Features

Pearl Mackie as Ashley and Jessica Raine as Morgan in Bubble from Nottingham Playhouse

Midlands theatre in 2020

Steve Orme summarises the year in theatre in the Midlands.
Sharlene Cruz, Dylan Gelula and Sophie Kelly-Hedrick in Hunter Theater Project's Macbeth

When Shall We Three Meet Again?

Philip Fisher looks ahead with some trepidation to a time when theatre can return to, at the very least, a new normal.
Stop!

NE theatre in 2020, as seen from our house (mainly)

Peter Lathan tries to cheer himself up by taking a light-hearted look at the theatre year in the North East but finds it’s not that easy.
Tom Stoppard

Gift ideas for the strangest Christmas in living memory

Philip Fisher suggests some timely gift ideas for theatre lovers, while highlighting some of the best offerings of a limited year.
Umihiko Miya in Seven Streams of the River Ota

At Last

For official reports on the final funding allocation from the Culture Recovery Funds, including belated loans for the National Theatre and the RSC.
Cinderella from the Sunderland Empire 2020

A World Beating Government for Mixed Messages

Almost unintentionally, the government seems to be opening up theatres to a greater degree but also significantly increasing risk.
Flowers for Mrs Harris

Christmas is coming and there are bad times just around the corner

With just 26 days left to Christmas, National News Editor and London Reviewer Sandra Giorgetti thinks about presents with meaning.
Arts Council England

Time to re-imagine theatre?

Fuelled by anger at the state of British theatre, Peter Lathan wonders if we shouldn’t take advantage of the pandemic to re-imagine what it should be like in the future.
The Cast of the Tyne Theatre's Aladdin

Can I go to a panto mummy?

Philip Fisher is completely baffled by the government's latest regulations for theatres.
NT #LightItInRed

Emergency, What Emergency?

Philip Fisher is unimpressed by Arts Council England's failure to distribute over half of the Cultural Recovery Fund.
Marlowe Theatre

Arts Council England – what are they waiting for

Last week ACE awarded £18.7 million to eight organisations in the second round of grants over £1 million. There is still money in the pot which would be better being distributed.
Sydney Harbour

Popular

Conservative MP Jake Berry’s remarks that northern communities prefer football to opera, ballet and theatre can be dismissed as nonsense but reflect an attitude that may deter, or limit the enjoyment of, potential theatregoers.
Everybody is Talking About Jamie

A Half-Full Cup

The vaccine could be theatre's saviour after a desperate year.
Creative Scotland allocates first tranche of Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund

Scotland's Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund

£11.75 million of Scotland's £15 million Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund has been allocated by Creative Scotland.
Tarrin Callender as Dick Whittington and Kat B as Uncle Vincent, The Cat

Some Hope Amidst the Agony

Philip Fisher spots some rays of light in the latest coronavirus legislation.
Max Weitzenhofer and Nica Burns

Insurance—The Missing Link

Philip Fisher reviews some recent developments and suggests that with coronavirus returning at worrying levels, theatres badly need an insurance scheme to protect against forced closures.
Panto 2020: the season in stats

Panto 2020: the season in stats

Simon Sladen brings you Pantoland's vital statistics in a season where less is more.
Arts Council England - responsible for allocating a proportion of the government's Cultural Recovery Fund

Arts Council England: £75 million divided by 35

This week £75 million from the Culture Recovery Fund was shared out between thirty five cultural organisations and venues.
David Toole OBE

David Toole OBE obituary

Vera Liber pays tribute to dancer David Toole OBE, 31 July 1964 to 16 October 2020.
Watermill Full House Appeal

Arts Council England fiddling while England burns

This week, we take a look at a series of public funding announcements that may prove a mixed blessing.