‘It’s licensed touting, essentially’: has sky high ticket pricing turned London theatre into the wild West End?
Rising costs, celebrity casts, plain greed? Whatever the cause, charging hundreds of pounds a seat risks excluding the audiences that theatre’s future depends on
October 2023
After 60 years, when will the biggest job in UK theatre go to a woman? Why not now?
Arifa Akbar
Only male artistic directors have run the National Theatre. It’s time to address that, says the Guardian’s chief theatre critic Arifa Akbar
July 2023
The Edinburgh comedy awards have been saved. But are they a fringe benefit?
Brian Logan
At a late hour, the former Perrier has found new sponsors. Some winners have mixed feelings about it but the prize brings attention to an art form that doesn’t get enough appreciation
February 2023
Women dominate gender-neutral categories at WhatsOnStage awards
The Brits faced criticism for not nominating women in gender-neutral category but women reign in theatre awards chosen by public
November 2022
Josie Rourke: ‘If Shakespeare was alive now he’d be under commission to Nica Burns’
As You Like It comes to London’s new venue @sohoplace this winter. The play’s director and the theatre’s owner discuss arts cuts, the industry’s gender balance and the pandemic
October 2022
Sophie Okonedo to play Medea at new West End theatre
The production, beginning next February, will be directed by Dominic Cooke for @sohoplace in London
July 2022
‘It comes down to taste’: how the Edinburgh comedy awards find tomorrow’s funniest stars
London’s West End gets first purpose-built theatre in 50 years
October 2021
Why battles over race and sex now take centre stage at UK drama schools
Britain has long been seen as a crucible of performing excellence, but new issues have come to the fore in our stage schools. Are centuries of stagecraft about to be sacrificed?
June 2021
Hear the people sing! Musicals are back – and they’re retuned for a new generation
We all had our ways to cope with isolation. For me, it was music from Evita, Hamilton, and more. Now as UK venues reopen, a flood of diverse, fresh shows and revivals are due on stage and screen
April 2021
Theatre newcomers get their chance to shine as London’s West End reopens
Impresario Nica Burns is giving 23 young producers their big break with a showcase at top London venues
December 2020
Culture in peril
This government says it's 'here for culture' but wrong-foots UK theatre at every step
Michael Harrison
Culture in peril
'Christmas fiasco' as London move to tier 3 shuts West End theatres
November 2020
Culture in peril
Waiting in the wings: how a second lockdown halted theatre's comeback
New shows from Manchester’s Hope Mill, London’s National Theatre and the Red Ladder touring company have all been cut short by Covid as venues close their doors once more
Politics live with Andrew Sparrow
UK coronavirus: Sweden and Germany put on quarantine list; Johnson raises Christmas hopes - as it happened
Latest updates: people travelling from Germany and Sweden must self-isolate; Johnson thinks people will have ‘as normal a Christmas as possible’
Culture in peril
Rishi Sunak's UK furlough extension 'major step forward' for theatres, says Nica Burns
Producer appeals to government to give venues advance notice about reopening following lockdown
September 2020
Culture in peril
The Play That Goes Wrong to return to London's West End – and risk a loss
What to expect at a socially distanced night at the theatre
Sweet Mother review – sorrow, joy and self-reliance in Toxteth
Culture in peril
Beverley Knight urges government to reopen theatres for sake of livelihoods
