Features

First Breath

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's…

A reviewer checks out First Breath—a light sculpture projected into the sky at The Factory, the new base of The Manchester International Festival.
Equity logo

Equity Demanding 17% West End Pay Rise

Having demonstrated that West End theatre workers are struggling to make ends meet, Equity has proposed a 17% increase. Philip Fisher considers the implications.
Baroness Stowell

Culture v. Money

Philip Fisher comments on a damning report from the House of Lords Communications Committee and a belated funding offer to ENO.
Equity logo

Equity Puts Government to Shame

The government is shying away from pay settlements with unions, but the theatre industry proves that it isn't so hard.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway

Reasons to be Cheerful

Philip Fisher shines a light on prospects for what could be a much better year.
Pete Ashmore and Anne-Marie Piazza in Brief Encounter at Bolton Octagon

Our reviewers' picks of 2022

Some of BTG's regular reviewers pick out their favourite theatre productions of the year.
Jodie Comer in Prima Facie

Things Can Only Get Better

The theatre world will be very happy to see the back of 2022, even if it was marginally better than its two precursors.
Michael James Ford and Eloïse Stevenson in Prime Cut's X'ntigone at The Mac, Belfast

Northern Ireland theatre highlights in 2022

Michael Quinn picks his top 10 Northern Ireland theatre shows in 2022.
Rory Mullarkey

A wintry collaboration with schoolchildren in Newcastle

Anna Ambelez talks to playwright Rory Mullarkey, whose Wintry Tales is running at Live Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Jordan E Cooper in Ain't No Mo'

The Indomitable Spirit of Theatre

You just can't keep theatrical folk down, even in the teeth of a cost-of-living crisis.
Peter Pan’s Labyrinth

Bawdy Beauties and Blue Beasts

We can't stop London reviewer Sandra Giorgetti going in search of seasonal smut, so here is her round-up of saucy Cinders and big nights out with Dick.
Roxana Silbert

Arts Council England Claims Its First Victim

Hampstead Theatre has announced the departure of its Artistic Director Roxana Silbert following the loss of its funding.
Fenella Fielding

Fenella Fielding: Actress

Robert Tanitch reports on a new exhibition celebrating the life of Fenella Fielding.
It's Behind You

Support Our Theatres

Philip Fisher suggests that if the government and Arts Council England won't support our theatres then we need to.
Matt Daines and Damian Williams in Cinderella

Can Culture Afford to Turn down a Sinister Prince Charming?

If the government and Arts Council England will not support the cultural sector, the alternatives might be even less palatable.
Protest outside English National Opera

The Future of Opera Lies in a Car Park

The chief executive of Arts Council England believes that opera should be relegated to car parks. Is he right?
The first performance played by the theatre on 9 April 2022

Theatre of War

Elena Frantseva of the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theatre from Kyiv, Ukraine tells the extraordinary story of how the theatre survived war and prepared for a UK tour.
English National Opera's Coliseum

The Arts Under Fire from Arts Council England

A recent round of funding from Arts Council England threatens the futures and jobs of many in the industry.
Le Malade Imaginaire

Remember COVID-19?

With COVID-19 making a comeback and flu also a concern, Philip Fisher wonders whether UK theatres should be trying harder.
Towards a Poor Theatre

Does the Future Lie in Poor Theatre?

Tough times lie ahead and Poor Theatre might offer the best way forward.

Are you sure?