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
Critics’ Circle Music Awards 2019
The Music Section of the Critics’ Circle is delighted to announce the winners of our Annual Awards for 2019. The Lifetime Achievement Award is a special category, rather than an annual award, and is given here by the music section to a conductor whose career has had a...
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Les Vêpres Siciliennes, Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Welsh National Opera’s new (to the UK – it first saw the light of day last spring in Bonn) show is a visual triumph. The costumes (Marie-Jeanne Lecca) and set (Raimund Bauer) are arresting. The latter is a series of frames, so the characters seem to be stepping in and...
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Alice’s Adventures Underground, Royal Opera House
Gerald Barry’s Alice opera is less an adaptation than an invasion. The Irish composer takes Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass and unleashes the full force of his madcap, surrealist imagination at them....
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London Critics name Parasite film of 2019
Parasite, The Souvenir and Marriage Story earn two wins apiece, while Joaquin Phoenix and Renée Zellweger take top acting prizes Bong Joon Ho's dark class-war comedy Parasite came out on top at the 40th London Critics' Circle Film Awards, winning Film of the Year at a...
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HARLEQUIN FLOORS ANNOUNCED AS HEADLINE SPONSOR OF #NDA20
The National Dance Awards is delighted to announce that Harlequin Floors is to be the new Headline Sponsor for the twentieth edition of the Awards - #NDA20. In addition to being the awards Headline Sponsor, Harlequin Floors will also sponsor the Best Modern...
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