Howard Loxton

London reviewer

Howard Loxton was born a Brummie and went to theatre school there. He started his acting career at the Garrick Theatre, Lichfield, before joining the company at Birmingham Rep. Special weeks took him to other local reps such as Redditch, Wolverhampton, Wednesbury. Kidderminster and the Alex, Birmingham and seasons at Worcester, Coventry and with the Arena Theatre before getting to London. After a couple of small West End roles he found himself largely working as a stage manager, including two seasons with the English Opera Group, with occasional roles in television dramas and light entertainment.

Co-founding and co-editing Viewpoint, a short-lived serious quarterly about television, saw him writing his first reviews and led to occasional contributions as a journalist to The Guardian (his first a feature interview about Dr Who with Dalek creator Terry Nation) and show biz interviews for other journals that ranged from pop stars to choreographer Agnes De Mille. A switch of career took him into book publishing as an editor with Paul Hamlyn, Jonathan Cape and William Collins and into writing nearly fifty books on subjects that include history and natural history as well as theatre.

He became a regular theatre reviewer for the Rogues and Vagabonds website and for Camden New Journal and has been reviewing for British Theatre Guide since 2007.

He has an MA in Modern Drama, is a member of the Critics' Circle and on the committee of the Society for Theatre Research, for whom he organises the annual Theatre Book Prize and chairs the panel of judges.

Reviews

News

Features

The Wilis in Akram Khan's Giselle

Cinemas to show Khan’s Giselle: ENB’s first live recording

English National Ballet has announced the first showing of Akram Khan’s Giselle from 25 April 2018. It was filmed live and directed by Ross MacGibbon—and we’ve seen it.
Stamatis Kraounakis

Kraounakis and Speira Speira: a flying visit from Athens

Greek satirical theatre company Speira Speira, led by composer, performer, director Stamatis Kraounakis, is bringing its latest show All As One - Kiss Me to London for one night only on 27 January 2017.
BTG logo

Protecting Theatres: Whose? Where? How?

A report on the Theatres Trust Conference 16: Protecting Theatres, held on 21st June 2016 at the New London Theatre
Theatres Trust Conference 15

The Theatres Trust Conference 15: Valuing Theatres

A report on the conference held at the Milton Theatre, Guildhall School, London on 23 June 2015.
The Owle Schreame Award

The Owle Schreame Awards for Innovation in Classical Theatre

A new set of awards was presented on Sunday 14 September at a gathering that brought together a diverse group of theatre makers.
Sir Donald and Marc Sinden in production for the Great West End Theatres series

Sir Donald Sinden

Howard Loxton pays tribute to actor Sir Donald Sinden, who died on Friday 12 September 2014.
Max Stafford-Clark

A Howl of Rage: Max Stafford-Clark's Plague Year

Howard Loxton reports from a platform presentation to launch of the publication of Max Stafford-Clark’s new book A Journal of the Plague Year.
BTG logo

100 Years of Criticism: Key Changes

A report on the Critics' Circle Centenary Conference.
Brighton Hippodrome, at the top of the list among Britain's endangered theatres

Theatres at Risk: a new endangered list is announced

Report on Theatres Trust Theatres at Risk Register launched on 19 September 2013.
Grassroots Shakespeare London Producer and Artistic Director Siobhan Daly with Assistant Artistic Director Boris Mitkov

Doing Without a Director – That’s Grassroots Shakespeare’s Choice

Howard Loxton interviews Siobhan Daly, Artistic Director and Executive Producer of Grassroots Shakespeare London, who founded a company that goes back to “original practices” and directs itself.

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