How to Write About Theatre

What do you do if you find yourself weeping in the stalls? How should you react to Jude Law's trousers or David Tennant's hair? Are you prepared to receive toilet paper in the post? What if the show you just damned turns out to be a classic? If you gave it a five-star rave will anyone believe you?Drawing on his long years of experience as a national newspaper critic, Mark Fisher answers such questions with candour, wit and insight. Learning lessons from history's leading critics and taking examples from around the world, he gives practical advice about how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms - and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.Today, more people than ever are writing about theatre, but whether you're blogging, tweeting or writing an academic essay, your challenges as a critic remain the same: how to capture a performance in words, how to express your opinions and how to keep the reader entertained. This inspirational book shows you the way to do it.Foreword by Chris Jones, Chief theater critic, Chicago Tribune

1. Introduction2. How to Learn from Critics of the Past3. How to Take on Different Critical Styles4. How to Write for Your Readers5. How to Do Your Research6. How to Find Your Voice7. How to Write the First Sentence8. How to Structure a Review9. How to Write in the Moment10. How to Write Opinions11. How to Give Star Ratings12. How to Write About Acting13. How to Write About Plays14. How to Write About the Production15. How to Write About the Audience16. How to Write About Context17. How to Write About Emotions18. How to Write About Your Bias19. How to Write About Culture, Society and Politics20. How to Put Everything Together21. Index