Canadian-born Mel Cooper first came to the UK to study English Literature at Oxford University and stayed. He was captivated by the culture and history of Britain, which he found to be a welcoming and tolerant country. After working in highly illustrated, non-fiction publishing for over a decade, he founded and edited the magazine Opera Now. Since then he has worked as a consultant to the Japanese broadcaster NHK, a broadcaster on British Satellite Broadcasting, a maker of audio shows and arts critic for several airlines, and as one of the team that started Britain’s first commercial classical music radio station, Classic FM, on which he was both a classical music DJ and creator and presenter of shows like Classic America and Authentic
Performance. Throughout this period, he also lectured in music and literature in London and Oxford and published short stories in Canada. After working with the Genesis Foundation on helping to fund arts projects, he continues to write, review and lecture on music and literature. His first novel has just been published as an e-book. The title is City of Dreams. It is the first volume of a projected saga called The Dream Bearers. You can find the Kindle version of the book on Amazon.
An Inspector Calls, J B Priestley’s famous allegorical play about class, socialism and social responsibility, seems more appropriate than ever. And St...
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...
