Theatrical Adjudication, Reviews & Training

For over 25 years, I have been involved in Theatrical Adjudication, reviewing and assessing theatre performances. I am not a critic. I detest the term and the title. I seek to provide a balanced narrative but always seeking the value and the worth in the doing. Consequently, I will review stage productions as part of an organised Theatre Festival or as one-off reviews/critiques independently and for publications (magazines and newspapers).

For the same period I have adjudicated several Full Length Festivals for the Greater Manchester Drama Federation, their One Act Play Festivals and others including the Partington Theatre One Act Festival. In addition, I have adjudicated the Manchester Musical Awards twice.

Although not a member of the much respected organisation, GODA (Guild of Drama Adjudicators), I set out to bring my experience in performing, directing and writing to this area of his work. Added to this, my professional experience and qualifications in assessment, evaluation, coaching and training have allowed me to develop a process for adjudicating which I consider to be well established, respected and fit for purpose.

I have also written numerous published reviews and articles (including literary reviews) in newspapers, magazines and online. This has also led to me delivering talks and workshops on the subject as well as talks on the process of writing and bringing a piece to the stage.

One Act Play Festivals?

These are, as the name suggests, a programme of one act plays, performed usually over a week at one theatre to a paying audience. They are sponsored/organised by a local Drama Association of Festival but there are also nationally organised festivals. At the end of each evening the adjudicator gives a verbal critique/assessment of the pieces performed. By the end of the Festival week, the Adjudicator will usually annouce the winners of that Festival to the audience on the last night based on a number of categories covering acting, direction and technical elements to name but a few. There may also be written assessments subsequently produced by the adjudicator for the performing companies.

Full Length Festivals?

These usually span a complete performing season (e.g., from September through to May) and the adjudicator is again commissioned by a local (or national) Drama Association or Festival covering a large catchment area of theatres and performing companies, to visit the productions of those companies, produce a written assessment (usually) of the production which are then provided to the companies and then form the basis on which the adjudicator decides who has won the numerous catergories/awards within that festival. The awards are invariably announced at a presentation evening at the end of the season.

"First Night Reviews"

I am happy to provide a review on your first or preview night which will be published online using my own social media feeds and also yours - that night! What's more, there is no charge for this. My focus. as with his writing, is to promote and support the arts, engage new audiences and share honest and supportive narratives about theatre and theatre makers.

In this way you get a quality review and get it out there to your audiences in time to hit those all important ticket sales.

You will also be given permission automatically to republish/repost as you feel appropriate, as long as the author is credited.

Want to know more? Use the contact page to find out more.