Joe Venable
@joevenable.bsky.social
I write about theatre, art and literature. Occasionally also politics and climate. upstartjoe.substack.com. he/him
This is just so cringe from @sadlerswells.bsky.social, V&A, National Gallery & British Museum. "Please stop being mean about us whitewashing horrible companies." These are the most powerful, privileged people in the arts. Get principles. Stop whingeing.
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/06/04/u...
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/06/04/u...
UK national museums back call for end to ‘relentless negativity’ around corporate arts sponsorship
The British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and The National Gallery have signed a public letter authored by the co-chief executives of Sadler’s Wells
www.theartnewspaper.com
June 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM
This is just so cringe from @sadlerswells.bsky.social, V&A, National Gallery & British Museum. "Please stop being mean about us whitewashing horrible companies." These are the most powerful, privileged people in the arts. Get principles. Stop whingeing.
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/06/04/u...
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/06/04/u...
Love to see BBC Chairman Samir Shah getting roasted by his own site's poll 😂 #motd #bbcfootball #bbc #premierleague
March 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Love to see BBC Chairman Samir Shah getting roasted by his own site's poll 😂 #motd #bbcfootball #bbc #premierleague
A post about Starmer's decision to cut foreign aid - one of the most shameful days in the history of the Labour party.
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
Keir Starmer's Bombshell Plan to Buy More Bombshells
He's out to shaft the world's poorest people in a 'Live Laugh Love' baseball cap.
open.substack.com
February 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM
A post about Starmer's decision to cut foreign aid - one of the most shameful days in the history of the Labour party.
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
depends how you look at it i guess
February 5, 2025 at 11:00 PM
depends how you look at it i guess
Reposted by Joe Venable
A controversial playwriting contest that was criticised for encouraging the "myth that anybody can write a play" is to return this year 👇 #TheatreNews #TheatreSky
Controversial 'Play Lottery' returns with monthly London contest
The Play Lottery, which randomly selects an hour-long script for performance from an open submissions slot, will bring new work to audiences at Camden's The Libra theatre cafe once a month throughout 2025
www.thestage.co.uk
February 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM
A controversial playwriting contest that was criticised for encouraging the "myth that anybody can write a play" is to return this year 👇 #TheatreNews #TheatreSky
What a flat ending to #traitorsuk. Didn't expect the giddy heights of season 2, but to be so predictable, and end up with someone as snarky as Leanne winning, killed the vibe. Poor judgements by producers - not least extending to 70 minutes despite knowing they had nothing to offer! #thetraitors
January 24, 2025 at 10:37 PM
What a flat ending to #traitorsuk. Didn't expect the giddy heights of season 2, but to be so predictable, and end up with someone as snarky as Leanne winning, killed the vibe. Poor judgements by producers - not least extending to 70 minutes despite knowing they had nothing to offer! #thetraitors
Great quote from the Reform UK candidates who are resigning in protest at Farage today - but "either incompetent or malevolent"? Why not both??
January 10, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Great quote from the Reform UK candidates who are resigning in protest at Farage today - but "either incompetent or malevolent"? Why not both??
Today I argue that everyone is going to be a vegetarian soon and you're at risk of looking like an absolute muggins if you miss the boat. Climb aboard! 🐄
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
December 17, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Today I argue that everyone is going to be a vegetarian soon and you're at risk of looking like an absolute muggins if you miss the boat. Climb aboard! 🐄
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
Just told my wife I felt like I shot myself in the foot and she said "Well where else would you have been shod?". Honestly it is a laugh a minute in this house.
December 9, 2024 at 1:14 PM
Just told my wife I felt like I shot myself in the foot and she said "Well where else would you have been shod?". Honestly it is a laugh a minute in this house.
It's clear we'll need radical changes across society to stop the abuse scandals we keep hearing about (not to mention the vast majority that never get revealed).
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
November 19, 2024 at 7:14 PM
It's clear we'll need radical changes across society to stop the abuse scandals we keep hearing about (not to mention the vast majority that never get revealed).
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
As usual, all of the other writers are wrong and I, alone, am right.
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
November 14, 2024 at 8:16 PM
As usual, all of the other writers are wrong and I, alone, am right.
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
I love a charity leaflet where they're just one comma away from being sociopathic.
November 13, 2024 at 2:42 PM
I love a charity leaflet where they're just one comma away from being sociopathic.
Honestly I don't think FDR realised how scary fear is. Literally the scariest thing I can think of.
November 5, 2024 at 4:22 PM
Honestly I don't think FDR realised how scary fear is. Literally the scariest thing I can think of.
Britain had our election on America's special firework day (July 4th), America is having its election on our special firework day (November 5th). Does this mean something? Is this special relationship or quiet declaration of war? Would be nice to know.
November 5, 2024 at 3:32 PM
Britain had our election on America's special firework day (July 4th), America is having its election on our special firework day (November 5th). Does this mean something? Is this special relationship or quiet declaration of war? Would be nice to know.
I've long felt podcasts are reducing the quality of our political discourse; Joe Rogan's recent forays have made me more certain. Lots of thoughts over on Substack - would love to hear comments on the merits or demerits of podcasts!
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
November 4, 2024 at 5:15 PM
I've long felt podcasts are reducing the quality of our political discourse; Joe Rogan's recent forays have made me more certain. Lots of thoughts over on Substack - would love to hear comments on the merits or demerits of podcasts!
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
open.substack.com/pub/upstartj...
An unusually aggressive bit from me about assisted dying, which could become law this year. Do read and share if you have the chance.
October 17, 2024 at 4:31 PM
An unusually aggressive bit from me about assisted dying, which could become law this year. Do read and share if you have the chance.
They say Inuits have 50 words for snow, but how many words do spiders have for winking? Is it just seven, or are there multiple ones for specific eye combinations?
October 11, 2024 at 9:55 PM
They say Inuits have 50 words for snow, but how many words do spiders have for winking? Is it just seven, or are there multiple ones for specific eye combinations?
Does anyone know what it's called when you use a sentence to spell out an easy way to remember something? Like "My Nasty English Mistress Offers No Ice Cream"? Trying to think of the word.
October 11, 2024 at 12:04 AM
Does anyone know what it's called when you use a sentence to spell out an easy way to remember something? Like "My Nasty English Mistress Offers No Ice Cream"? Trying to think of the word.
I keep getting ads that say "Emma Raducanu's Bikini Pictures Are Inappropriate Even For Adults", and I'm like, uh... if they're inappropriate even for adults, who are you advertising them to? You've decimated your audience there mate.
October 10, 2024 at 3:21 PM
I keep getting ads that say "Emma Raducanu's Bikini Pictures Are Inappropriate Even For Adults", and I'm like, uh... if they're inappropriate even for adults, who are you advertising them to? You've decimated your audience there mate.
"The Conservative party boasting about its record on women is a bit like dogs boasting about their record on skateboarding: with some spectacular exceptions, this is not something they are good at."
My thoughts on gender, all-women shortlists and the #ToryLeadership - at upstartjoe.substack.com
My thoughts on gender, all-women shortlists and the #ToryLeadership - at upstartjoe.substack.com
October 8, 2024 at 4:51 PM
"The Conservative party boasting about its record on women is a bit like dogs boasting about their record on skateboarding: with some spectacular exceptions, this is not something they are good at."
My thoughts on gender, all-women shortlists and the #ToryLeadership - at upstartjoe.substack.com
My thoughts on gender, all-women shortlists and the #ToryLeadership - at upstartjoe.substack.com