Features

Bryan Cranston in Network

Theatre Closures

Philip Fisher looks at the future and fears a long wait before theatres across the UK reopen.
The cover of Frank Ifield's "I Remember You"

Remembrance of theatre past (10–11): panto in Sunderland

Peter Lathan looks back at a career in theatre which stretches back to the 1960s. This instalment features the stars of many pantos at the Sunderland Empire, plus some stories about panto chorus boys.
Ben Whishaw as Hamlet

The Virtual Theatre of My Dreams

Philip Fisher imagines the perfect shows for online viewing.
Slade at the Empire (composite of two pics)

Remembrance of theatre past (7–9): when punks came to Sunderland

Peter Lathan looks back at a career in theatre which stretches back to the 1960s. This instalment features the night the punks came to Sunderland Empire, a rather odd photo job and a few Green Room conversations.
Othniel Smith

Othniel Smith: 1962-2020

Writers' Guild of Great Britain Wales Co-Chair Manon Eames pays tribute to Othniel Smith, Secretary of the WGGB Welsh Committee for over 20 years as well as BTG's Cardiff reviewer.
Coronavirus Theatre Club

Let’s not confuse theatres with Theatre

Peter Lathan responds to the suggestion that theatres may not be able to re-open until 2021.
Seven Streams of the River Ota

What Next?

Philip Fisher considers what may happen to theatres in the near future and slightly further on.
Anthony Sher as Prospero in the 2009 production of The Tempest with Baxter Theatre Centre

The gardener shot my colleagues: two decades of reviewing the RSC

Colin Davison looks back on twenty years or more of reviewing the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford: the highlights, some low points, and a nod to his critical heroes.
The NYT (NE) production of Henry V

Remembrance of theatre past (4–6): National Youth Theatre, ballerinas and footballers

Peter Lathan looks back at a career in theatre which stretches back to the 1960s. This instalment focuses on his time at Sunderland Empire and features the National Youth Theatre, a major failure as a photographer and a “contest” between ballerinas and footballers.
The Globe Player web site

Global Community

David Cunningham looks at the online offerings from Shakespeare's Globe and compares them with his visits to the venue soon after it opened.
Burn This

A Great Night Out: Burn This—an unforgettable production with a personal prologue

Philip Fisher remembers a night out in a Portakabin with John Malkovich and Juliet Stevenson.
Daddy's Your Teacher Now! in the style of School of Rock

Thank you for the music

Sandra Giorgetti tries to keep track of the tracks available online during the current health crisis.
Vinyl record cover of Otello recording with Domingo from the Zeffirelli film

A Great Night Out: a top night at the opera

Simon Thomas picks his highlights from nearly half a century of opera-going.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in Frankenstein

National Theatre Collection on Drama Online

Philip Fisher reviews a fantastic resource for school and college students.
A modern photo of Sunderland Empire

Remembrance of theatre past (1–3): stories from Sunderland Empire

Peter Lathan looks back at a career in theatre which stretches back to the 1960s. This first instalment comprises three stories from his time at Sunderland Empire.
The interior of Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

Lamentations of an isolated theatrical

Peter Lathan explores how well (or otherwise) he is living with isolation.
A messianic David Tennant as Richard II in 2013

‘King & Country’ and other epics

David Cunningham hopes, when the theatres reopen, that their response will be some epic drama of substance in reaction to the trauma that we have all experienced.
James Corden in One Man, Two Guvnors

A Taste of Honey or Absolute Hell?

Philip Fisher responds to David Cunningham's lack of enthiusiasm for online theatre productions with sympathy but also a request to, at least, reconsider.
David Tennant as Hamlet

A Great Night Out: David Tennant in Hamlet at the RSC

Theatres and producers are constantly looking at new ways of getting people through the doors for the first time as well as attracting younger audience members. In 2008, the Royal Shakespeare Company spectacularly achieved this: by offering David Tennant the part of Hamlet.
NT at Home

Online Theatre

Philip Fisher rounds up some of the best online theatre and opera offerings, many of which are free to view.