The British Paraorchestra describes itself as ‘the world’s only large-scale ensemble for professional disabled musicians’. It works under the artistic direction of conductor Charles Hazlewood, whose mission is ‘to redefine what an orchestra can be… an extraordinary and perfectly synchronised body of instruments that draws on the tradition of centuries but is enriched and expanded […]

Rain, wind, sunshine, hailstones – and all within the hour. Ah yes, the great outdoors in the UK in May! The Without Walls programme brings a number of outdoor arts commissions and other shows to a consortium of festivals across the UK. Brighton Festival opens the season – and being so early in the year, […]

‘You’re in safe hands’ says Bryony Kimmings, towards the start of the show. She makes a joke of it – she does this for a living, she’s got insurance, she’s DBS police-checked – but the truth is, we are safe, and she is safe. Because despite everything – the intense autobiographical material, the recounting of […]

The Actors Space is a renowned international centre of theatre and film, located in the Catalan hills, just one hour from Barcelona. In summer 2019, the centre marks 21 years of ‘empowering the actor to be free to play’. Dorothy Max Prior spoke to the founders and co-directors, Marian Masoliver and Simon Edwards, at the […]

  So who remembers Houseparty? Daytime TV show from the 1970s, reality TV before reality TV existed, fly-on-the-wall kind of thing, ahead of its time. Featuring a  group of friends (‘housewives’) gathered round a table talking about – whatever. Often with cooking. Well, Xavier de Sousa’s Post is a bit like that, except that the people gathered […]