Category Archives: Theatre
Hear Scottish Detective’s crime scene secrets at the Cryer
‘This is not fiction. It’s real cases, real victims and real consequences’ David Swindle, one of the country’s best-known true crime detective figures, will be sharing his insights and memories of a lifetime’s work hunting down criminals when his show, … Continue reading
Bruising drama that delivers a punch against the patriarchy
KEN TOWL goes 12 rounds with the latest must-see play to be staged at the Coulsdon Community Centre. Photos by STEVE NORTH Director Anya Destiney has not made things easy for herself. The Sweet Science of Bruising makes big demands. … Continue reading
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Courtyard Theatre, Apr 14-18
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Great Big Bug Show is bringing minibeasts to South Norwood
Simon Mole and musician Gecko are bringing their new family performance, The Great Big Bug Show, to Stanley Halls in South Norwood for the spring half-term, on Wednesday May 27. Mole is the National Poetry Day Ambassador and acclaimed children’s … Continue reading
Music Hall performer whose potato song helped the war effort
CROYDON CHRONICLES: Musical director of the Croydon Empire theatre enjoyed a colourful career and played a part in the community, writes DAVID MORGAN A century ago, long before we had mass media in our living rooms and at our finger … Continue reading
Trinity pupil wins best child actor in WhatsOnStage awards
A first-year pupil at Trinity School in Shirley has been named best child actor of the year in the WhatsOnStage Awards for his performances at the National Theatre’s Land of the Living. Anton Vehring is 11 years old. He made … Continue reading
There’s a Spanner in the works as drag comes to Stanley Arts
If you want to know more about family break-ups and car breakdowns, then Fixing, performed by Matt Miller and coming to Stanley Halls this Thursday, is the show for you. South Norwood is the latest stop on a national tour … Continue reading
The Sweet Science of Bruising, TW Coulsdon, from Mar 21
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T For ticket bookings for The Sweet Science of Bruising and more information about Theatre Workshop Coulsdon, visit their … Continue reading
From a few lines in Henry V, actor stood alongside the greats
CROYDON CHRONICLES: An outstanding producer-director at The Old Vic who performed alongside the likes of Sir Henry Irving and Sir Laurence Olivier, and appeared in some of the most notable films of the 1940s and ’50s, Harcourt Williams’ acting talent … Continue reading
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Courtyard Theatre, Apr 14-18
C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Women are boxing clever to punch through the glass ceiling
It’s Victorian London, 1869. At the Angel Amphitheatre, four women are preparing for the battle of their lives. Polly Stokes has always been a fighter, ever since she was abandoned on a doorstep in Blackburn. Irish-born Mattie Blackwell lives on … Continue reading
Britain’s biggest children’s book festival is coming to Croydon
Croydon youngsters are to be offered a free day of “bookish fun” at the Ashcroft Theatre in the summer as part of the annual London Schools Literature Festival. The Whitgift Foundation is sponsoring the day’s activities, which will be organised … Continue reading
The Sweet Science will be landing a blow for women’s cause
KEN TOWL got a behind-the-scenes preview of the next production from Coulsdon’s acclaimed theatre group, which he says will be a real knock-out In December, when I went to the Coulsdon Community Centre, I saw a great performance of My … Continue reading
PANTO WARS! Which shows are worth seeing this Christmas
OUTSIDE CROYDON: Ken Towl has reviewed the pantomimes being performed in Croydon and Bromley this festive season. But there’s lots more family shows available across London. Here’s DAVID MORGAN’s suggestions
PANTO WARS! Which is the Beauty? And which is the Beast?
Christmas 2025 has Beauty and the Beast as the seasonal pantomime at the Fairfield Halls. And Beauty and the Beast is also on at the Churchill Theatre, just a short bus ride away in Bromley. Oh yes it is! KEN … Continue reading
By George! She’s Got it! My Fair Lady’s a triumph for Scorziello
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW: The classic Lerner and Loewe musical can be a challenge to stage even for the biggest theatre companies on the West End or Broadway. In Coulsdon this week, the local community centre is staging ‘a lavish, fast-paced show… … Continue reading
Kevin Costner Christmas show is Shirley teen’s screen debut
EXCLUSIVE: ABC in the United States is airing a biblical epic tonight, with a starring role played by an 18-year-old actor from Croydon A Croydon teenager tonight makes his screen debut in an American television show fronted by Hollywood superstar … Continue reading
CYTO presents Peter Pan, Shoestring Theatre, Dec 11 to 13
S U B S C R I B E R A D V E R T I S E M E N T
TfL offers discounted theatre tickets in 25th birthday giveaway
As the 25th anniversary year of Transport for London approaches an end, the capital’s transport authority has teamed up with Official London Theatre to offer exclusive savings on Theatre Tokens that can make the perfect Christmas gift for an array … Continue reading
Oh yes she is! Victorian dancer who became a pantomime star
CROYDON CHRONICLES: One of the great British traditions of this time of year is the family visit to the theatre, or to a church hall for the local am-dram performance, during pantomime season. DAVID MORGAN traces the career of Caroline … Continue reading
Shirley teen to release Christmas single to support charities
A teenaged actor and musician from Shirley has revived a family song to raise funds to support young people and seriously ill children this festive season. At the end of this month, 18-year-old Ethan Thorne is releasing two versions of … Continue reading
Will Selsdon manage to solve Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web?
A classic whodunnit with a smattering of laughs comes to Selsdon Hall next week, when CODA, the Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association, revives one of Queen of Crime Agatha Christie’s thrillers, Spider’s Web. Desperate to dispose of the body before … Continue reading
It’s the final countdown as Rowland reflects on our mortality
KEN TOWL considers Plato, kingfishers and Ian McKellen’s balls in an hour-long Croydonites Festival performance which could never over-run James Rowland is dead. Well, sort of. The end was inevitable. The digital clock at the back of the stage counted … Continue reading
