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 490 members shared between Theatre (117), Music (78), 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
Sandy Powell to receive top honour at Critics’ Circle Film Awards
The Oscar-winning costume designer will receive the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film at the UK film critics' special 40th anniversary ceremony on 30th January. The UK's leading film critics today announced that Sandy Powell will receive their top honour, the...
read moreThe 20th National Dance Awards – #NDA20 Announcement of Nominations
In the year of the Awards’ 20th Anniversary, the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle is pleased to announce the shortlisted nominations for the National Dance Awards (#NDA20), covering performances in the UK between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019. The...
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King Arthur, St John’s, Smith Square
Brexcalibur by Robert Thicknesse Who will write the King Arthur for another fractured age? Purcell’s sweet pageant is unlikely to serve as a rallying point, I fear. But that’s surely what it was in 1691, as England and Britain began a long climb out of a half-century...
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Film Section welcomes new members
The UK Critics’ Circle Film Section is thrilled to announce four new members for 2019/20. Film Section Chair Anna Smith calls them “accomplished professional critics”. They are: James Dyer is the Digital Editor-in-Chief of Empire magazine and the Deputy Editor of...
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Così fan tutte, Classical Opera, Cadogan Hall
Growing pains by Robert Thicknesse I confess I wasn’t expecting huge things from Ian Page and Classical Opera’s Così. Nice cast, for sure, but Page isn’t (despite his unswerving devotion to the composer) the greatest Mozart conductor, and his orchestra is only a bit...
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