The Stage

In The Paper [RSS]

A sneak preview into the world of The Stage, the UK’s newspaper for the entertainment performing arts industry.

Podcasts [RSS]

An occasional series of interviews with names from the world of theatre, broadcasting and all avenues of the performing arts.

One of the country’s leading theatre reviewers, Mark Shenton offers news, opinion, commentary and the occasional anecdote about theatre in the West End, Broadway, and further afield. Mark is also theatre critic for the Sunday Express and other theatrical publications.

TV Today [RSS]

TV Today is the blog you need if your life revolves around television — on either side of the camera, or from the comfort of your sofa. With regular contributions from The Stage’s assistant editor Scott Matthewman and author and all-round TV guru Mark Wright.

Recent posts

Square Eyes 5-7 September

TV Today: Harry and Paul (Friday 9pm, BBC1) A return for Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse in a second run of brand new character sketch comedy, although the title Ruddy Hell! It’s Harry and Paul has been slimmed down to the...

Published on 5 Sep 2008 at 13:46 by Mark Wright

Bringing off-Broadway to the West End….

Shenton’s View: There is no shortage of theatre spaces in London, of course, of all shapes, sizes and all-too-often, states of disrepair. Some of this is being addressed - subsidised houses from the Royal Court to the Royal Opera House and...

Published on 5 Sep 2008 at 07:38 by Mark Shenton

Important announcement from The Stage

In The Paper: Owing to circumstances beyond our control, I regret to advise that major parts of The Stage Online will not be updated for a minimum of two weeks and, unfortunately, this means the recruitment section will not be available online...

Published on 4 Sep 2008 at 17:03 by The Stage

Lost in Austen loses audience

TV Today: I’m a little disappointed to see that last night’s opening episode of the ITV1/Mammoth Screen comedy drama, Lost in Austen , attracted a paltry audience of 3.8 million and a 17% share . By anybody’s standards, that’s pretty dismal...

Published on 4 Sep 2008 at 17:01 by Mark Wright

Worst night of the year….

Shenton’s View: It’s an occupational hazard of going to the theatre professionally that you’re going to have bad nights from time to time; but at least I can remind myself that I’ve not paid for my tickets to add a waste...

Published on 4 Sep 2008 at 08:07 by Mark Shenton

Titles of Delight

TV Today: There are days in the world of a dedicated TV blogger where the muse just does not come - and when the biggest story of the day is that the BBC has spent £10m on flights in the last...

Published on 3 Sep 2008 at 17:16 by Mark Wright

Maintaining a regular web presence….

Shenton’s View: I like to think of this blog as my daily fibre: something that anchors my journalistic day by its regularity. But as well as writing here, and for other websites, too, from playbill.com to occasional Guardian blogs , I...

Published on 3 Sep 2008 at 09:10 by Mark Shenton

BBC Drama - Autumn Trailer

TV Today: Some tantalising titbits of the drama season ahead across the BBC’s output have cropped up in a supremely confident autumn season trailer that was unveiled yesterday . Curiously, a couple of shows in the line-up are already up and...

Published on 2 Sep 2008 at 17:06 by Mark Wright

The official end of summer… and the kick-off of a busy autumn

Shenton’s View: You may be forgiven for thinking that the summer never arrived at all, but now that August 31 - the last official day of summer, according to meteorologists — has come and gone, at least we can stop hoping...

Published on 2 Sep 2008 at 08:31 by Mark Shenton

Ken Campbell, RIP….

Shenton’s View: I don’t usually post a second daily entry here, but the news of the premature death yesterday of theatrical visionary Ken Campbell, at the age of 66, means that my own rule needs to be broken. But then Campbell...

Published on 1 Sep 2008 at 17:14 by Mark Shenton

Latest news [RSS]

Wicked extends West End run: West End musical Wicked has defied the UK’s economic downturn by extending its booking period until September 26, 2009.
24-hour strike by staff at Glasgow’s Tramway and Mitchell theatres: Staff at Glasgow’s Tramway and Mitchell Theatres have gone on a 24-hour strike following a pay dispute with the company responsible for delivering leisure activities in the city.
Strouse to celebrate 80th birthday with UK tour: Composer Charles Strouse, who has written the music to more than 30 stage musicals, 14 scores for Broadway - including Annie, Applause and Bye, Bye Birdie - four Hollywood films, two orchestral works and an opera, will be celebrating his 80th birthday, his 50-year show business career, and the release of his new book Put On a Happy Face - A Broadway Memoir, with a UK tour from September 17 to 23.
Field Day founding director Hammond dies age 79: David Hammond, one of the founding directors of the acclaimed Irish theatre company Field Day, has died at the age of 79.
Shock as Edinburgh Festival Fringe director Morgan resigns: Edinburgh Festival Fringe director Jon Morgan resigned his post today with immediate effect.

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