Alun Hood
@ajhlovestheatre.bsky.social
Writer of scripts, theatre reviewer for WhatsOnStage, Musicals Magazine and my ajhlovestheatre blog. Critics Circle member. Runs a lot, eats a lot, over enthusiastic. https://ajhlovestheatre.org/blog/
Gotta say, I don’t know how Bryan Cranston does THAT x8 per week in the new West End ALL MY SONS. Holy hell.
November 22, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Gotta say, I don’t know how Bryan Cranston does THAT x8 per week in the new West End ALL MY SONS. Holy hell.
www.whatsonstage.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:18 AM
My review of #Liberation on Broadway (and it’s another rave…. cos they can’t have enough apparently) ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/19/l...
LIBERATION – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – this feminist memory tragicomedy is one of the most richly satisfying American plays in years
Photograph by Little Fang LIBERATION by Bess Wohl directed by Whitney White James Earl Jones Theatre, New York City – until 11 January 2026 running time: 2 hours 30 minutes includ…
ajhlovestheatre.org
November 19, 2025 at 2:42 AM
My review of #Liberation on Broadway (and it’s another rave…. cos they can’t have enough apparently) ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/19/l...
I reviewed CHESS on Broadway …was hoping to love it but…. ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/17/c...
CHESS – ⭐️⭐️ – one of the greatest musical scores of the late twentieth century makes its move to finally become a Broadway hit
Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele and company, photograph by Matthew Murphy CHESS Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson, Tim Rice and Björn Ulvaeus based on an idea by Tim Rice New book by Danny Strong direct…
ajhlovestheatre.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:52 AM
I reviewed CHESS on Broadway …was hoping to love it but…. ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/17/c...
It’s the interval, and the very nice front of house attendant just announced “I know it seems long, but you’ll make it” and I’m genuinely unsure if she was referring to the bathroom queue or the show itself 😳
November 15, 2025 at 1:29 AM
It’s the interval, and the very nice front of house attendant just announced “I know it seems long, but you’ll make it” and I’m genuinely unsure if she was referring to the bathroom queue or the show itself 😳
Nurse! I need the saline drip urgently. I’ve just seen #LincolnCenterTheatre #Ragtime and sobbed for nearly 3 hours solid so am very dehydrated. Absolutely wonderful.
November 12, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Nurse! I need the saline drip urgently. I’ve just seen #LincolnCenterTheatre #Ragtime and sobbed for nearly 3 hours solid so am very dehydrated. Absolutely wonderful.
He’s going to sing the holy sh!t out of it (and he’s got great hair)
Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar. NEXT summer’s London MT obsession. At the Palladium, where else?!
Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar. NEXT summer’s London MT obsession. At the Palladium, where else?!
November 7, 2025 at 8:49 AM
He’s going to sing the holy sh!t out of it (and he’s got great hair)
Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar. NEXT summer’s London MT obsession. At the Palladium, where else?!
Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar. NEXT summer’s London MT obsession. At the Palladium, where else?!
“Goodbye. Goodbye Shirley Valentine”
So sad to hear she’s left us.
My Mum took me to see Shirley Valentine in the West End when I was pretty young. We sat in the Vaudeville’s front row and Pauline Collins delivered one of her “kids, eh” asides straight at me. I was in love. #RIPPaulineCollins
So sad to hear she’s left us.
My Mum took me to see Shirley Valentine in the West End when I was pretty young. We sat in the Vaudeville’s front row and Pauline Collins delivered one of her “kids, eh” asides straight at me. I was in love. #RIPPaulineCollins
November 6, 2025 at 6:31 PM
“Goodbye. Goodbye Shirley Valentine”
So sad to hear she’s left us.
My Mum took me to see Shirley Valentine in the West End when I was pretty young. We sat in the Vaudeville’s front row and Pauline Collins delivered one of her “kids, eh” asides straight at me. I was in love. #RIPPaulineCollins
So sad to hear she’s left us.
My Mum took me to see Shirley Valentine in the West End when I was pretty young. We sat in the Vaudeville’s front row and Pauline Collins delivered one of her “kids, eh” asides straight at me. I was in love. #RIPPaulineCollins
Get yourself up to @parktheatrelondon.bsky.social - this new play is fab ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/04/t...
THE MEAT KINGS! (Inc) OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – last year’s Papatango prize winner is a real smasher
Photograph by Marc Douet THE MEAT KINGS! (Inc) OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS by Hannah Doran directed by George Turvey Park Theatre, London – until 29 November 2025 running time: 2 hours 30 minutes inc…
ajhlovestheatre.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Get yourself up to @parktheatrelondon.bsky.social - this new play is fab ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/04/t...
Brilliantly played by the team at this new musical to release images of the beloved titular character just as they do their first preview. Paddington is Paddington-ing beautifully. I have got something in my eye. #Paddington #PaddingtonMusical
November 1, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Brilliantly played by the team at this new musical to release images of the beloved titular character just as they do their first preview. Paddington is Paddington-ing beautifully. I have got something in my eye. #Paddington #PaddingtonMusical
Off to the Donmar for THE MAIDS - and just worked out that this’ll be the 130th production I’ve seen there. How the hell did that happen?! 🤔❤️
November 1, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Off to the Donmar for THE MAIDS - and just worked out that this’ll be the 130th production I’ve seen there. How the hell did that happen?! 🤔❤️
ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/01/c... - get yourself to the Arcola if you’ve got the stomach for it #CrocodileFever
CROCODILE FEVER – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – buckle up, this Northern Irish sisters black comedy is a wild ride
Meghan Tyler and Rachael Rooney, photograph by Ikin Yum CROCODILE FEVER by Meghan Tyler directed by Mehmet Ergen Arcola Theatre, London – until 22 November 2025 running time: 2 hours includin…
ajhlovestheatre.org
November 1, 2025 at 12:23 AM
ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/01/c... - get yourself to the Arcola if you’ve got the stomach for it #CrocodileFever
Enjoyable to see the first two Richard Hannay’s from the original West End run of The 39 Steps onstage together in the Almeida’s The Line Of Beauty. Charles Edwards (who subsequently played Hannay om Broadway) and Robert Portal. Both ageing like fine wines.
October 31, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Enjoyable to see the first two Richard Hannay’s from the original West End run of The 39 Steps onstage together in the Almeida’s The Line Of Beauty. Charles Edwards (who subsequently played Hannay om Broadway) and Robert Portal. Both ageing like fine wines.
Absolutely over the moon that The Old Vic is giving us another chance to see Stoppard’s ARCADIA next year. It’s a dazzlingly brilliant play, thought-provoking and often hilarious, with the most extraordinary emotional gut punch at its conclusion. Cannot wait.
October 29, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Absolutely over the moon that The Old Vic is giving us another chance to see Stoppard’s ARCADIA next year. It’s a dazzlingly brilliant play, thought-provoking and often hilarious, with the most extraordinary emotional gut punch at its conclusion. Cannot wait.
Obviously she’ll always be remembered for Sibyl, and rightly so, but anybody who saw Prunella Scales as Coral Browne and QE2 in the West End transfer of Alan Bennett’s Single Spies knew they were watching greatness. Phenomenal performance.
October 28, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Obviously she’ll always be remembered for Sibyl, and rightly so, but anybody who saw Prunella Scales as Coral Browne and QE2 in the West End transfer of Alan Bennett’s Single Spies knew they were watching greatness. Phenomenal performance.
RIP Prunella Scales. Always one of my favourites, a fabulous actress, utterly brilliant at comedy and tragedy, and a lovely woman by all accounts. Condolences to Samuel, Joseph and family.
October 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
RIP Prunella Scales. Always one of my favourites, a fabulous actress, utterly brilliant at comedy and tragedy, and a lovely woman by all accounts. Condolences to Samuel, Joseph and family.
Absolutely loved John Proctor Is The Villain on Broadway, and it will play like a dream (nightmare) at the Royal Court- this whole season announcement is an absolute triumph. A play about cannibalism?! New Ryan Calais Cameron, Swinton, Oldman, co-prod with Sherman…. EVERYTHING sounds like a must-see
October 28, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Absolutely loved John Proctor Is The Villain on Broadway, and it will play like a dream (nightmare) at the Royal Court- this whole season announcement is an absolute triumph. A play about cannibalism?! New Ryan Calais Cameron, Swinton, Oldman, co-prod with Sherman…. EVERYTHING sounds like a must-see
Great to see @LynetteLinton doing so well in #BBTAs last night, picking up Best Director for Donmar’s exquisite INTIMATE APPAREL and Best Play Production for West transfer of magical Shifters from the Bush Theatre. Huge congratulations, great evening. Those actual awards are HEAVY though😳
October 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Great to see @LynetteLinton doing so well in #BBTAs last night, picking up Best Director for Donmar’s exquisite INTIMATE APPAREL and Best Play Production for West transfer of magical Shifters from the Bush Theatre. Huge congratulations, great evening. Those actual awards are HEAVY though😳