‘And in the second act, I shall wear a gown in a lovely shade of crushed understudy’. (I slightly paraphrase). From the Ivor Novello play Comedienne, currently on BBC Sounds

I enjoyed this. Dame Sibyl in a forgotten Ivor Novello play on BBC sounds. Have a listen

Been asked to rethink an idea for a European project because it is too much like a play and could I reconsider it as an abstract poetic essay drama ? Never had that note in the UK ! And yes of course I will !

Farewell dear Swetlana. I got to know her a little in my time at the Berliner Ensemble and she came round to our flat in Kreuzberg. Great actor, great human

Cambridge event alert: I'm speaking at Great St Mary's on Saturday 14th at 7pm, on "Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears: Shared Lives, Shared Legacy". Do come along if you're in the area: tickets here share.google/rdfJPlLyqiNX...

On Front Row tonight: glorious Zurburán, The House of the Spirits as a Prime mini-series and Tom Wright’s play about Brian Epstein, Please Please Me. Join @mmdelgado.bsky.social and @markravenhill.bsky.social and me at 7:15 on Radio Four.

Tonight at 7.15pm BBC Radio 4 Front Row I’ll be discussing the week’s cultural highlights including my own culture pick. It s a live programme. It would be great if you could listen. Thank you.

Excited for Monday. I’ll be spending a month at RADA directing second years in a new comedy I’ve written. First time at RADA where I wanted to go as a teenager and now forty years later …

hilariously i had to be reminded it was shakespeare’s birthday today. anyway it’s a good day as any to tell yous that my book IRISH SHAKESPEARES: GENDER, SEXUALITY, AND PERFORMANCE IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY has been sent into production at Routledge [pre-order link tbc!]

Final performance tonight of Strauss’ Salome which I’ve directed for Regents Opera. In awe of the musicianship of cast and orchestra. Thanks to everyone who came to see us.

1/ A reminder that WGGB members can get free support and advice on a wide variety of contract, copyright and workplace issues - even if you've signed a confidentiality clause or NDA And we will not take action without consulting with you

Check out my article, double page spread in today’s Daily Telegraph

Four stars from The Times for my production of Salome for Regents Opera playing until April 23

Some 1977 photos of Imogen Holst by Nigel Luckhurst (copyright Britten Pears Arts): conducting a rehearsal, and preparing with the young Steven Isserlis for a concert, first in her Church Walk home and then onstage in the Jubilee Hall.

Today's the birthday of Imogen Holst: composer, conductor, musicologist, educator and all-round powerhouse: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imogen_.... Her extensive archive is held at the Red House (www.bpacatalogue.org/archive/HOL) and her influence is woven into much of what Britten and Pears did here.

One of the fun things we did in the past few years was help the background research that supported @markravenhill.bsky.social's play "Ben and Imo" on the Holst-Britten relationship: that really captured the energy you see fizzing off her in these photos.

Lights and set are being put into York Hall right now for the Salome I’m directing for Regents Opera opens April 10th

Theater für alle... wir wünschen euch heute einen schönen Welttheatertag! bis bald im Berliner Ensemble.

You know you’re in a creative place when … ‘I think your character should bring on a pair of handcuffs’ I say and when the scene comes the singer has made their own rehearsal prop from gaffer tape! My production of Salome for Regents Opera opens April 10th in York Hall, Bethnal Green

You know you’re in a creative place when … ‘I think your character should bring on a pair of handcuffs’ I say and when the scene comes the singer has made their own rehearsal prop from gaffer tape! My production of Salome for Regents Opera opens April 10th in York Hall, Bethnal Green

If you’re a professional theatre maker and wonder what happens in an opera rehearsal room ..: I’m in Vauxhall for the next two weeks rehearsing Strauss’ Salome. If you’d like to observe a rehearsal for a few hours drop me a message

Very excited about the prospect of seeing such a great Opera within walking distance of my house. And in such a historic venue.

Rehearsals are go! Come see the production of Strauss’ Salome im directing. Opens April 11th in Bethnal Green regentsopera.com

And we’re off ! Rehearsals have begun for Regent’s Opera which I’m directing. Come see us in Bethnal Green from April 11th

We're thrilled that Ben and Imo has been nominated for the Olivier Award for Best New Production in Affiliate Theatre! With thanks to the Oliviers, the RSC, and our huge congratulations to Samuel Barnett and Victoria Yeates, Erica Whyman, Mark Ravenhill, and the entire team. 📸 Ellie Kurttz

Great to see @markravenhill.bsky.social's "Ben and Imo" nominated for an Olivier Award: the original RSC production involved some detailed research at the Red House and its Archive so we feel a little reflected glory in its success!

We’ve been nominated for my play Ben and Imo! Thank you judges www.whatsonstage.com/news/olivier...

Great night at the Concert Artists Association in Covent Garden

Come join us at either 7pm or 8.30pm tonight at Museum of Comedy

Lunch time treat: The President’s Cake, an extraordinary Iraqi film that perfectly balances realism with folk tale clarity

Come see this evening of comedy turns which I’ve curated www.museumofcomedy.com/run-at-it-la...

Strauss and burgers

This is a surprising page turner ! I’m tearing through this

Charlie Chaplin The Circus - our Valentine date night in Berlin

Friends, take a look at this and the production - the best Doll’s House ive seen - and l’ve seen many ! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Come see our opera this April ! Read about it hete bachtrack.com/interview-ma...

SO YOU WANT TO BE A PLAYWRIGHT? // Panel discussion with: Mark Ravenhill, Giannina Carbunariu, Bernhard Studlar and Jibbe Willems @ Kosovo-North Macedonia Theatre Showcase 2025 @markravenhill.bsky.social

My play Ben and Imo opens in a new Greek production next week www.nationalopera.gr/en/alternati...

Site visit for the opera (Salome) I’m directing this spring. Know where I am ?

Listening to a conversation behind me yesterday : ‘we’ve been to a recording of the Graham Norton show. There was a comedian with huge teeth, a woman who was in something called Wicked, Chris somebody who’s big in Hollywood and the Vicar of Dibley’. Bliss.

Saw this last night and jit’s BRILLIANT !! Some tix abailable for today’s matinee GO !!!!! www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk//an-ideal-hu...

Saw this last night and jit’s BRILLIANT !! Some tix abailable for today’s matinee GO !!!!! www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk//an-ideal-hu...

My thoughts on this week’s cultural highlights can be heard by clicking on the link ! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

I was fortunate enough to see this show in Kosovo. It’s touring internationally. Do catch it if it comes near you

Fackham Hall (in cinemas now) is a glorious vintage cellar stocked full of the oldest puns, sight gags and prat falls. They’ve matured deliciously

Happy New Year from our midnight drinkers !

My review of the theatre year 2025.

Buying a book yesterday and the person working the till says to me : Are you a poet ? I consider something like ‘in my own way’ but settle for ‘no’ You look like a poet, she says. And I had a spring in my step for the rest of the day

Pentabus Young Writers – Local Applications Now Open! If you’re 18–30 and living in the rural shropshire ? West Midlands? or Wales? this is your chance to develop your voice, your craft, and your confidence as a writer. Don’t miss it — get your application in! pentabus.co.uk/local-young-...