Canadian-born Mel Cooper came to the UK to study at Oxford and stayed, captivated by the culture and history of the welcoming and tolerant society of Britain.
He founded the magazine Opera Now. He was a consultant to the Japanese broadcaster NHK, a broadcaster on British Satellite Broadcasting and a member of the team that started Classic FM on which he broadcast shows like Classic America and Authentic Performance. After working with the Genesis Foundation on helping to fund arts projects, he continues to write, review and lecture on music and literature.
Let me start by saying that the new production of Shakespeare’s too-infrequently produced play, King John, is entertaining, moving, engaging, utterly ...
Central to the post-World War II generation of pioneer artists who helped redefine the practice and purpose of theatre, Marlon Brando was considered t...
I should begin by stating up front that I am a serious admirer and fan of the works of August Wilson. For me the plays he has written should be consid...
I am a fan of Paul Hart’s work as a director and have previously enjoyed very much his approach to Shakespeare plays as well as his innovative musical...
War Horse is a very special and remarkable piece of theatre. Probably influenced by Julie Taymor’s thoughtful use of puppets in her innovative approac...
The new production of Kiss Me, Kate at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury is quite simply a triumph. I cannot begin to praise it enough. Of course, it i...
As always, Longborough’s final presentation of the year is a showcase for emerging talent. This time the production is a modernised update by director...
If you’ve never experienced the kind of performance akin to what Shakespeare must have encountered the first time he attended a play given by a troupe...
Greg Doran has directed a clean and riveting production of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. It is a clear and easily accessible production of a play...
The director Martin Constantine has managed to create a brilliantly witty, surprisingly moving and totally engaging production of Mozart and Da Ponte’...
