
Based in the southeast, From the Wings is a UK-focused theatre and arts blog managed by an avid theatre enthusiast.This blog aims to present my experiences as a theatre fan, written as a member of the audience rather than that of a professional or critic.
Growing up, ours was not a family that could afford to go to the Theatre (or anywhere really that cost money), but my grandmother would be given the occasional free theatre tickets from where she was employed as a cleaner. Aged 12 I remember seeing Frankie Howard in the musical A Funny Things Happened On The Way To The Forum at The Strand Theatre. From then I insisted that I would be the one to benefit from these free tickets although my siblings didn’t put up much of a fight.
Since then, I have been fortunate enough to attend numerous shows across London and the South East, discovering theatres previously unknown to me, showcasing brilliant performances by exceptionally talented casts.
I have enjoyed various West End and regional theatre, ballet and opera performances.With the arrival of two daughters, I experienced children’s theatre, local dance school shows, and some amateur dramatics. Then on my retirement I achieved a long-time bucket list ambition and headed off to Edinburgh Fringe. What a revelation!
While all forms of theatre are of interest, I am particularly captivated by productions written for children. I feel it is a much-underrated genre. They are, after all, the next generation of theatre goers. Children’s Theatre and Fringe performances have much in common; they are often short, rarely longer than 55 minutes and usually with no tiresome intervals. Both genres exhibit originality and vision, possibly due to traditionally lower budgets and smaller venues. These constraints appear to inspire more exciting works addressing fundamental themes such as life, love, death, and surprises.
If you’d like to chat to me about your show, please get in touch.