David Benedict
@eggsbened.bsky.social
Cultural talk and typing. And singing.
Biographer of Stephen Sondheim.
Variety, London theatre critic.
The Stage, Associate writer.
Tristram Hawkshaw in The Archers.
Somewhat gay.
Biographer of Stephen Sondheim.
Variety, London theatre critic.
The Stage, Associate writer.
Tristram Hawkshaw in The Archers.
Somewhat gay.
The current blizzard of coverage on Rachel Reeves vs. the leeway granted to Boris Johnson.
A reminder of how the BBC covered Boris Johnson's long record of lying, as being a "complicated relationship with the truth".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-poli...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-poli...
December 1, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The current blizzard of coverage on Rachel Reeves vs. the leeway granted to Boris Johnson.
Let joy be unconfined: The musical of Paddington is overflowing with warmth and outrageously funny performances and is going to be a marmalade-flavoured megahit. My @variety.com review: variety.com/2025/legit/r...
‘Paddington’ Review: A Furry, Funny, Fantastic Musical Comedy
With songs by Tom Fletcher, it's a show alive not only with joy but that vanishingly rare theatrical quality: completely beguiling charm.
variety.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Let joy be unconfined: The musical of Paddington is overflowing with warmth and outrageously funny performances and is going to be a marmalade-flavoured megahit. My @variety.com review: variety.com/2025/legit/r...
“This is only the beginning” is a phrase that may have a meaning rather different to the one intended.
Oh God I needed this so much right now. Good old fashioned funny chaos and farce instead of constant depression in politics.
Looking forward to them setting up their own rival parties.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Looking forward to them setting up their own rival parties.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana dropped as Your Party leaders
Members vote in favour of 'collective leadership' option, with a ‘lay’ chair – who cannot be an MP
www.independent.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 12:50 PM
“This is only the beginning” is a phrase that may have a meaning rather different to the one intended.
Cannot imagine why, with regard to this weekend’s conference, this springs to mind… youtu.be/ft_QfY16CxU
Lesley Gore - It's My Party (Music Video)
YouTube video by Vintage Uploads
youtu.be
November 30, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Cannot imagine why, with regard to this weekend’s conference, this springs to mind… youtu.be/ft_QfY16CxU
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen
Bette Midler
Shirley MacLaine
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Martha Argerich
Pat Metheny
Bette Midler
Shirley MacLaine
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Martha Argerich
Pat Metheny
November 30, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen
Bette Midler
Shirley MacLaine
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Martha Argerich
Pat Metheny
Bette Midler
Shirley MacLaine
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Martha Argerich
Pat Metheny
A lovely piece by Tom Stoppard, written ten years ago, on his pre-playwriting days as a journalist on local papers. Commissioned by @simonohagan.bsky.social, it’s a warm and generous read. www.independent.co.uk/news/media/p...
Hot off the press: The playwrights, novelists and broadcasters who
Tom Stoppard, Jeremy Vine and Linda Grant all cut their teeth on the locals
www.independent.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 6:09 AM
A lovely piece by Tom Stoppard, written ten years ago, on his pre-playwriting days as a journalist on local papers. Commissioned by @simonohagan.bsky.social, it’s a warm and generous read. www.independent.co.uk/news/media/p...
Tom Stoppard has died aged 88. His masterpiece is undoubtedly Arcadia - which is being revived early next year at The Old Vic - but for our delight and dazzlement, please can someone revive his blissfully funny The Real Inspector Hound?
Meanwhile, rewatch Brazil for which he wrote the screenplay.
Meanwhile, rewatch Brazil for which he wrote the screenplay.
November 29, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Tom Stoppard has died aged 88. His masterpiece is undoubtedly Arcadia - which is being revived early next year at The Old Vic - but for our delight and dazzlement, please can someone revive his blissfully funny The Real Inspector Hound?
Meanwhile, rewatch Brazil for which he wrote the screenplay.
Meanwhile, rewatch Brazil for which he wrote the screenplay.
(Almost) Waterloo Sunset. Bermondsey, actually.
A series.
#nofilter
#lighting #lightingdesign
#reasonstolovelondon
A series.
#nofilter
#lighting #lightingdesign
#reasonstolovelondon
November 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
(Almost) Waterloo Sunset. Bermondsey, actually.
A series.
#nofilter
#lighting #lightingdesign
#reasonstolovelondon
A series.
#nofilter
#lighting #lightingdesign
#reasonstolovelondon
Reposted by David Benedict
Reform UK Party Ltd spent £700,000 on a 2-page spread — one page being just an image of Farage and the other a letter, meaning he spent £350,000 on pictures of himself.
The average UK house price is £272,000.
Also, the ‘full English’ is badly photoshopped on — it's tiny!
The average UK house price is £272,000.
Also, the ‘full English’ is badly photoshopped on — it's tiny!
November 28, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Reform UK Party Ltd spent £700,000 on a 2-page spread — one page being just an image of Farage and the other a letter, meaning he spent £350,000 on pictures of himself.
The average UK house price is £272,000.
Also, the ‘full English’ is badly photoshopped on — it's tiny!
The average UK house price is £272,000.
Also, the ‘full English’ is badly photoshopped on — it's tiny!
Reposted by David Benedict
Just 13k more signatures and the call for a public inquiry into Russian interference has to be debate in Parliament
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 28, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Just 13k more signatures and the call for a public inquiry into Russian interference has to be debate in Parliament
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Returning home from Lidl (oh, the glamour) and glancing out across the landing…
#lighting #lightingdesign
#reasonstolovelondon
#lighting #lightingdesign
#reasonstolovelondon
November 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Returning home from Lidl (oh, the glamour) and glancing out across the landing…
#lighting #lightingdesign
#reasonstolovelondon
#lighting #lightingdesign
#reasonstolovelondon
Reposted by David Benedict
As Jesus once put it: "what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and then have to pay the mansion tax?"
November 28, 2025 at 12:11 PM
As Jesus once put it: "what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and then have to pay the mansion tax?"
Reposted by David Benedict
I admit it, I'm no theologian, and yet…
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I admit it, I'm no theologian, and yet…
Reposted by David Benedict
The black hole in Durham County Council’s budget has grown by £11.1mn in the past two months under the control of Reform UK.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Reform cabinet backs £10mn cuts to start filling Durham’s growing black hole
Reform is now learning that running a big council is not as easy as it probably thought
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 7:16 AM
The black hole in Durham County Council’s budget has grown by £11.1mn in the past two months under the control of Reform UK.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
‘Farage … has said: “I have never, directly really, tried to go and hurt anybody.” And also: “I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.” I suppose meaning that, if he did indeed hiss like gas at his Jewish classmates, he meant it nicely.’
Nailed.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Nailed.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Was Nigel Farage a bit of a Nazi? Only he knows
The Reform leader was a teenager when he made crass remarks but we’re entitled to ask a would-be prime minister what lay behind them
www.thetimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:07 AM
‘Farage … has said: “I have never, directly really, tried to go and hurt anybody.” And also: “I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.” I suppose meaning that, if he did indeed hiss like gas at his Jewish classmates, he meant it nicely.’
Nailed.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Nailed.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Reposted by David Benedict
From January 2026, The Stage will no longer appear as a weekly newspaper but rather as a monthly magazine designed for deeper reading, says Alistair Smith.
Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/...
Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/...
November 27, 2025 at 8:02 AM
From January 2026, The Stage will no longer appear as a weekly newspaper but rather as a monthly magazine designed for deeper reading, says Alistair Smith.
Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/...
Read more 👉 www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/...
After seeing Ann Hampton Callaway* on frankly spectacular form at Brasserie Zedel - there are a few tickets left for Saturday: grab them! - I saw my most coveted poster there. I want it badly.
*Worth the ticket price for her singing and playing of Carole King’s Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
*Worth the ticket price for her singing and playing of Carole King’s Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
November 26, 2025 at 11:35 PM
After seeing Ann Hampton Callaway* on frankly spectacular form at Brasserie Zedel - there are a few tickets left for Saturday: grab them! - I saw my most coveted poster there. I want it badly.
*Worth the ticket price for her singing and playing of Carole King’s Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
*Worth the ticket price for her singing and playing of Carole King’s Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
“You’ll be visited by three spirits…”
November 26, 2025 at 6:08 PM
“You’ll be visited by three spirits…”
Reposted by David Benedict
This is beyond…
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
Quando Quando - Kessler twins - HD HQ - Scopitone
YouTube video by Marcelo Blanco Pinball
m.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:49 AM
This is beyond…
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
Reposted by David Benedict
🚨BOOM!! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 50,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
🚨BOOM!! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 50,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
This is beyond…
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
Quando Quando - Kessler twins - HD HQ - Scopitone
YouTube video by Marcelo Blanco Pinball
m.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:49 AM
This is beyond…
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
3 minutes of astonishment putting pay to the notion that Germans have no sense of humour.
On a sadder note, its devoted stars Alice and Ellen Kessler – The Kessler Twins – chose to die last week by joint assisted death. They were 89. RIP.
#artdirection
m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoX...
Reposted by David Benedict
If he can't remember, how does he know he wasn't doing this "with intent"?
November 26, 2025 at 7:52 AM
If he can't remember, how does he know he wasn't doing this "with intent"?
Reposted by David Benedict
This is an incredibly powerful article by Peter Ettedgui. I hope people listen to him and to the others who are brave enough to come forward.
November 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
This is an incredibly powerful article by Peter Ettedgui. I hope people listen to him and to the others who are brave enough to come forward.
Reposted by David Benedict
If multiple people can remember someone being horribly racist, even by the appalling low bar of the racist 1970s, that is entirely noteworthy.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If multiple people can remember someone being horribly racist, even by the appalling low bar of the racist 1970s, that is entirely noteworthy.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
Reposted by David Benedict
Critical viewing:
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
Art of the review
Cultural criticism: Pleasures and pains of arts reviewing
www.gold.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Critical viewing:
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
I'm teaming up with Arifa Akbar (Guardian) @timdelisle.bsky.social (Mail on Sunday) Lisa O'Kelly (The Nerve) and chair Terry Kirby for a panel discussion on the pleasures and pains of arts criticism.
Tues 25 Nov
4.30pm @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...