Good to see Graham Reid's 1995 post-ceasefire drama Life After Life on BBC iPlayer, led by Lorcan Cranitch, Michelle Fairley & Ingrid Craigie. Vivid support from Vincent Higgins, Alan McKee, John Hewitt, BJ Hogg, Ian McElhinney, Marie Jones, and Abbie Spallen. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

With the first day of rehearsal looming ever closer, thank you to @thegourmetboys.bsky.social for spotlighting Baby, It's Cold Outside, for @BUTheatreCo at Belfast's Sanctuary Theatre from December 16 to January 4. thegourmetboys.com/baby-its-col...

"A striking sense of conductor and orchestra on a mission." Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic's three-disc dive into Schoenberg boasts attention-grabbing accounts of Die Jakobsleiter and the Violin Concerto. My review for Limelight magazine: limelight-arts.com.au/reviews/kiri...

Marjorie’s Dead from Dark Forest Theatre at the Grand Opera House Studio, Belfast. My @britishtheatreguide.info review:

More than delighted to have PR genius Rachael Harriott – @rachaelharriottni.bsky.social – on the team for Brenda Murphy's Baby, It's Cold Outside, for Bright Umbrella Theatre Company at Belfast's Sanctuary Theatre from December 16 to January 4. Booking now open at: ticketsource.co.uk/brightumbrella

Glad to have caught Nicola McCartney's Faust-ish from Big Telly at the Lyric, Belfast for @belfastfestival.bsky.social. Funny, imaginative and cleverly pointed, with Jo Donnelly superb and strong support from Chris Robinson, Emma Rose Creaner and Claire Lamont.

Any visit by @druidtheatre.bsky.social is not to be missed. Looking forward to Garry Hynes' acclaimed Macbeth with Marty Rea and Marie Mullen coming to the Lyric Belfast in April. My @britishtheatreguide.info news story:

Gear, fab biography of @ringostarrmusic.bsky.social paints a satisfyingly more complex portrait of the 'cute' Beatle, Ringo (@newmodernbooks.bsky.social). Fresh interviews and Tom Doyle's gently pointed commentary add to the appeal in a valuable new addition for any The Beatles library.

Completing the wonderful cast for Brenda Murphy's seasonal comedy-drama, Baby, It's Cold Outside, for Bright Umbrella Theatre Company is Jade O'Neill. Belfast's Sanctuary Theatre from December 16 to January 3. Booking now at: ticketsource.co.uk/brightumbrella

Exciting times ahead as Lyric Belfast reveals its 75th anniversary season, including The Importance of Being Earnest, Belfast Ensemble’s Group!, Christina Reid’s Tea in a China Cup, Steel Magnolias, and a raised profile for @roguesni.bsky.social. My @britishtheatreguide.info news story…

Looking forward to working with the wonderful Michelle Wiggins as Sally in Brenda Murphy's laugh-out-loud drama, Baby, It's Cold Outside for Bright Umbrella at Belfast's Sanctuary Theatre from December 16 to January 3. Early booking recommended: ticketsource.co.uk/brightumbrella

Second up for Brenda Murphy's classic Christmas comedy with a twist, Baby, It's Cold Outside, is Brian Markey as Joe. A thrill to be directing for Bright Umbrella at Belfast's Sanctuary Theatre from December 16 to January 3. Early booking recommended: ticketsource.co.uk/brightumbrella

Delighted to announce the first of four fabulous cast members – Mary McGurk as Patsy – in Brenda Murphy's Baby, It's Cold Outside – not every Christmas birth is what you expect! – for Bright Umbrella at Belfast's Sanctuary Theatre, Nov. 24–Jan. 3. Book now: www.ticketsource.co.uk/brightumbrella

“The Upside Down House marks out Ciaran Haggerty as a resourceful young voice to follow and watch”. Tinderbox at @themacbelfast.bsky.social with Shaun Blaney andnColm McCready for @belfastfestival.bsky.social. My @britishtheatreguide.info review…

“A vivid, visceral, provocative piece of theatre that demands to be seen.” @johnmorton.bsky.social's Denouement with Anna Healey and Patrick O'Kane, directed by Jimmy Fay for Lyric Theatre Belfast and @belfastfestival.bsky.social. My @britishtheatreguide.info review…

Luke Thornborough’s “heart-racing feminist sci-fi thriller” Alone marks Paris-based Alchemy Theatre’s London debut @theatre503.bsky.social. My @britishtheatreguide.info news story…

"Jolene O'Hara promises to develop into something distinctive and special” in Richard Clements’ Ottilie at Grand Opera House Studio for @belfastfestival.bsky.social. My review for @thestage.co.uk…

Jay Sefton appears in his own powerful tale about surviving sexual abuse, Unreconciled, at Lyric Theatre Belfast for @belfastfestival.bsky.social, directed by Geraldine Hughes. My @britishtheatreguide.info review…

“Perfectly pitched for darkening nights as Halloween approaches.” @bruiserni.bsky.social's hi-octane take on Kill the Beast’s Tom Baker adaptation, The Boy Who Kicked Pigs @themacbelfast.bsky.social. My @britishtheatreguide.info review…

"It has never been easy to make theatre in Northern Ireland. But does it have to be so hard?" My latest opinion piece for @thestage.co.uk on the challenge of making theatre in Northern Ireland on a per capita spend of £5.07 compared to £25.90 in the Republic. www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/nort...

Ian McEwan's future-set, post-catastrophe What We Can Know (@jonathancape.bsky.social) is darkly dazzling; a cautionary tale about "the Derangement" of the preoccupations of the here and now while all around moves towards chaos and loss.

The 1990s were a fertile period for TV drama from Northern Ireland, so good to see Graham Reid's still pointed and pertinent The Precious Blood available again. And to see strong local support from James Ellis, Margaret D'Arcy, Derek Halligan, Bronagh Gallagher et al. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Director Lisa May and @bruiserni.bsky.social to stage Northern Ireland premiere of Kill the Beast’s Tom Baker adaptation, The Boy Who Kicked Pigs, with Gerard Headley, Mary McGurk, Eleanor Shannon and Jack Watson @themacbelfast.bsky.social. My @britishtheatreguide.info news story:

Congrats to director Rhiann Jeffrey (Best Play Revival: Nancy Harris's Our New Girl), actor Michael Patrick (Best Performance: Richard III) and Lyric Theatre Belfast, begetters of both productions, for deserved UK Theatre Award nominations. www.thestage.co.uk/news/uk-thea...

Sondheim's Follies surely inspired Kander & Ebb's "Razzle dazzle 'em and you've got a romance" on the strength of @niopera.bsky.social's whip-crack smart staging @ Grand Opera House Belfast. Three performances left: www.goh.co.uk/whats-on/fol... @sondheimiteuk.bsky.social @thesondheimhub.bsky.social

The end of the beginning… Dummy has spoken. Huge thanks to Emma Dawson, Holly Hannaway, Brian McAvera, Louise Parker, Dylan Quinn, Chris Robinson, Keith Singleton, Katie Richardson, hosts Prime Cut Productions, and funder Arts Council NI, for making possible an incredible workshop and reading.

Catching up with a thrilling, luxurious BBC Proms debut by Irish Baroque Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Peter Whelan in Handel's Alexander's Feast. Soloists: Hilary Cronin, Hugh Cutting, Stuart Jackson. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The end of the world comes to Lyric Belfast with John Morton’s Denouement, directed by Jimmy Fay for @belfastfestival.bsky.social. Luxury casting with Anna Healy and Patrick O'Kane. My @britishtheatreguide.info news story:

Jay Sefton to appear in Unreconciled, his and Mark Basquill's powerful play about surviving sexual abuse, directed by Geraldine Hughes for @belfastfestival.bsky.social at the Lyric Theatre, then at @druidtheatre.bsky.social's Mick Lally Theatre in Galway. My @britishtheatreguide.info news story:

“David Ireland’s Ulster American steadily curls itself into a clenched fist before delivering knockout blows” with superb playing by Caroline Curran, James Boal and Andrew McClay for Bright Umbrella at Belfast's Sanctuary Theatre. My review for @britishtheatreguide.info…

A stack of palettes, plates of biscuits, heaps of laughs and a huge heart in Keith Singleton's Shedman, delivered with gusto and grace. One more performance at @themacbelfast.bsky.social: themaclive.com/event/shedman

"An intelligently programmed, incisively played recital of 20th-century Russian cello sonatas." Marie-Elisabeth Hecker and Martin Helmchen's two-disc From Eastern Europe on Alpha Classics. My review for Limelight magazine: limelight-arts.com.au/reviews/from...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas… Full audition day for Brenda Murphy's Baby It's Cold Outside for Bright Umbrella at Belfast's Sanctuary Theatre. Delighted to be directing with such a welcoming company and venue. Never too early to book seats: www.ticketsource.co.uk/brightumbrel...

The first full staging in Ireland of Sondheim’s Follies by @niopera.bsky.social at Belfast's Grand Opera House boasts luxury casting: Lesley Garrett, Alasdair Harvey, Mark Dugdale, Anna-Jane Casey et al. @thesondheimhub.bsky.social @sondheimiteuk.bsky.social My @britishtheatreguide.info news story:

Looking forward to reading @ruairiconaghan.bsky.social's remarkable Lies Where It Falls (PlayDead Press). Having seen it on video and stage, I'm keen to see how it works on the page. Flattered to get a mention of thanks.

“PaulaMcFetridge again shows herself a sensitive and assured mediator of difficult material”: Charlotte McCurry’s Julie for Kabosh at Féile an Phobail. Touring to @shhomeplace.bsky.social, Derry Playhouse and Old Chiurch Centre, Cushendun. My @britishtheatreguide.info review:

Five arts companies in Northern Ireland have closed in the past year; National Youth Choir and Riverside Theatre this week alone. Not a peep about it from @communitiesni.bsky.social & absentee Arts Minister, Gordon Lyons. My latest for @journalofmusic.bsky.social: journalofmusic.com/opinion/why-...

Valuable new research by Arts Council Northern Ireland into the economic worth of the arts. Public spending of £13.27 million generated £24 million GVA for ACNI clients; 80% (£104 million) of the whole arts sector's GVA. I'd say that was money well spent. artscouncil-ni.org/resources/ec...

Tara Lynne O'Neill's Rough Girls is back on BBC iPlayer. Excellent all-female cast, Katie Richardson's superb music, Dylan Quinn's theatrical choreography. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis... My @britishtheatreguide.info review of Belfast Lyric's premiere: www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/roug...

Published in 1939, Michael McLaverty's evocative first novel, the Rathlin Island/pre-Partition Belfast-set Call my brother back, is one the great Northern Irish novels. Seamus Heaney hailed it as being 'among the verifying texts of modern Ulster writing'.

One of the most individual, iconoclastic & greatest frontmen, @black-sabbath.bsky.social's Ozzy Osbourne, has died. Here is his credible version of @johnlennonofficial.bsky.social's How?, tributing The Beatles icon on what would have been his 70th birthday in 2010. www.youtube.com/watch?v=awOc...

Opera Fantasies for cello and piano "all realised with becoming and engaging vivacity by [Zlatomir] Fung and [Richard Fu] on Signum Classics. My Recording of the Month review for Limelight magazine: limelight-arts.com.au/reviews/fant...

'Dance like no one is watching.' Choreographer Dylan Quinn writes about his innovative Dance Corner, a fresh and fun invitation to throw some shapes and groove your cares away with @luaildance.bsky.social, across six counties and 26 locations in 32 days. artscouncil-ni.org/news/guest-c...

Mountains of research magnificently distilled into @mylesdungan.bsky.social's Land Is All That Matters (@headofzeus.bsky.social), the violent 'Three-Hundred Year War' over soil and Ireland's sense of itself told with illuminating, entertaining clarity.

Sad to hear of Peter Ballance's far too early passing. I only worked with him once, when he played the younger version of Kenneth Griffiths' Len in Martin Lynch's Pictures of Tomorrow for Radio 3, but thought he was a fine and woefully under-appreciated actor.

"Peace & Love" to the most original, influential drummer par excellence Ringo Starr, 85 today. Fellow Beatle Paul McCartney called him "the greatest drummer in the world. Really." Not going to disagree; here's the under-appreciated 'Rain', B-side to 'Paperback Writer' www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK5G...

Jobs at risk, audiences abandoned, Northern Ireland's arts sector weakened as Echo Echo Dance Theatre's appeal against the loss of its ACNI funding is rejected. Who was the "independent reviewer" that made the decision? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I've never seen a @druidtheatre.bsky.social show that disappointed – so many plays brought to vivid life. Astonishing creativity, imagination, vitality & conviction in theatre's relevance & capacity to entertain & provoke over 50 years. Here's to more of the same. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bch...

A thrill to see @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social venture into long-form work with her compelling debut novel, The Benefactors. Dazzlingly structured, written with honesty, humanity, quietly angry compassion & a flair for the intimate and dramatic. Perfect material ripe for TV. @sceptrebooks.bsky.social

Kudos to @thestage.co.uk, which was first published in 1880, has survived two world wars, multiple recessions, a global pandemic, and even me writing for it to reach its 7,500th print issue this week. Essential reading for theatre workers theatregoers for 145 years www.thestage.co.uk/long-reads/7...