Chris Abbott
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chrisabbott.bsky.social
Chris Abbott
@chrisabbott.bsky.social
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Theatre writer, reviewer for West End Best Friend. Pantomime enthusiast. Emeritus Reader, King's College London
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chrisabbott.bsky.social
David Benson’s portrayal of Kenneth Williams is as uncanny as ever

www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/review-...
Review: MY LIFE WITH KENNETH WILLIAMS, Circle & Star Theatre | West End Best Friend
To Hampstead Besties, and the Circle and Star Theatre above the Horseshoe Pub, a comfortable fringe venue well suited to the latest incarnation of David Benson’s homage to Kenneth Williams.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
January 25, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by Chris Abbott
musichallsociety.bsky.social
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
musichallsociety.bsky.social
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
rspb.bsky.social
'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.'
A plump Woodpigeon stands confidently at a bird bath, chest puffed out, looking slightly smug. Beside it, a glossy Starling with shimmering green and purple feathers sits lower down, tilting its head up as if deep in conversation. The two birds appear to be mid-chat, giving off the vibe of scheming pals casually plotting how to dodge being counted in the Big Garden Birdwatch.
January 17, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Chris Abbott
musichallsociety.bsky.social
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
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Very impressive!
musichallsociety.bsky.social British Music Hall Society @musichallsociety.bsky.social · Dec 22
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
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Excellent production and brings back memories of directing the same play two years ago

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Review: WHEN WE ARE MARRIED, The Donmar Warehouse | West End Best Friend
First seen in 1938, and set thirty years earlier, When we Are Married is a remarkable survivor from the age of the well-made play. It reappears every ten years or so in the West End, perhaps because...
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 7:20 PM
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Austentatious- always a hoot

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Review: AUSTENTATIOUS, Vaudeville Theatre | West End Best Friend
Award-winning West End smash-hit comedy Austentatious saw Stephen Mangan join the cast for one performance only last night.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 5:58 PM
chrisabbott.bsky.social
I greatly enjoyed talking to Steve!

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WEBF Panto Profile: Performer and scenic artist STEVE ARNOTT | West End Best Friend
For our second Panto Profile this year, we spoke to veteran performer – and scenic artist – Steve Arnott, currently appearing as Sheriff of Nottingham at New Wimbledon Theatre’s Robin Hood.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 8:53 PM
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Andrew Pollard is my first Panto Profile for WEBF

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WEBF Panto Profile: Writer, director and actor ANDREW POLLARD | West End Best Friend
Besties, we’ve been talking to some of the most experienced panto performers and writers in the UK, and we started with writer, director and panto dame Andrew Pollard, appearing at the Victoria Theatr...
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 9:59 PM
chrisabbott.bsky.social
First Panto of the year - and a stunner, not to be missed.

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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
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Joyful and beautifully designed

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Review: WENDY AND PETER PAN, RSC Barbican | West End Best Friend
The Royal Shakespeare Company have presented Peter Pan before, but in a production which followed closely J. M. Barrie’s original play but added a Storyteller. This revival of Ella Hickson’s 2013 ad...
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by Chris Abbott
adamharrison1956.bsky.social
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
adamharrison1956.bsky.social
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
adamharrison1956.bsky.social
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
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Fascinating account of a staggering life event

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Review: AN ACCIDENT / A LIFE, Marc Brew/Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui - Sadler’s Wells East | West End Best Friend
Marc Brew and world renowned choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui bring their stunning collaboration to London for the first time.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
September 26, 2025 at 10:18 PM
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Thoughtful approach and some great acting

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Review: ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE, Young Vic | West End Best Friend
Nadia Fall launches her first season as Young Vic Artistic Director with Entertaining Mr Sloane, Joe Orton’s 1964 cult classic brimming with manipulation, seduction, and a devilish wit.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
September 25, 2025 at 10:29 PM
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Fun update of Austen’s Emma - we enjoyed it as did the youngish packed house

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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
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Another fascinating discovery from @finboroughtheatre.bsky.social

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Review: THE TRUTH ABOUT BLAYDS, Finborough Theatre | West End Best Friend
Currently playing at London's Finborough Theatre is the 1921 rediscovered modern classic, The Truth About Blayds.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
September 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Amazing precision movement and a surprising- and very enjoyable - encore. Not to be missed!

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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
chrisabbott.bsky.social
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
chrisabbott.bsky.social
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
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Excellent, pacey adaptation for this youth company with some surprisingly good verse speaking and superb fight scenes

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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
chrisabbott.bsky.social
And some fascinating playbills…
eilidhdaisy.bsky.social Dr Eilidh Innes @eilidhdaisy.bsky.social · Aug 7
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
chrisabbott.bsky.social
Phenomenal leading performance and a new playwright is discovered

www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/review-...
Review: THE ESTATE, National Theatre | West End Best Friend
BAFTA winner Adeel Akhtar stars in The Estate at the National Theatre, a razor-sharp exploration of family, power and the lies we tell about ourselves.
www.westendbestfriend.co.uk
July 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM