The Public Reviews was set up in 2006 with the sole aim of reviewing theatre. We aim to review all professional types of theatre, whether that be Commercial, Repertory or Fringe
The Public Reviews prides itself on using dedicated volunteer reviewers who are carefully selected to ensure you are getting honest opinions from the people who really count…YOU! Over the past three years the site has grown continuously and as a result we have now built relationships across the water and will regularly be reviewing not only here in the UK but also in New York, Las Vegas, and Sydney in Australia making us the largest dedicated theatre review website in the UK.
We give every production we review a rating between 0-5 stars below is what each rating means.
0 – Extremely poor production – No redeeming features – I wanted to leave before the Interval.
.5 – A badly flawed production – little or nothing to redeem itself – Just walk past the theatre.
1 – A poorly executed production – I felt embarrassed watching it – Would be angry if I’d paid.
1.5 – A production lacking in substance – Just about watchable – Save your money.
2 – A below average production – Watchable – I’d rather have been elsewhere
2.5 – An average production – I don’t hate it but I don’t love it – I’d pay if it was on discount
3 – A good production – some enjoyable moments throughout – Better than a night in front of the TV
3.5 – An enjoyable production – It isn’t going to set the world alight – Well worth a visit
4 – A great production – No real flaws, but lacking in areas – You won’t be disappointed
4.5 – A thoroughly excellent production – Just lacks that little extra bit of magic – Recommend to everyone.
5 – Faultless from start to finish – This production will stay with me for years – Unmissable
At The Public Reviews we love you to get involved and interact in the site and this is how.
1) Comments section* – have you seen a production that we have reviewed? why not leave your thoughts about the show in the comments section – all comment are carefully screened before being published. This is your chance to share your opinion on the show not to personally attack a reviewer.
2) We would also love your ideas on people we could interview or questions that you would like us to ask certain actors.
3) Have you ever had the desire to review? We are always looking for new reviewers – to get the ball rolling please email us using the sites contact form and submit examples of your work with at least 1 250 word review. please note that these reviews will not be published and by submitting work to us does not in any way guarantee that you will be accepted as part of The Reviewing Team.
4) We are also looking for people who would be interested in becoming part of a dedicated team of feature writers and interviewers – if this is of interest then please get in touch via our contact form with links or examples of your work.
*The opinions and comments expressed in any back channel feeds or comments on individual pages are those of individual subscribers/readers and are not from The Public Reviews team and cannot be held responsible for any of these comments. The Public Reviews will only comment in the form of an Individual review which forms the basis of the site.
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We are currently updating this section of the website and hope that we have an up to date reviewers list very soon.
John Roberts – Executive Editor & North West/South Coast/Scottish Editor
John has been involved in the Arts for over 20 years with acting, producing and directing credits to his name. When not attending the theatre John is an avid socialiser (no that does not mean alcoholic) and enjoys spending time with his friends and family. He can also be found regularly checking out the latest films at his local cinema especially Independent films.
Twitter: @publicreviews & @laughingmonsta
Jemma Bicknell – Project Manager
Jemma studied Dance & Culture at Surrey University. She has lectured at Laban, tutored for the Royal Academy of Dance as well as Lambeth HE College for adults with disabilities. She also worked for an Occupational Therapy clinic, before taking the role of Project Coordinator for Dance at a charity called Open Age, for older people. Her dance, Sensical, was performed at the 2010 Bermondsey Street Festival.
Twitter @Jemmabicknell Blog: What Jemma Saw
Ian Foster – Regional Editor: London
Ian Foster has been going to the theatre all his life (he was even treated to Barbara Dickson in Blood Brothers from his mother’s womb) and has been reviewing shows for the last three years. Mostly found in London theatres every night of the week, he has been known to venture north occasionally, taking in as many plays and musicals as possible in the everlasting search for theatrical delights
Twitter @oughtobeclowns Blog: Ought to be Clowns
Jacqui Onions : Regional Editor – South West
All singing all dancing musical mis-hap, Jacqui, is a former coat-style entertainer and pantomime performer (oh yes she is!) who now helps to teach ballet, tap and modern to children in South Wales (when she’s not doing her day job as an art college receptionist). She is musical theatre obsessed, with a particular love for the slightly obscure, and life tends to revolve around her next theatre trip.
Twitter: @welsh_hippie
Laura Stimpson – Regional Editor: Yorkshire
Laura’s loved music, performing & going to the theatre for as long as she can remember. She was involved in music and acting in her youth in the North East of England before moving to study Drama at the University of Huddersfield. Being brought up on the Sound of Music, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang & Annie, musicals have remained her favourite type of theatre, though she enjoys any performance that leaves you with a smile on your face or thinking about it for days.
Twitter @Laura_Stimpson
Selwyn Knight – Regional Editor: Central
I have loved theatre for as long as I can remember. During my time at university I think I watched every single available theatre performance, both professional and amateur – some of which were truly wonderful, others rather less so! I especially enjoy new writing and small, intimate fringe-like venues – I’m also an avid and regular attender at the Edinburgh Fringe. It was here I started formal-ish reviewing, posting my thoughts on the shows I saw on the Fringe website. I now really enjoy the idea of helping others make theatre decisions by sharing my thoughts on performances I’ve seen.
Glen Pearce – Regional Editor: South East
Glen trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and has worked as a stage manager, lighting designer, box office manager, front of house, in theatre management and arts marketing. He has reviewed for the regional newspapers in East Anglia, for online and radio and for his own website. Glen is resident theatre critic for BBC Radio Suffolk, & blogs for Arts Professional Magazine. On those rare occasions Glen can be found behind a camera lens.
Twitter @glenpearce1 Blog: Glen’s Theatre Blog
Lucy Thackray – Features Editor
has been a musical theatre fan ever since her parents played the entire soundtracks to Les Miserables, Phantom and Miss Saigon on long car journeys, and is also a great lover of well-performed Shakespeare. She has been a theatregoer since the age of four of five when she remembers having a ‘theatre dress’ for such sparkling events as Fireman Sam Live at the Wimbledon Theatre.She now fuels her love of theatre with as many tickets as she can justify buying in a year
Twitter @westendgeek Blog: West End Geek
Emily Griffiths – Opera Correspondant
has been an avid lover of musicals and opera from a very early age, having being brought up on a diet almost purely of Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady and La Bohème. She trained as a soprano at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and regularly performs in recitals and operas in Wales and beyond. Emily is passionate about new productions and the opportunities arts companies provide for young actors and singers. Emily enjoys a good dinner party with wine and cheese aplenty (good for neither the singing nor the writing!)
Twitter @Emily_Griff
Catherine Love – Features Writer
Catherine is currently in the third year of an English degree at the University of Southampton. She has fostered a love for the theatre for several years and used to regularly appear in plays for her school and her local youth amateur dramatic society. However, she eventually decided that she was better suited to being a spectator than a performer and now dedicates her free time to seeing as many shows as she can. As well as theatregoing, Catherine writes in every spare moment and her most recent project is a foray into the world of theatre blogging.
Twitter @catherinlove21 Blog: Love Theatre
Julie Robinson – Features Writer
Julie is a freelance writer based in the South East area. Feature writer, interviewer and aspiring playwright; she recently completed a creative writing course and is a regular theatre blogger. She has a love of all theatre – musicals in particular – and takes great joy in passing that love along to her young daughter. A big advocate of new British writing, she is always looking for ways to help raise awareness and support for talented new writers . If Julie isn’t writing, she can usually be found tweeting: often doing the latter when she should be doing the former!
Twitter: @MissJulie25 – Blog: Just Jules
