The Critics’ Circle
Protecting and promoting cultural criticism since 1913
The Critics’ Circle believes impartial, professional criticism of the arts is an essential ingredient of a healthy society. The Circle today has 503 members shared between Theatre (117), Music (91), Film (151), Dance (57), Visual Arts (47) and Books (40). Admission to the Circle is by invitation from the Council.
Since 1988 the Circle has presented each year the Service to Art Rosebowl to an artist of conspicuous achievement. In 2015 the members voted for Dame Maggie Smith, in 2016 for Matthew Bourne.
The sections make their own awards in ceremonies which are significant social occasions, and hold periodic meetings and lunches to discuss their awards, propose new members, debate current issues and meet artists.
President: Mark Shenton
Vice-President: Mark Pullinger
Hon. General Secretary: Rick Jones criticscircleallsections@gmail.com
Hon. Treasurer: Peter Cargin
Trustees: Ian Herbert, Michael Billington, Peter Cargin
News & reviews
Female filmmakers lead nominees for the Critics’ Circle Film Awards
Films by writer-directors Rose Glass, Sarah Gavron, Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell earned the most nominations for the 41st London Critics' Circle Film Awards, which will be presented virtually in early February. The UK's leading film critics today announced the...
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Darci Shaw and Henry Lloyd-Hughes set to announce London Critics’ nominations
With the events of 2020, new eligibility rules are in place for the 41st Critics' Circle Film Awards. This month's nominations announcement, and next month's winners announcement, will take place virtually. British actors Darci Shaw and Henry Lloyd-Hughes will...
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Robert Layton
Robert — ‘Bob’ — Layton, the celebrated musicologist, author and, for 31 years, a BBC Radio Producer, died on 9th November at the age of 90. He was a member of the Critics’ Circle from 1966. He contributed regularly to a wide variety of publications but as a critic...
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Battle of Hastings
For more than a hundred years, pianists have been doing battle in the seaside town of Hastings on the south coast of England. Originally, the competition featured local players in the context of a general music festival but eventually the keyboard section became...
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Book Review – Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar
In Ayad Akhtar’s 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Disgraced, his principle character, Amir, a Pakistani-American lawyer, admits feeling a “blush of pride” at 9/11. Akhtar was exploring the crisis of identity felt by many Muslim-Americans in the wake of the terror...
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