Download Writing a Good Theatre Review Handout

Writing a Good Theatre Review:
Your Guide to Describing a Performance
When writing about a performance, please remember that although you may express any opinions about
the production you have seen they must be justified – good or bad.
e.g. “I thought the scene with the dog was boring” is no help to your review whereas…
“The scene with the dog was ineffective because it went on too long and did not seem to fit with the rest of the
story” …is much better and will get you marks whether or not the reader agrees with your personal
opinion. Always give examples to support the point you are making, use details from the performance;
acting, set, sound, lighting, audience response, etc…
Where possible use proper theatrical terms to describe things – there are numerous glossaries on the
Internet to help you.
Use the notes below to help you, but please don’t simply answer the questions. If you do, you won’t be
writing a review.
Section 1 – The Production
You need to include information about the particular production that you saw
the date, time and location of the place you saw this production
name of the theatre company
the name of the director
names of the main characters – and the actors too if you’re going to talk about them later in your
review
 names of any other people who played an important part in the show – the designer, musicians, etc.




Make sure you mention
 the full title of the play and the name of the playwright (and composer if you’ve watched a musical)
This should be your first paragraph: a simple statement of information.
Section 2 – The Production’s Plot or Narrative
 Give a brief outline of the story and the main characters
Do make sure that it is brief – especially when the play is very well known.
No experienced reader needs to read a detailed account of the plot of Romeo and Juliet!
 Evaluate how the production told the story
Did you find the story convincing?
Which bits of the story worked best?
Did any moments stir your emotions – made you laugh or feel sad or scared?
How did you feel about the characters?
Did the production seem to try to send the audience a message or make a certain point?
What was it? Did the production hold the audience’s interest? At all times? How? If not,
why?
Section 3 – The Design (Set, lighting, sound/music, costumes etc…)
Describe the setting or main features of scenery.
Some sets are very elaborate whereas others seem little more than a bare stage. How appropriate was this
particular set to the production you saw and to the space it was being performed in? Did anything about
the set particularly catch your eye?
Discuss the interaction of the design and the performers. Some sets can free up actors on stage and give
them areas to play on or with. Some sets may limit the performances of actors instead. This is especially
important if a set has doors, levels, rakes or items of scenery that are flown in from above.
Describe how lighting was used to create atmosphere
What did the lighting add to the production? Were there any special effects that particularly stood out for
you in terms of the creation of mood or place?
Mention any obvious soundtrack, special effects, or music.
How was sound used in the production? Did a soundtrack add to or create setting, mood or atmosphere?
Was there any music? Did the productions choices add to your understanding or enjoyment? If so, when
and how?
Include other important aspects of design:
What did you think about the costumes or props? Did they help actors in their performance? Did they
help to express the characters or themes of the production? Did any actor excel in using them to show
you what kind of person they are?
Try to use technical terms as much as you can.
Section 4 – The Performances
 Describe voice and movement choices. How did the actors use their bodies differently to show the
characters they played and how they felt?
 Comment on important characters. How did you rate the actors?
 Describe character interactions
Did any actors use particular movements to express feelings or status to other actors? Where did they
position themselves on the stage? What things did the actors do that particularly impressed you? Give
examples of good and bad things about voice, gesture and movement throughout the play.
Section 5 – Conclusion
Was it a successful production? Did it work for you – did it make you laugh, cry think? Did you enjoy it?
Did it keep your interest and involve you with the characters? Who do you think should see a play like
this? Was there anything in it that you’d like to use in your own work sometime in the future?
Don’t forget…
….most newspapers publish theatre reviews on their websites. These will help you to see how
professional critics structure their reviews. They may even have reviewed the production that you have
seen. Have a look on the website of the theatre or theatre company whose work you saw – there may be
extra information and/or pictures to add to your work. Keep your work neat – remember someone who
doesn’t know you will need to read this and only use images if they are well integrated and necessary.
Adapted from: Salisbury Playhouse’s “Writing a Good Theatre Review” by Alison Warren