Lyn Gardner

West Midlands

Theater Writer and Associate Editor at The Stage

Lyn Gardner writes about theatre for The Stage & Digital Theatre. Reviews @StagedoorLDN Novels include the Olivia stage school series. [email protected]

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Articles

Lyn Gardner on Indhu Rubasingham's first NT season

1 week ago | thestage.co.uk | Lyn Gardner

OpinionIndhu Rubasingham, artistic director of the National Theatre (2025). Photo: Kalpesh LathigraNew work only enters the theatrical canon when it is widely revived and seen. There are many ways for Indhu Rubasingham to challenge the dominance of the old cultural hierarchies with her first NT season, says Lyn GardnerSupport The Stage by registering or subscribingTo continue reading this article you must be logged in. Register or login below to unlock 3 free articles every month.
Two Destination Language performance company

2 weeks ago | thestage.co.uk | Lyn Gardner

FeaturesMigrant and disabled-led performance company Two Destination Language is difficult to categorise, incorporating theatre, dance and art into its projects. Lyn Gardner speaks to co-founder Katherina Radeva about the company’s latest project, a unique take on the can-can Think of the can-can and most people’s minds turn to the Moulin Rouge, the Paris cabaret with claims to be the birthplace of the high-kicking dance.
Lyn Gardner on the political threats to arts funding bodies

2 weeks ago | thestage.co.uk | Lyn Gardner

OpinionFormer culture secretary Nadine Dorries and President Donald Trump. Photos: Chris McAndrew/ShutterstockTrump’s impact on the arts has emphasised the value of arm’s-length funding in the UK, says Lyn Gardner, but the culture sector may find itself asking whether ACE’s value has become more questionableSupport The Stage by registering or subscribingTo continue reading this article you must be logged in. Register or login below to unlock 3 free articles every month.
Lyn Gardner on why producing theatres are so important

3 weeks ago | thestage.co.uk | Lyn Gardner

OpinionEven in the current financial crisis, theatres including Leicester's Curve and Nottingham Playhouse have had artistic and financial successesProducing theatres do much more than they did 10 or 20 years ago, in the process redefining who and what they are for, says Lyn GardnerSupport The Stage by registering or subscribingTo continue reading this article you must be logged in. Register or login below to unlock 3 free articles every month.
National Theatre Public Acts choreographer Dan Canham interview

1 month ago | thestage.co.uk | Lyn Gardner

FeaturesDirector and choreographer Dan Canham tells Lyn Gardner about his route into performing and choreographing, working on the National Theatre’s latest Public Acts community-focused productionSupport The Stage by registering or subscribingTo continue reading this article you must be logged in. Register or login below to unlock 3 free articles every month. OR Or subscribe from just £7.99 and get unlimited access to thestage.co.uk. Remember Login
Lyn Gardner: Longevity in theatre requires talent, skill – and luck

1 month ago | thestage.co.uk | Lyn Gardner

OpinionDevoted and Disgruntled brings together people from across the theatre industry for three days of discussion. Photo: Chantal GuevaraLong careers in theatre require the right circumstances to flourish, says Lyn Gardner, but artists are now finding it impossible to launch careers, let alone sustain themSupport The Stage by registering or subscribingTo continue reading this article you must be logged in. Register or login below to unlock 3 free articles every month.
Time for the arts to look beyond ACE funding?

1 month ago | thestage.co.uk | Lyn Gardner

Is there a freedom in running an arts venue without accepting funding from Arts Council England? If you are Wigmore Hall, it certainly looks that way. Artistic director John Gilhooly announced last week that the concert venue is stepping away from the national portfolio and its £344,000 annual funding next April, because he believed that it would be “better off being independent”.
ACE must reform funding if theatre is to survive challenging landscape

1 month ago | thestage.co.uk | Lyn Gardner

But Parker makes the crucial point that “the decision shines a light on the inherent inequities in ACE’s multi-tier funding structure and the disparity of security between the NPO ‘haves’ and the project-funded ‘have-nots’. For those who have been preparing a bid in the hope of joining the portfolio for the first time, the news couldn’t be worse”.
EdFringe lottery will continue as long as opportunities remain limited for early-career artists

1 month ago | thestage.co.uk | Lyn Gardner

Shona McCarthy, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society’s outgoing chief executive who has always worn her emotions on her sleeve, has done an exit interview after 10 years. It landed as emails about Edinburgh-bound shows started arriving thick and fast. It is worrying then to note that the Keep It Fringe fund, offering 180 bursaries of £2,500 each, may not extend beyond this year if the monies cannot be found to fund it.
Scratch nights help performers carve out an industry opening

2 months ago | thestage.co.uk | Lyn Gardner

While actor Shakeel Haakim was a RADA student he worked front of house at the Apollo Theatre during the run of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy. He watched every night he was on duty. Then, in his final year of training, he made his professional debut in the show, winning the role of Pitch when the show returned to the West End last year. He went from front of house to being on stage.