Drama
Chair: Mark Lawson
Secretary: Tom Wicker
Ordinary: Julia Rank
The Critics’ Circle’s founding members were drama critics who believed that strength lay in unity. It was established in 1913 by SR Littlewood (critic for the Daily Chronicle), JT Grein (who first brought Ibsen’s Ghosts to London in 1891) and John Parker (editor of Who’s Who in the Theatre). Their mission to support its members and connect them with the promoters of theatre remains vital today, as critics navigate the ever-evolving landscape of arts journalism.
Past Presidents of the Drama Section include St John Ervine (1929), Ivor Brown (1934), James Agate (1938), Sir Harold Hobson (1955), Philip Hope-Wallace (1958), JC Trewin (1964), Jack Tinker (1992-94), Jane Edwardes (2000-2002), Charles Spencer (2008-10), Mark Shenton (2010-2018), Henry Hitchings (2018-2020) and Kate Maltby (2020-2024).
The Drama Section’s prestigious Theatre Awards, voted on by the membership, honour the diverse talents of British theatre-makers on an annual basis. Four awards are named after specific critics: the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer (after the much-loved Daily Mail critic), the Trewin Medal (after husband-and-wife team John and Wendy Trewin and in honour of their late son), the Peter Hepple Award for Best Musical (in honour of Peter Hepple’s contribution as Hon. Gen. Secretary to the Critics’ Circle) and The Michael Billington Award for Best New Play (in honour of Michael Billington’s nearly 50 years as the Guardian‘s chief critic).
The Drama Section is also affiliated to the International Association of Theatre Critics (IATC), a body with similar aims on an international scale. Connecting, platforming and encouraging talented critics from all walks of life, both generationally and globally, is essential for keeping theatre criticism alive and relevant to audiences and creatives alike.
News & Reviews
Wonderfully performed but this Ariadne is not quite the sum of its parts
Alina Wunderlin, David Butt Philip, Rachel Wills-Sørensen in Laurent Pelly’s new production, (c) Tristam Kenton Glyndebourne Festival Opera / Robin Ticciati Glyndebourne Theatre, July 19, 2026 Change—even when thwarted—is the bedrock upon which Ariadne auf Naxos, one…
Howard Loxton (1934-2026)
David Chadderton, editor of British Theatre Guide, reflects on the life and career of his colleague and fellow Critics’ Circle Drama Section member, Howard Loxton, who died on 22 June, at the age of 92. Howard was, in his own words, “born a Brummie” in 1934. He had a…
Simon Trewin (1966-2026)
The Critics’ Circle Drama Section expresses deep sadness and warm memories following the death of Simon Trewin, a kind and bright literary agent and artist, whose family name is given to the Trewin Award For Best Shakespeare Performance at our annual theatre awards….
Women are the winners in Opera Holland Park’s Così fan tutte
Elizabeth Karani is a multi-talented Despina in Così fan tutte. Photo: Craig Fuller Mozart I Così fan tutte Opera Holland Park / Charlotte Corderoy Women are all the same… They all do and act that way… No English translation of the title has the brevity of Così f an t…
Everyone’s a Critic
Broadway World’s Gary Naylor travels to Romania for this year’s IATC World Congress and shares his diary of the experience. May 20, 3am, Luton Airport I sit in Pret a Manger, reflecting, as I always do in terminals, on JG Ballard’s observation that…
Glyndebourne’s Tosca takes no prisoners
Caitlin Gottimer as Tosca and Matteo Lippi as Cavaradossi in Glyndebourne Festival Opera’s Tosca, directed by Ted Huffman. Photo: Richard Hubert Smith Puccini Tosca Glyndebourne / Robin Ticciati The banality of evil is the vile seam that threads through Ted…
GLYNDEBOURNE’S ‘IL TURCO IN ITALIA’ – A WINNER WITH LIGHTNESS AND LAUGHTER
Members of the Glyndebourne Chorus, Prosdocimo (Matteo Mancini), Girlfriend (Anna-Marie Sullivan) and Donna Fiorilla (Elena Villalón). Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: ASH Rossini Il Turco in Italia Glyndebourne / Bertie Baigent Glyndebourne’s joyous production…
Review: Flush
Flush, by April Hope Miller at the Arcola Theatre (photo by Marc Brenner) Women’s stories are taking over the UK, one Flush at a time, writes Critics’ Circle Drama Section mentee Weronika Rysinska. Title: Flush Venue: Arcola Theatre Dates: 6 May-6 June 2026…
