REVIEWING TRICKS & TIPS
- How to get press/review tickets
Contact the Press Office of the theatre and ask to be put on the Press List. So long as you can show you have a published outlet for your reviews they will often give you tickets on the press nights. However, don’t assume that you will get a ticket for every show you ask for. Sometimes, for all sorts of reasons, they limit the availability. - How to get published
Start small! First off start a blog (see below) and tweet something relating to upcoming productions that you are reviewing on every occasion you can. You can also consider Instagram. Once you have a regular number of productions reviewed approach the local press, especially the very small publications, they are desperate for news. From there you can approach larger publications and online outlets. Don’t expect to be paid! - How to start a blog
There are loads of FREE blog hosting sites. Mine is on Google’s Blogger. Having a blog gives you something to host your reviews on and lets you link to your back library. All good for showing potential clients your style and confirming your legitimacy. I currently have 200+ on my blog. Once you have a back catalogue you will be amazed at how offers for other work come in. - How to source pictures
Most Press Offices will provide you with official production pictures if you ask for them. It is in their interest that you promote their shows with the best quality photos rather than snatched phone pics. - Reviewer’s etiquette
Recently I wanted to see a new play starring a famous celebrity. Unfortunately the press for the show was being handled outside my usual theatre’s control so I wasn’t able to get a ticket for the official press night. I told my contact that I understood and would be attending the public dress rehearsal instead. I was told in no uncertain terms that I must not review the play on that basis. I had to agree to that and thus never saw the play. As it happened it garnered universally unimpressive reviews so I didn’t miss much.
Once you have a relationship with a press office in a theatre you do sometimes have to bite your tongue and go along with their wishes. Usually it is not them being difficult but having to work within the confines of the producers. - How to review a production that is dire
An editor I worked for me once said that you can tell if a production is bad by the critics praising the costumes, the set, the actors, anything but the play/musical.
That is all very well but what if one of the lead actors is awful? An industry insider recently said I should be charitable when I was reviewing a big musical revival recently. While I agree that going for the jugular is probably unfair and will not help when asking for future press tickets, I do feel I have a responsibility not to lie. If, as in this case, the performer was badly cast then I feel I should mention it. If I can mitigate it by, for example, saying that while their singing is not up to the role their acting is great, so much the better.
