Paul Vale
@paulev.bsky.social
Theatre critic and feature writer. Also have a passion for painting, swimming and cocktails. Views my own.
Heading home after the gala performance of The Talented Mr Ripley @richmondtheatre.bsky.social - brilliant work all round, not least the talented Mr McVey
November 10, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Heading home after the gala performance of The Talented Mr Ripley @richmondtheatre.bsky.social - brilliant work all round, not least the talented Mr McVey
Make the trip out to see this! You won’t regret it!
★★★★ Review: Charley’s Aunt – Rob Madge’s reinvention of the classic British farce is pitch-perfect.
Read The Stage's review 👇
Read The Stage's review 👇
Charley's Aunt at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury: bursting with energy
Read our review of Charley's Aunt at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury: Rob Madge’s reinvention of the classic British farce is pitch-perfect
www.thestage.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Make the trip out to see this! You won’t regret it!
As part of what I am now calling my Adaptation Weekend, I am now heading to Woking to catch the tour of The Talented Mr Ripley. Last night I skipped over to Richmond for Death On The Nile, which sadly wasn’t playing on a luxury paddle steamer down the Thames.
October 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM
As part of what I am now calling my Adaptation Weekend, I am now heading to Woking to catch the tour of The Talented Mr Ripley. Last night I skipped over to Richmond for Death On The Nile, which sadly wasn’t playing on a luxury paddle steamer down the Thames.
Heading into the West End for the The Stage Debut Awards - the annual event that celebrates the achievements of people new to the industry. There’s always such good buzz at this do. Best of luck to all the nominees. Julian Clary is hosting so anything is possible.
September 28, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Heading into the West End for the The Stage Debut Awards - the annual event that celebrates the achievements of people new to the industry. There’s always such good buzz at this do. Best of luck to all the nominees. Julian Clary is hosting so anything is possible.
Well Spook at the London Performance Studio is a hoot! Very funny and ripe for a full-on production if you ask me! Nice to see @thisisAlanTurk in full-on frustrated cleric mode!
September 4, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Well Spook at the London Performance Studio is a hoot! Very funny and ripe for a full-on production if you ask me! Nice to see @thisisAlanTurk in full-on frustrated cleric mode!
So many worthy nominees on here. It’s going to be a tough call.
Rachel Zegler and Giant playwright Mark Rosenblatt are among more than 40 nominees for The Stage Debut Awards in association with Netflix, which will be presented on September 28.
Read more here 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/news/the...
Read more here 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/news/the...
August 21, 2025 at 6:05 AM
So many worthy nominees on here. It’s going to be a tough call.
Or just have an adventure of your own. The energy of the Fringe is still amazing and the beauty of this city, inspirational. The Stage team Natasha Tripney Lyn Gardner, Fergus Morgan and Rachel Chambers have all helped me navigate my 10th year at the Ed Fringe, for which I am eternally grateful.
August 15, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Or just have an adventure of your own. The energy of the Fringe is still amazing and the beauty of this city, inspirational. The Stage team Natasha Tripney Lyn Gardner, Fergus Morgan and Rachel Chambers have all helped me navigate my 10th year at the Ed Fringe, for which I am eternally grateful.
Heading home from the Ed Fringe. As ever, it’s been a real adventure. The Fringe continues for another week, so these shows were favourites :-
Footballer’s Wives - The Musical
Hot Mess
DYKE Systems Ltd
Jeezus!!
No Apologies
A Jaffa Cake Musical
Orpheus
Jonny Woo: Suburbia
Edie
Dreamscape
Footballer’s Wives - The Musical
Hot Mess
DYKE Systems Ltd
Jeezus!!
No Apologies
A Jaffa Cake Musical
Orpheus
Jonny Woo: Suburbia
Edie
Dreamscape
August 15, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Heading home from the Ed Fringe. As ever, it’s been a real adventure. The Fringe continues for another week, so these shows were favourites :-
Footballer’s Wives - The Musical
Hot Mess
DYKE Systems Ltd
Jeezus!!
No Apologies
A Jaffa Cake Musical
Orpheus
Jonny Woo: Suburbia
Edie
Dreamscape
Footballer’s Wives - The Musical
Hot Mess
DYKE Systems Ltd
Jeezus!!
No Apologies
A Jaffa Cake Musical
Orpheus
Jonny Woo: Suburbia
Edie
Dreamscape
Actual footage of me today…
August 4, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Actual footage of me today…
I have arrived in Edinburgh, after a mercifully easy journey. Lovely staff on the @lner.co.uk Now waiting for the keys to the flat. Can’t wait to unpack and head out. It’s a three-show day today.
August 1, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I have arrived in Edinburgh, after a mercifully easy journey. Lovely staff on the @lner.co.uk Now waiting for the keys to the flat. Can’t wait to unpack and head out. It’s a three-show day today.
Wow! Tonight I’m going to be back from the theatre on the same day that I left the house. Just. That’s a first this week!
July 25, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Wow! Tonight I’m going to be back from the theatre on the same day that I left the house. Just. That’s a first this week!
In what has been an eventful couple of weeks, I’m heading out to Chichester now for Top Hat. It’s certainly Cheek To Cheek on this train!
July 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
In what has been an eventful couple of weeks, I’m heading out to Chichester now for Top Hat. It’s certainly Cheek To Cheek on this train!
I really loved this show. It had such a great energy to it.
★★★★ Review: Sing Street – Uplifting movie adaptation that successfully taps into the spirit of the 1980s 👇
Sing Street review at Lyric Hammersmith, London: uplifting musical
Read our review of Sing Street at the Lyric Hammersmith: running on a full tank of hope and rebellion, this movie adaptation taps into the spirit of the 1980s
www.thestage.co.uk
July 21, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I really loved this show. It had such a great energy to it.
Mmmm. This is ‘a 3 show day across town at the Edinburgh Fringe’ weather!
July 19, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Mmmm. This is ‘a 3 show day across town at the Edinburgh Fringe’ weather!
I really didn’t like Jamie Lloyd’s Sunset Boulevard and will bore many generations as to why. But in my opinion Evita is a very different kettle of fish. A modern envisioning of the concept album with a stunning lead in Rachel Zegler. Brilliant work! Go see, or join the descamisados on the streets!
July 8, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I really didn’t like Jamie Lloyd’s Sunset Boulevard and will bore many generations as to why. But in my opinion Evita is a very different kettle of fish. A modern envisioning of the concept album with a stunning lead in Rachel Zegler. Brilliant work! Go see, or join the descamisados on the streets!
I thought this was an incredible production
★★★★★ Review: Jesus Christ Superstar – Visceral, inventive revival that plays to the strengths of the intimate venue 👇
Jesus Christ Superstar review at the Watermill: Ambitious and inventive
Read our review of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Watermill Theatre: Visceral, inventive Lloyd Webber revival that plays to the strengths of the intimate venue
www.thestage.co.uk
July 4, 2025 at 10:53 AM
I thought this was an incredible production
Legging it down the the @watermilltheatre.bsky.social for the other big Webber/Rice opening of the week. I first saw Jesus Christ, Superstar at the Palace on a church trip in the 1970s. My first West End show.
July 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Legging it down the the @watermilltheatre.bsky.social for the other big Webber/Rice opening of the week. I first saw Jesus Christ, Superstar at the Palace on a church trip in the 1970s. My first West End show.
This afternoon I have landed in Manchester for a matinee performance of Come Fall In Love . Sorry Manchester. Too late :-)
June 12, 2025 at 12:36 PM
This afternoon I have landed in Manchester for a matinee performance of Come Fall In Love . Sorry Manchester. Too late :-)
Well The Empire Strips Back is completely nuts. Who knew that the Emperor Palpatine dancing naked on a glitter-studded Death Star to Wrecking Ball was what I needed?
May 16, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Well The Empire Strips Back is completely nuts. Who knew that the Emperor Palpatine dancing naked on a glitter-studded Death Star to Wrecking Ball was what I needed?
Tonight I’m heading to @riversidelondon.bsky.social for a little culture. The Empire Strips Back - a burlesque based on the Star Wars franchise. I’ve got a very good feeling about this.
May 16, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Tonight I’m heading to @riversidelondon.bsky.social for a little culture. The Empire Strips Back - a burlesque based on the Star Wars franchise. I’ve got a very good feeling about this.
Playing catch-up following the nuptials - should be back on track next week.
May 14, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Playing catch-up following the nuptials - should be back on track next week.
At Reading Rep tonight for Three Hens In A Boat. A distaff update on Jerome K Jerome and a collab between the Rep and @watermilltheatre.bsky.social
May 14, 2025 at 6:08 PM
At Reading Rep tonight for Three Hens In A Boat. A distaff update on Jerome K Jerome and a collab between the Rep and @watermilltheatre.bsky.social
Thoroughly enjoyed The Gang Of Three @kingsheadtheatre.bsky.social last night. A romp through 70s politics as seen through the eyes of Labour bigwigs Healey, Crossland and Jenkins. Lots of laughs along the way and yes, MPs are still arguing over the same stuff.
May 14, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Thoroughly enjoyed The Gang Of Three @kingsheadtheatre.bsky.social last night. A romp through 70s politics as seen through the eyes of Labour bigwigs Healey, Crossland and Jenkins. Lots of laughs along the way and yes, MPs are still arguing over the same stuff.
So here is our wedding day cocktail. The Lavender Marriage - 30ml Parfait Amour topped up with Prosecco, garnished with a band of gold.
May 6, 2025 at 8:48 AM
So here is our wedding day cocktail. The Lavender Marriage - 30ml Parfait Amour topped up with Prosecco, garnished with a band of gold.
