Prize aims to support and showcase established writers and emerging talent in Britain's stage industry A prize celebrating female playwrights has announced its return with its largest prize …
Bill Gilmour relates André Morell's tale of being advised by Olivier that mortician's wax and a red lipstick made all the difference I was fascinated by your report that one of Laurence Oli…
Ellen's husband Rog loves a crafty swig; she worries he'll be spotted and embarrass her. Should he put a lid on it or should she enter into the spirit of things? You decideFind out how to ge…
A new book celebrates the Japanese masks carved by Hideta, a traditional wood-carving artist. They are for classical and contemporary noh and kyÅgen theatre performances Continue reading.…
Dame Maggie Smith, who has died aged 89, had an incredibly varied career as a star of stage, screen and TV " from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie to Downton Abbey to Harry Potter. We look back…
Enjoy a good one-liner? Here are some of the best rib-ticklers from the annual comedy extravaganza Olaf Falafel: My desire to spontaneously sing The Lion Sleeps Tonight is always just a whim…
Steve McQueen, Tracey Emin, Steve Coogan, Adjoa Andoh, Danny Dyer, Jesse Darling and many more spell out what must be done to restore Britain's cultural lifeblood, from ending elitism to sup…
Are you a comedian desperate for an audience " and accommodation " during the Edinburgh fringe? This could be your dream gig Name: Breakfast roaster. Age: As yet unborn. Continue reading...
Tom Taylor says most of the problems in the in-tray of the new culture secretary are traceable to one cause: underfunding We hope that Lisa Nandy's appointment as culture secretary stops the…
Comedian David Rose on the perils of audience interaction while doing standup. Plus a letter from Clive Needle While reading your recent article about comedians and crowd work (Crowd work i…
Jeremy Strong, Daniel Radcliffe, Ariana DeBose and Angelina Jolie were among the crowd for the 77th annual Tony awards, held in New York on Sunday The full list of winners Continue reading...
Derek Jacobi and Margo Anderson on how local lore and biographical specificity found in the comedy point to the 17th Earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere, as its writer Michael Billington says Sha…
Sunset Boulevard and Dear England have the most nominations at this year's awards " see who else is in the running Noël Coward award for best new entertainment or comedy playAccidental D…
When a celebrated voice coach feels she has to resign, it's a poor reflection on the state of drama in the UK As a professional actor, I've worked extensively in all media for more than 45 y…
Readers reflect on the deep impact that some scenes on stage can have on their mental health Re Arifa Akbar's article (We go to the theatre to feel something " and people do. Trigger warning…
Yvonne Whalley on the rise of AI actors. Plus a letter from Mike Peacock on Donald Sinden's Othello So, the TV director James Hawes has told parliament's culture, media, and sport committee …
Circussy classics | Secondhand clothes | Curtain calls | Cold showers Lyndsey Winship's review (Ockham's Razor: Tess review " circus spin finds light and laughter in Thomas Hardy's tale, 1 F…
The Broadway star has died aged 91. Revisit her glittering career, including West Side Story, Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman Continue reading...
Barbara Richardson suggests that all National Theatre productions should be livestreamed, while Sarah Lynch says regional theatres such as Sheffield's Crucible deserve credit Ian Wood rightl…
17 February 1934 " 22 April 2023The broadcaster recalls a true original who immersed himself in the roles of Dame Edna and Sir Les, and was a complicated mixture of vaudeville character and …
19 October 1940 " 27 September 2023The playwright recalls his collaborations with the charismatic actor whose mix of mischief and vulnerability endeared him to everyone from Arthur Miller to…
The National Theatre's new artistic director must ensure that it engages with the regions, writes Ian Wood Arifa Akbar writes of the National Theatre, in her article about the appointment of…
9 May 1936 " 15 June 2023The politician recalls the actor and fellow Labour MP, a passionate campaigner for social justice who never exploited fame to advance her career Julian Sands rememb…
Tim Atkinson on the threat to the livelihoods of the Northern Ballet Sinfonia's musicians Great that you featured Northern Ballet's Nutcracker as a double-page photo spread in your print edi…
John Coldwell on his first ever walkout from a performance. Plus letters from Ian Garner, David Riley and Tim Edwards on leaving theatres at the interval or even earlier Two days before read…