Current Reviewers
Here are all of our lovely team of current reviewers.
While this might look like a lot of people, we always have more invites than we can cover and we are always looking for more people to join the team and review some shows. If that sounds like something you might be interested in, get in touch!
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Alastair Ball
Alastair JR Ball is a writer, podcaster and filmmaker based in London. He is co-host of the Moderate Fantasy Violence podcast, chief editor for SolarPunk Stories and editor of the Red Train Blog. His main interests are politics in writing, theatre, film, art and buildings. When not writing, he can usually be found in a live music venue or a pub. -
Alex Finch
Alex has been a huge fan of the theatre ever since he was fortunate enough to see Cate Blanchet in Sweet Phoebe in a tiny venue in Croydon thirty years ago, and for a while worked in the industry as a stage manager. He now teaches English for a living and writes daft photo comics in his spare time, and is a huge fan of live comedy, musicals and fringe theatre. -
Andrei-Alexandru Mihail
Andrei, a lifelong theatre enthusiast, has been a regular in the audience since his childhood days in Constanta, where he frequented the theatre weekly. Holding an MSc in Biodiversity, he is deeply fascinated by the intersection of the arts and environmental science, exploring how creative expression can help us understand and address ecological challenges and broader societal issues. His day job is Residence Life Coordinator, which gives him plenty of spare time to write reviews. He enjoys cats and reading, and took an indefinite leave of absence from writing. Although he once braved the stage himself, performing before an audience of 300, he concluded that his talents are better suited to critiquing rather than acting, for both his and the audience's sake. -
Caitlin McDonald
Caitlin did her PhD about belly dancing (true story.) When not gallivanting about doing theatre reviews, Caitlin strives to improve the creative landscape for everyone through creative industries policy research at the University of Edinburgh. She is also an associate coach with Coaching for Creatives, who provide one-on-one and group coaching support to create more equitable, empowered, and fulfilling creative careers for everyone. -
Chanelle June
Originally from Scotland, Chanelle now utilises her proximity to London to cram in as much of the arts as possible. She'll tell you her favourite shows are plays (she means musicals). When she's avoiding completing her debut novel, she can be found (begrudgingly) on a run, haunting bookshops, or annoying her nephews. -
Joy Waterside
Joy Waterside, now a lady of a respectable age, has lived, loved, learned, worked and travelled much in several countries before settling along a gentle curve of the river Thames to write the third chapter of her life. A firm believer that, no matter the venue or the play, one should always wear one's best at a performance, she knows that being acted for is the highest form of entertainment. Hamlet her first love, Shakespeare a lifelong companion and new theatre writers welcome new friends. Her pearls will be glinting from the audience seats both on and off the London's West End. -
Chris Elwell
Chris Elwell is a theatre-maker, dramaturg and director with over 35 years of experience, primarily focused on creating pioneering work for young audiences (ages 0–19). From 1997 to 2024, he was the Director of Half Moon Theatre, leading its evolution into one of the UK’s most respected small-scale venues and touring companies for young people, and commissioning more than 50 productions - many award winning. He is champion of TYA work and sees reviewing for Everything Theatre as a privilege, as it brings wider exposure to the genre and creates dialogues with creatives and audiences alike. -
Clare Runacres
Clare Runacres is a journalist and broadcaster with a lifelong passion for theatre. As a child she made regular pilgrimages to the West End from her home in Essex. London’s exciting, diverse, and creative theatrical scene is one of the main reasons she made the capital her home and why she would struggle to live anywhere else.” -
Cormac Richards
Based in Devon in SW England, Cormac has been involved in theatre in some way for over 50 years and is a seasoned reviewer in the region. His love of theatre is also demonstrated in his own writing, both of plays and new articles. A slow runner, poor gardener and cricket enthusiast he also runs an online shop with a stock of several thousand stage scripts! -
Cristina Tomme
Cristina is currently in the last year of her PhD where she is researching British theatre, film, television and radio celebrities from 1900-1978. She has a passion for watching old films with some of her favourite stars which include Leslie Howard, Vivien Leigh, Conrad Veidt, Valarie Hobson, Michael Redgrave, John Gielgud, and Ivor Novello. -
Daisy Game
Daisy has recently moved to London after studying and working in beautiful Bristol for 5 years. Whilst trying her acting chops on for size through school and her first year of university, she ended up stumbling off stage and into a life of reviewing - heading up to Edinburgh to write for the Ed Fringe Review back in 2019. Since then, Daisy has written shows up for Epigram and The Bristol Magazine. She’s looking forward to theatre-hopping her way across the capital. -
Dave B
Originally from Dublin but having moved around a lot, Dave moved to London, for a second time, in 2018. He works for a charity in the Health and Social Care sector. He has a particular interest in plays with an Irish or New Zealand theme/connection - one of these is easier to find in London than the other! Dave made his (somewhat unwilling) stage debut via audience participation on the day before Covid lockdowns began. He believes the two are unrelated but is keen to ensure no further audience participation... just to be on the safe side. -
Faye Elder
Faye is a recent English Literature graduate from King's College London, where she discovered her love for fringe and avant-garde theatre. She enjoys anything political and subversive - the wilder and crazier the better! When not at the theatre, she can be found taking pictures with her film camera in parks across London or strolling around an art gallery. -
Gabriel Wilding
Gabriel is a Rose Bruford graduate, playwright, aspiring novelist, and cephalopod lover. When he’s not obsessing over his next theatre visit he can be found in Soho nattering away to anyone who will listen about Akhenaten, complex metaphysical ethics and the rising price of cocktails. He lives in central London with his boyfriend and a phantom dog. -
Gary Martin
Gary has had a keen interest in theatre since he was a child in suburban Gloucestershire, heightened to exciting levels since moving to London in 2022. He dived straight in to having a walk-on part in a show at Richmond Theatre, which he’d like to do more of, time permitting. He’s thrilled to be part of Everything Theatre, which is a world away, and welcome distraction, from his career in finance in the city. -
George Meixner
After once completing an English Literature degree in what he tells himself is the not-too-distant past; George spends his time in London as part of two book clubs, attending (although not performing at) open mic poetry nights and attending the theatre for free, cheap or at the cost of a metaphorical limb in order to vicariously continue his literary education out in the field. -
Grace Darvill
Grace Darvill is a writer, director and performer. During the day, Grace works in a primary school but spends all her free time watching and creating theatre. Grace’s main interests revolve around politically engaged work while also extending to comedy, drag and physical theatre. -
Hannah Mackenzie
Hannah is a student at Edinburgh University, studying for a Master's by research in English Literature. She has long been in love with theatre and uses both that enjoyment and her academic knowledge to inform her reviews -
Harriet Ruggiano
Harriet is a leader in education specialising in secondary music. She is passionate about the arts and committed to widening access to creative opportunities for young people. Harriet has a particular love for musicals, new writing in fringe productions, and performances aimed at young audiences. -
Harry Conway
Harry is an established theatre-maker and critic whose works has been staged across the UK and Ireland. Harry’s 2024 play ‘A Silent Scandal’ played to sold out audiences in London, Edinburgh and Dublin and his next show ‘How To Kill Your Landlord’ will debut at Edinburgh Fringe 2025. -
Hope Tillery
Hope has been a regular audience member for everything from musicals to Shakespeare from a young age. She love all forms of theatre and tries to spend as much time attending live shows as she can (probably too much time). She recently finished her final university project assessing the creative benefits and real dangers of boundary-breaking performance forms such as immersive theatre & performance art. She is also on the youth advisory board for her local theatre because it's crucial to support the arts at all levels! -
Irene Lloyd
Currently a desk zombie in the public sector, Irene has had no formal training or experience in anything theatrical. She does, however, seem to spend an awful lot of her spare time and spare cash going to the theatre. So, all views expressed will be from the perspective of the person on the Clapham omnibus - which is what most audiences are made up of after all. -
Jake Michael Watson
Jake is a writer, reviewer, and arts enthusiast from Newcastle, now based in London. A civil servant by day, he spends his evenings enjoying theatre across the city. A budding thespian himself, he’s often on stage with local am-dram groups - when he’s not busy dissecting performances from the other side of the curtain! -
James Hodgson
James is the co-founder and joint managing editor of Everything Theatre. By day he is also a management consultant. He once considered a career in theatre production, but then he sold out and joined an event management company. Then he sold out again and to become a consultant. In his time he has produced some extremely mediocre student drama at University College London, where he was unfortunate enough to meet Louie, with whom he ended up founding ET. He has no known specialist knowledge about theatre, but he enjoys plays more than musicals, and is not intelligent enough to understand really abstract stuff. Or opera. -
Jess Gonzalez
Jess González is a multilingual storyteller, performer, short-film director, and theatremaker based in London. She has produced for theatre and film in English and Spanish, both written by herself and others. Her shows have been staged in Spain, Italy, and the UK. She has also directed for the award-winning series "Dinosaurio". In recent years she´s turned to comedy, directing and co-writing the web series "Bitching Kills", where she also played Barb. It is also easy to find her on the London stage doing stand-up comedy with her nickname Jess "The Mess" or in the improv group "Loose Beavers". -
Jimena Batres
Jimena Batres is a Mexican writer, director and performer based in London. Professionally trained in theatre and film, her work often explores identity, multiculturalism, queerness, mythology and madness– drawn to stories that blur the line between the real and the surreal. Outside of theatre, she enjoys yoga, music, and making intense eye contact with cats on the street. -
Joanne Thornewell
Joanne is quite proud of being Everything Theatre's first ever Yorkshire reviewer. Like most reviewers, she spends lots of her spare time in the theatre, both in the audience and on stage, watching anything from a Shakespeare play to a modern musical. She can confirm that performing in a panto is far more fun than watching one, but is often frustrated that rehearsal commitments get in the way of too many press nights! -
Lily Middleton
Lily is a freelance copywriter, content creator, and marketer, working with arts and culture clients across the UK. When not working, she can be found in a theatre or obsessively crafting. Her love of theatre began with musicals as a child, Starlight Express at the Apollo Victoria being her earliest memory of being completely entranced. She studied music at university and during this time worked on a few shows in the pit with her violin, notably Love Story (which made her cry more and more with each performance) and Calamity Jane (where the gunshot effects never failed to make her jump). But it was when working at Battersea Arts Centre at the start of her career that her eyes were opened to the breadth of theatre and the impact it can have. This solidified a life-long love of theatre, whether in the back of a pub, a disused warehouse or in the heart of the West End. -
Louie Corpe
Louie is the co-founder and joint managing editor of Everything Theatre. He met James at university, and this event definitively changed his life for the worst. These days he a Ph.D. student in particle physics working on the Higgs boson's decay to two photons (seriously). He claims that theatre is his only release from an existence of signal-to-background ratios, selection efficiency and C++ programming. His particular preference is for well-executed site-specific productions and anything by Tom Stoppard. He has been widely misquoted as saying he "hates musicals". This is not true. He simply has not yet come across a musical he hasn't disliked. -
Lucy Boardman
Lucy is a 22 year old living in London that loves theatre! She studied History at the University of Nottingham and enjoyed researching how historical events such as politics, strikes and union disputes are portrayed through theatre! Her favourite genre is musical theatre, which she performed in, directed and produced whilst at University! Her favourite musicals are currently Six, Les Mis and Matilda! She is so excited to be able to review some great shows, to share her love of theatre, and to enjoy more plays and new theatre!! -
Lucy Carter
Lucy has been a fan of theatre her whole life, enjoying watching, reading and analysing plays both academically and for fun. She'll watch pretty much anything, which has led to some interesting evenings out, and has a fondness for unusual venues. Aside from theatre, Lucy writes about film, TV, cultural trends, and anything else she falls down a rabbit hole about. -
Lucy Violet
Picture this: a young drama queen (that’s Lucy!) in a tiny town, discovering the magical world of theatre. Her first taste of the West End? Oh, just a casual performance at the tender age of 11, where she definitely didn’t trip over my own feet... much. Fast forward to now, and moving to London has turned her obsession with theatre into an all-you-can-watch buffet. Seriously, she haven’t gone a few weeks without catching a show! Why does she love writing reviews, you ask? Well, it’s her way of sharing the magic (and occasional mishaps) with all of you. Plus, it gives her a reason to use phrases like “theatre magic” and “dramatic flair” in everyday conversations. -
Mafer Gutierrez
Mafer Gutierrez moved to England to study five years ago, and ever since she’s been attending theatre shows as much as she possibly can. An avid enjoyer of all things Shakespeare and all things musical (yes, West Side Story is the best thing to have happened to humankind since sliced bread), Mafer is trying to get to know the world of theatre inside and out, sharing her thoughts and rambles along the way. -
Maggie Bell
Maggie is a trained actor and creative and has been in and around theatre for over ten years now. She runs a production company, aiming to create platforms for other theatre makers as well as the company's own projects. Her favourite colour is blue, she does her best not to drink coffee but fails and loves theatre for the community it gives to people. Maggie is impressed by seeing physical theatre and puppetry on stage and one of her favourite shows is The Grinning Man, a musical that combined puppetry and actor-musician skills, including the spoons! That, she says, just blew her mind. She's pleased to have found a place with Everything Theatre as a reviewer, and is excited to play an active role in engaging with and supporting fringe theatre. -
Manika Patel
Manika is a freelance creative writer and journalist. She loves a good drama to sink her teeth into on a Saturday evening, and often is inspired by these stories in her art. She's passionate about bringing new voices to theatre, and creating a platform where audiences can connect with stories otherwise unheard. -
Marianna Meloni
Marianna, being Italian, has an opinion on just about everything and believes that anything deserves an honest review. Her dream has always been to become an arts critic and, after collecting a few degrees, she realised that it was easier to start writing in a foreign language than finding a job in her home country. In the UK, she tried the route of grown-up employment but soon understood that the arts and live events are highly addictive. -
Mary Pollard
By her own admission Mary goes to the theatre far too much, and will watch just about anything. Her favourite musical is Matilda, which she has seen 18 times, but she’s also an Anthony Neilson and Shakespeare fan - go figure. She has a long history with Richmond Theatre, but is currently helping at Shakespeare's Globe in the archive. She's also having fun being ET's specialist in children's theatre and puppetry! Mary now insists on being called The Master having used the Covid pandemic to achieve an award winning MA in London's Theatre and Performance. -
Michael Taylor
Michael is a lifelong Londoner who enjoys using his free time to explore all the fantastic and madcap sights that London has to offer. This often involves the arts and is occasionally something he stumbles across by complete accident. Having experienced many enjoyable adventures in theatre, he continues to be entertained and educated by the wide variety of shows on offer. -
Mike Carter
Mike Carter is a playwright, script-reader, workshop leader and dramaturg. He has worked across London’s fringe theatre scene for over a decade and remains committed to supporting new talent and good work. -
Molly Griffiths
Originally from Wales and now based in London, Molly is a passionate creative with a background in performance and a deep appreciation for ballet. She feels strongly about making the arts accessible and highlighting emerging talent alongside established voices. -
Nathan Blue
Nathan is a writer, painter and semi-professional fencer. He fell in love with theatre at an early age, when his parents took him to an open air production of Macbeth and he refused to leave even when it poured with rain and the rest of the audience abandoned ship. Since then he has developed an eclectic taste in live performance and attends as many new shows as he can, while also striving to find time to complete his PhD on The Misogyny of Jane Austen. -
Owen Thomas James
Owen has written about theatre since he moved to London in 2017. He trained as a classical actor specialising in Shakespeare, but his love for variety knows no bounds. He is regularly on the stage for a number of amateur theatre companies, and has a particular enthusiasm for sound design. He has been part of the Everything Theatre team since 2025. -
Paul Hegarty
Paul is a reviewer and an experienced actor who has performed extensively in the West End (Olivier nominated) and has worked in TV, radio and a range of provincial theatres. He is also a speech, drama and communications examiner for Trinity College London, having directed productions for both students and professionals and if not busy with all that he is then also a teacher of English. -
Polly Allen
Polly Allen is a lifestyle journalist and marketer based in Bristol. Her earliest memory of theatre was a Postman Pat stage show; she's since progressed to enjoying drama, comedy and musicals without children's TV themes. Her favourite plays include Hangmen by Martin McDonagh, and A Woman Killed with Kindness by Thomas Heywood. -
Rebecca Foster
Rebecca is a huge theatre fan, having been lucky enough to have been taken to many shows as a child. A night out at the theatre is her favourite way to spend an evening. Her happy place is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival which she has attended nearly every year since she was 19. She is excited to showcase the talent in the north of the country through reviewing for Everything Theatre. -
Rob Warren
Someone once described Rob as "the left leaning arm of Everything Theatre" and it's a description he proudly accepted. It is also a description that explains many of his play choices, as he is most likely to be found at plays that try to say something about society. Willing though to give most things a watch, with the exception of anything immersive - he prefers to sit quietly at the back watching than taking part! -
Ruth Norwood
Ruth Norwood is a creative at heart, enjoying theatre from a young age she has fond memories of many shows including ‘What The Ladybird heard’ and ‘The Lorax’. She now works in the costume department of any theatre that will take her. More recently, her passion for writing has got her reviewing theatre. Wearing her dyslexic badge with honour she is proving anyone can write if they’ve got a love for it. -
Sara West
Sara is very excited that she has found a team who supports her theatre habit and even encourages her to write about it. Game on for seeing just about anything, she has a soft spot for Sondheim musicals, the Menier Chocolate Factory (probably because of the restaurant) oh & angst ridden minimal productions in dark rooms. A firm believer in the value and influence of fringe theatre she is currently trying to visit all 200 plus venues in London. Sara has a Master's Degree (distinction) in London's Theatre & Performance from the University of Roehampton. -
Sheilina Somani
Sheilina is a global nomad. Curious about perspectives on life, evolving and being, but also very hardworking ... a mix of sloth and bee! A theatre lover across genres and time; privileged to be a Londoner who watches art at every opportunity. She is also a photographer, key note speaker and kayaker. -
Sidonie F
Sidonie has a BA in Theatre Studies, and an MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy. Describing theatre as her ‘home’ she is never happier than when she is wandering around a theatre. One of her first theatre memories is watching Victoria warm up before a performance of Cats in Blackpool in 1989 - in the eyes of a 5 year old, Victoria was 100% cat. Now, sadly, some of the magical way a child sees things has faded, but that doesn’t stop her enjoying as much theatre as she can. She is partial to a good musical and has a love for the integration of digital technologies into live performance. On the rare occasion she gets to go to Broadway Sidonie is a firm believer of go big or go home, with the 2014 record of 11 shows in 8 days not yet having been beaten – but there is always next time. -
Simon Finn
Simon is currently deciding if he’s unemployed, retired, an entrepreneur or taking a career sabbatical. He’s using this time to re-familiarise himself with all of the cultural delicacies his favourite and home city have to offer after fourteen years of living abroad. He is a published and award-winning songwriter, pianist and wannabe author with a passionate for anything dramatic, moving or funny. -
Simone Green
A graduate from Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre, Simone has worked as an actress and has run drama workshops for young children. She of course loves going to the theatre, often with her 12-year-old daughter. She loves cake, Radio 4 and coffee. -
Steve Caplin
Steve is a freelance artist and writer, specialising in Photoshop, who builds unlikely furniture in his spare time. He plays the piano reasonably well, the accordion moderately and the guitar badly. Steve does, of course, love the theatre. The worst play he ever saw starred Charlton Heston and his wife, who have both always wanted to play the London stage. Neither had any experience of learning lines. This was almost as scarring an experience as seeing Ron Moody performing a musical Sherlock Holmes. Steve has no acting ambitions whatsoever. -
Toby France
Toby France is an actor and writer who loves a good laugh! A family membership to The Audience Club saw Toby grow up on a foundation of London fringe theatre. He took his own comedy play ‘The Fruity Prince’ to the Edinburgh fringe and won our very own Ettie Award (before he was a reviewer we'd like to add, no bias here) for ‘Best Comedy in a Fringe Venue 2024’. Aside from the arts, he is a gardening and Aperol Spritz enthusiast.
