatre and dance over the next seven days Continue reading...
The last 10 years have seen a boom for black British playwrights, actors, artistic directors and others in the industry. What has changed on and off stage " and what's next? I left drama sch…
The Strictly judge on this year's winner, playing panto, and why the thong will be out on New Year's EveBorn in Ballarat, Australia, Craig Revel Horwood, 54, began his career as a dancer in …
The songwriter behind the theme for the TV sitcom Friends and hits for Earth, Wind & Fire and the Pet Shop BoysAmong the many enduring hits penned by the songwriter Allee Willis, who has…
Stage and screen actor who was a West End stalwart, became a film star in the 1950s and then a TV sitcom favourite in the 70s and 80s Tony Britton dies aged 95 In a career spanning six decad…
There was no escaping Phoebe Waller-Bridge's comedy this year. It transformed our porn habits, sent gin-in-a-tin sales soaring ... and then the Catholic church weighed in 'It'll pass," Hot P…
The show of humour and hope " featuring the Queen and Dizzee Rascal " lulled us into a false sense of security, ill-preparing us for the bleak years to come We are about to be expelled from …
Sadler's Wells, LondonAshley Shaw makes a triumphant return as doomed ballerina Vicky Page in Bourne's inspired adaptation The Red Shoes was the film that cemented my love for ballet. I saw …
Circus founder and ringmistress inspired by the idea of a traditional travelling showThe rhetorical questions her flyers asked were: "Who wouldn't want to run away with the circus? Who doesn…
Playhouse theatre, LiverpoolA cracking score and an energetic cast can't disguise an unconvincing romance in Gemma Bodinetz's update of the seasonal classic Kris Kringle believes he is Santa…
Dorfman; Sam Wanamaker Playhouse; Donmar Warehouse, LondonA Neil Gaiman adaptation delivers spooky childhood spectacle; and the teenage years of Elizabeth I and Richard III Sometimes it is n…
Royal Festival Hall, London In a culture of special effects, it is the moments of connection, creativity and wonder that matter Circus 1903 " in pictures Playing its second year as an altern…
Former Southbank Centre creative director join multimillion-dollar art institution in New York The former artistic director of the Bush theatre and the Southbank Centre, Madani Younis, is mo…