Chris Abbott
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Chris Abbott
@chrisabbott.bsky.social
Theatre writer, reviewer for West End Best Friend. Pantomime enthusiast. Emeritus Reader, King's College London
Reposted by Chris Abbott
The Winter edition of The Call Boy will be arriving with members this week...if you want to receive your own copy of our journal (published 4 times a year) then JOIN US! Membership details HERE - britishmusichallsociety.com/join-us
Join Us | British Music Hall Society
If you are interested in entertainment past and present, why not join our Society?
britishmusichallsociety.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Chris Abbott
A music hall classic for #songsheetsaturday - Two Lovely Black Eyes - first published in 1886 with lyrics by Charles Coborn. Coborn reckoned he performed this number more than 250,000 times throughout his long career. 'Two lovely black eyes, Oh what a surprise, Only for telling a man he was wrong.'
January 17, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Chris Abbott
'Alright pal, got plans for the #BigGardenBirdwatch?'

'Nah, just the usual... hang out of sight whilst she's doing the count, then touch down once the hour's over. You?'

'Classic. Planning some fly-bys with a few of the boys, but we'll only land one at a time.'

'Niiice.'
January 17, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Chris Abbott
Happy New Year from the British Music Hall Society. Thank you for all the support you gave us in 2025 - here's to 2026. Check out what we have on offer on our website
britishmusichallsociety.com #MusicHall #Variety #History #Archive
January 1, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Very impressive!
We've made incredible progress with our Archive this year. Since uploading our first collection in April 2025, we now have over 2,000 catalogue records on Archives Hub (link below). Check out our entries to explore the collection.
#MusicHall #archive #history
archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/locat...
December 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM
First Panto of the year - and a stunner, not to be missed.

www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/review-...
Review: MAMA GOOSE, Stratford East | West End Best Friend
Join local lass Mama Goose and her magical golden-egg-laying goose in Stratford this holiday season!
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Reposted by Chris Abbott
European Theatre Day was celebrated at Victoria & Albert Museum London UK by Mark Fox for the Frank Matcham Society.
October 26, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Reposted by Chris Abbott
Wonderful exhibits at House of Houdini Budapest. Anniversary of his death soon on Halloween.
October 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Chris Abbott
As anniversary of Houdini’s death approaches on Halloween ~ here are props on a great display at House of Houdini Budapest.
October 26, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Fun update of Austen’s Emma - we enjoyed it as did the youngish packed house

www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/review-...
Review: EMMA, Rose Theatre Kingston | West End Best Friend
Jane Austen’s classic romantic comedy, Emma, is joyously reimagined for the 21st century at Rose Theatre Kingston.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
September 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Amazing precision movement and a surprising- and very enjoyable - encore. Not to be missed!

www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/review-...
Review: MURMURATION LEVEL 2, Sadeck Berrabah - Peacock Theatre | West End Best Friend
After a sold-out tour of France’s biggest venues, attracting over 300,000 spectators since its premiere, Sadeck Berrabah presents Murmuration Level 2 at London's Peacock Theatre.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
September 11, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Always a joy to see the quality of work produced by BYMT, and Eden Tredwell’s musical is impressively suited to its young cast

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Review: THE GLAMIFICATION OF LOKI, Southwark Playhouse | West End Best Friend
Presented by BYMT, The Glamification of Loki is a wildly entertaining new musical that combines Norse mythology with the dazzling world of beauty, glamour, and cosmic chaos.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
September 1, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Excellent physical theatre piece from Akimbo at Southwark Playhouse

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Review: THE ANIMATOR, Southwark Playhouse | West End Best Friend
Akimbo Theatre presents high energy physical theatre biopic, The Animator, at Southwark Playhouse Borough this month.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
August 24, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Excellent, pacey adaptation for this youth company with some surprisingly good verse speaking and superb fight scenes

www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/review-...
Review: ROMEO AND JULIET, Theatre Royal Stratford East | West End Best Friend
Weaving together Shakespeare's timeless words with music and dance, set against the east London skyline, Romeo and Juliet is currently playing at Theatre Royal Stratford East.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
August 9, 2025 at 5:39 PM
And some fascinating playbills…
Great event at the Lambeth Archives with the British Music Hall Society. Always excited to see anything on The Grecian Saloon in Shoreditch. #BritishMusicHallSociety #LambethArchives
August 7, 2025 at 9:35 PM