'Compared with other parts of the arts, theatre is so welcoming' In November, Jessica Swale spoke to The Stage about turning Paddington Bear into a musical, penning a book to inspire creative thinking and directing a Christmas film starring Zooey Deschanel 👇 #TheStageMostRead

International editor Natasha Tripney reviews the year's significant productions, festivals and events in European theatre 👇

‘Sadler’s Wells East will form the next generation of dance’ In January, Alistair Spalding and Britannia Morton took The Stage on a tour of the building and revealed their ambitions for its future. #TheStageMostRead 👇

In October, Bryony Kimmings spoke to The Stage about her love-hate relationship with theatre, moving to the countryside and how her new show at Soho Theatre Walthamstow is pared-back and highly personal. #TheStageMostRead 👇

"There was a time when you hit 40 and all you were offered was ‘mum'" In September, Clare Perkins spoke to The Stage about attending drama school as a young mother, the chance encounters that fuelled her TV career and her adventurous mindset on and off stage 👇 #TheStageMostRead

In January, Good Chance’s Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson spoke to The Stage about their pasts, presents and their future aims for writing about climate change. #TheStageMostRead 👇

In March, twenty-five years after founding production company Fiery Angel, the husband-and-wife duo behind it all – Edward Snape and Marilyn Eardley – spoke to The Stage about what success, and failure, look like to them. #TheStageMostRead 👇

Back in April, artistic director and chief executive of the Royal Court Theatre, David Byrne, spoke about what he hoped to achieve at the capital’s premier home for new writing. #TheStageMostRead 👇

‘Producers are like cockroaches. We survive’ As he retired from his day job at Cameron Mackintosh Ltd back in May, Nick Allott spoke to The Stage about his extraordinary four decades in theatre. #TheStageMostRead 👇

‘If I get this wrong, there’s no hiding from it’ Ahead of his Shakespeare debut playing Hamlet at the RSC, Luke Thallon spoke to The Stage in February 2025. #TheStageMostRead 👇

In March, Rufus Norris spoke to The Stage about his highs and lows, proudest achievements and his unusual coping strategy to counteract working weeks of sometimes more than 100 hours. #TheStageMostRead 👇

In 2025, we've spoken with top theatre figures from all corners of the industry, who told us about their careers and work, their routes into theatre and the issues that matter to them ⭐ Today we are looking at some of our most-read Big Interviews from across the year! 🎉 #TheStageMostRead

A national festival of US student theatre has severed its almost 60-year partnership with the Kennedy Center, citing "decisions that do not align with [its] values" 👇

Call me Scrooge, but it’s time for the Old Vic Christmas Carol’s final bow, writes Holly O'Mahony 👇

Renowned sound designer Terry Jardine is to step back from his role as chairman of specialist theatre sound company Autograph Sound 👇

The US’ backlash against equality and diversity has begun – the UK will be next, wrote Amanda Parker in an opinion piece in February. #TheStageMostRead 👇

“The framing of a volunteering experience as ‘giving back’ and the real financial imperative of theatremaking can create an ethical conflict that snags on this wonderful creative vision”, wrote Amanda Parker back in April. #TheStageMostRead 👇

In October, Amanda Parker wrote in an opinion piece: Tech use in theatre has gone too far when it stops us being present. #TheStageMostRead 👇

‘Commentators have wondered if something so resolutely British and lunatic will work’ Ahead of Operation Mincemeat’s Broadway premiere back in March, David Benedict hoped it would be a roaring success in this opinion piece. #TheStageMostRead 👇

Letters showing the “untold story” of how the BBC tried to persuade Laurence Olivier to make his television debut in 1949 are to be made available to researchers as part of newly released archive material 👇

Subcontractors hired to work on a £3 million revamp of the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft claim they are still owed thousands of pounds for their labour 👇

Royal Court artistic director David Byrne has claimed that many creatives are more scared of being cancelled by their peers than by the government or press 👇

Police were reportedly called to a pantomime in Torquay to deal with a woman "behaving in an anti-social manner" during the show 👇

‘Men have long ruled the roost in gender-swapping but the excuse of it being revealing wore thin long ago’ In August, David Benedict asked: Do we really need another male Lady Bracknell? #TheStageMostRead 👇

In May, Lyn Gardner looked at what Rob Myles’ Big Idea to devolve the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company said about the state of the industry. #TheStageMostRead 👇

Back in February, Lyn Gardner asked: Did the Coraline cancellation signal a shift in theatre's response to misconduct allegations? #TheStageMostRead 👇

‘They want oven-ready, not a show that glints with possibility but is still in need of development’ In August, Lyn Gardner wrote: ‘polished fringe shows from overseas shine an ugly light on UK arts funding’. #TheStageMostRead 👇

In June, Lyn Gardner looked at how Rachel Zegler's balcony moment exposed tensions around access to theatre. #TheStageMostRead 👇

Throughout 2025, our weekly columnists Lyn Gardner, Amanda Parker and David Benedict tackled some of theatre's biggest topics from UK arts funding to misconduct allegations. Today we are looking at some of their most-read opinion pieces from 2025 ⭐ #TheStageMostRead

The Stage is evolving 🎉 Subscribe for 99p and unlock exclusive first access to our new monthly magazine this January. Get ready for opening night 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/99p-tria...

★★★ Review: The Elmer Adventure – Beloved elephant brings smiles and songs to young audiences 👇

★★★★ Review: How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? – Charming festive offering from from Told by an Idiot features inventive clowning 👇

★★★ Review: Jack and the Beanstalk – Upbeat performances and some great vocals just about make up for a difficult book 👇

★★★★★ Review: Sleeping Beauty – Celebratory anniversary show that honours the stars, the venue and the makers 👇

★★★★★ Review: Protein Dance: The Magic Flute – Luca Silvestrini’s charming dance-theatre adaptation of Mozart’s opera turns high art into child’s play 👇

Cynthia Erivo will receive a prestigious prize at the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards in February for "defying expectations across music, film and the stage". Read more 👇

Royal Court artistic director David Byrne has claimed that many creatives are more scared of being cancelled by their peers than by the government or press. Read more 👇

Malvern Theatres will begin a £20 million redevelopment in January, which will include the creation of a 240-seat studio venue and new workshop spaces. Read more 👇

In October, The Stage reported on the winners of the UK Theatre Awards 2025, with organisations including Sheffield Theatres and Chester’s Storyhouse scooping gongs. #TheStageMostRead 👇

The 2025 winners of The Stage Awards were announced back in January, unveiled at a ceremony at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre in London. #TheStageMostRead 👇

In September, The Stage reported that more than half of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 835 full-time employees were being invited to take voluntary redundancy as the theatre organisation grappled with a "challenging" financial situation. #TheStageMostRead 👇

Back in July, Burlesque director and choreographer Todrick Hall spoke out for the first time since reports of “issues” on the West End production were being investigated by Equity. #TheStageMostRead 👇

Opera singer Jonas Kaufmann has suggested low fees in London are making it an untenable destination to perform. Read more 👇

In August, The Stage exclusively reported that the National Theatre Productions team was to be cut by 70%, to just seven people. #TheStageMostRead 👇

Welsh National Opera and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama have received a share of almost £9 million that has been awarded by the Welsh government for culture. Read more 👇

In April, it was announced that Mrs Doubtfire was to tour the UK and Ireland. #TheStageMostRead 👇

The full list of winners from the Olivier Awards 2025 was reported by The Stage back in April, featuring wins from Fiddler on the Roof, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Giant. #TheStageMostRead 👇

Back in April, theatre producer Wayne Glover-Stuart was found guilty of four sexual offences against two separate victims. #TheStageMostRead 👇

In July, The Stage reported that performers in the West End production of Burlesque were being supported by Equity over a “number of issues” that had been flagged with the union. #TheStageMostRead 👇

Back in March it was announced that Jodie Comer was to embark on a UK and Ireland tour of Prima Facie. #TheStageMostRead 👇