Matt Barton
@matt-barton.bsky.social
Grumpy. Heartthrob. Critic in the Financial Times / The Observer / The Stage / WhatsOnStage / Mill Media / Exeunt
My weekend began with a 1,353-word email from the director of the show I reviewed in the FT this week, which began like this (below), went on to say I’m not fit to clean the boots of the production team, and concluded by saying “Yours is a remarkably ugly contribution to the world.” Happy Saturday
November 22, 2025 at 1:24 PM
My weekend began with a 1,353-word email from the director of the show I reviewed in the FT this week, which began like this (below), went on to say I’m not fit to clean the boots of the production team, and concluded by saying “Yours is a remarkably ugly contribution to the world.” Happy Saturday
Glad to have caught the penultimate perf of this (well, the last one before they perform it at actual 4:48am). It managed to make a long, oblique howl feel naturally conversational and direct. Contemplative but studded with dark bite. “Remember the light and believe the light”
July 26, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Glad to have caught the penultimate perf of this (well, the last one before they perform it at actual 4:48am). It managed to make a long, oblique howl feel naturally conversational and direct. Contemplative but studded with dark bite. “Remember the light and believe the light”
Catching up on Liberation (or, as it’s otherwise known, Manchester International Festival’s entire theatre programme for 2025)
July 24, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Catching up on Liberation (or, as it’s otherwise known, Manchester International Festival’s entire theatre programme for 2025)
Looking forward to making another cameo giving a wordless but expressive review of host Jason Manford
December 11, 2024 at 10:59 AM
Looking forward to making another cameo giving a wordless but expressive review of host Jason Manford