British Theatre Contributors

Susan Novak has a lifelong passion for theatre. With a degree in English, she brings a deep appreciation for storytelling and drama to her writing. She also loves reading and poetry. When not attending shows, Susan enjoys exploring new work and sharing her enthusiasm for the performing arts, aiming to inspire others to experience the magic of theatre.

joeholmes is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Sponsored is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Alexa Terry trained in Musical Theatre at Bath Spa University and, since graduating in 2011, she has been involved in many projects as a professional performer. Caught in a game of tug-of-war between the pen and the stage, Alexa studied Comprehensive Creative Writing with Oxford Open Learning, and later attended classes with BML (Book, Music and Lyrics) as a librettist. Now, Alexa is a Hampshire based vocal coach teaching singing of the contemporary and musical theatre genre, and is also a freelance writer. Alexa’s zest for theatre is driven by her strong belief in the importance of storytelling and the need for creative escapism. As Phillip Pullman once said: “After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”

Ashley Kurtz is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Christine Firkin is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Danny Coleman-Cooke is an experienced writer, who covers news, sport and comedy for high-profile personalities and broadcasters. His speeches and scripts can be seen on stage, on primetime TV and in Parliament, broadcast to wide and diverse audiences. His experience includes writing for the BBC’s Have I Got News for You, Channel 4’s Paralympics coverage, and the Premier League’s live match commentary. He has also managed social media accounts for a number of major brands, including Tesco, The Guardian and the BBC. He's also a well-established speechwriter, scriptwriter and copywriter and has written for a wide range of famous faces in the world of politics and entertainment. He recently had his first theatrical credit, as co-writer of a musical adaptation of Beowulf, which toured the Midlands and was performed at the Royal Albert Hall. Danny is a huge theatre fan and was part of the writing team for the 2015 and 2016 Olivier Awards.

Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.

Editorial Staff is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Emily Hardy is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Emma Clarendon is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Gary Stringer is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

George Curley is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Actor and mezzo-soprano Helena Payne read English at The University of Exeter then trained at Drama Studio London. She is the Creative Director of Pleasure Dome Theatre Company and teaches LAMDA and poetry at Pembridge Hall and Wetherby Prep and staunchly believes theatre should be peer reviewed as well as professionally critiqued.

Jennifer Christie is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Jessica Millson is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Jessica Wretlind studied English and pursued acting before realising her dream to write and direct theatre. Her career has seen her as a stage manager in the West End, company manager at the Edinburgh Fringe and a critic both in London and at the Fringe. She is now directing an original play that starts its UK tour in April, and wants to continue reviewing theatre to keep her inspired by the diversity of the form.

Jonathan Hall is a playwright and teacher; his plays have been staged at the Edinburgh Fringe, The Chelsea Theatre and the Bush Theatre. He works with new writing and fringe theatre in the West Yorkshire area and is co-chair of Script Yorkshire, an organisation that supports and develops local writers.

Writes book, music and lyrics of new musicals. Currently completing, 'Generation Rent', a contemporary college-reunion comedy. New project: 'Kate The Great', set in the City. Previous productions with: Iris Theatre; LOST Theatre; So-and-So's Arts Club; Chichester Festival Theatre (National Theatre Connections); Courtyard Theatre; Arc Theatre, Trowbridge; Harlequin Theatre, Redhill. Also for Royal Court Young People's Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe, National Youth Theatre.

Laura Milburn is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Layla Haidrani is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Is an author, journalist and broadcaster, presented Radio 4’s Midweek for 33 years, covering many branches of theatre. She writes regularly for the Times and was its Chief Theatre Critic 2010-2013, since then she has reviewed independently on www.theatrecat.com. She has written twelve novels, most recently SHADOW CHILD, and various non-fiction books. One daughter, Rose, is currently a comedy screenwriters and playwright.

Mark Ludmon has been a journalist for over 20 years, specialising in writing about theatre and the arts as well as bars, pubs and drink. He has been on the theatre judging panel for London’s Olivier Awards and has a masters degree in English literature, specialising in Elizabethan and Jacobean drama. He has an MA in theatre research, criticism and dramaturgy from the University of London’s Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. You can find him tweeting about theatre as @MarkLudmon and writing about theatre at markludmon.com.

Mark Reed is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Matthew Lunn graduated with an MA in Romantic and Victorian Literary Studies in 2012, and has a particular interest in the writings of John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. He has been with British Theatre since August 2015, and is still spellbound by all the wonderful theatre that London has to offer. By day, he works in the transport sector, and is a regular contributor to CHESS magazine.

Neil D'Arcy-Jones is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Nikoletta Soumelidis is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Paul is a playwright, director, actor, academic, (he has a PhD from the University of East Anglia), teacher and theatre reviewer! His plays include Living with Luke, (UK tour 2016), Play Something, (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Drayton Arms Theatre, London 2018), , (2019), and now The Miner’s Crow, which won the inaugural Artist’s Pick of the Fringe Award at the first ever Colchester Fringe Festival 2021. In lockdown 2020 he created the audio series Isolation Alan, available on Youtube, and performed online in the Voice Box Festival. He is the founder member of Stage Write, a Colchester based theatre company, and his acting roles include Rupert in How We Love by Annette Brook, first performed at the Vaults Festival 2020 and revived at the Arcola and at Theatre Peckham in 2021. Follow: @stagewrite_

Ray Rackham is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Richard is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Richard Earl is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Sarah Day is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Sophie Adnitt is a graduate of the University of Winchester, with a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing and Drama Studies. She continues to unite her twin passions of writing and performing arts as part of the BritishTheatre.com team and creating longer reads for her own arts blog, Riot in the Cheap Seats, as well as taking an active role in local theatre companies.

Stephen Collins is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Teo Coroiu is a contributor at British Theatre, covering West End productions, London theatre news, casting updates, and UK stage trends.

Tim Hochstrasser is a life-long enthusiast for and supporter of the performing arts in all forms, from classic to contemporary. By day he teaches and lectures intellectual and cultural history at LSE and also conducts guided historical walks around London. By night he is usually in a theatre, possibly followed by a cabaret chaser...