Alun Hood
@ajhlovestheatre.bsky.social
Writer of scripts, theatre reviewer for WhatsOnStage, Musicals Magazine and my ajhlovestheatre blog. Critics Circle member. Runs a lot, eats a lot, over enthusiastic. https://ajhlovestheatre.org/blog/
He’s going to sing the holy sh!t out of it (and he’s got great hair)
Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar. NEXT summer’s London MT obsession. At the Palladium, where else?!
Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar. NEXT summer’s London MT obsession. At the Palladium, where else?!
November 7, 2025 at 8:49 AM
He’s going to sing the holy sh!t out of it (and he’s got great hair)
Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar. NEXT summer’s London MT obsession. At the Palladium, where else?!
Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar. NEXT summer’s London MT obsession. At the Palladium, where else?!
“Goodbye. Goodbye Shirley Valentine”
So sad to hear she’s left us.
My Mum took me to see Shirley Valentine in the West End when I was pretty young. We sat in the Vaudeville’s front row and Pauline Collins delivered one of her “kids, eh” asides straight at me. I was in love. #RIPPaulineCollins
So sad to hear she’s left us.
My Mum took me to see Shirley Valentine in the West End when I was pretty young. We sat in the Vaudeville’s front row and Pauline Collins delivered one of her “kids, eh” asides straight at me. I was in love. #RIPPaulineCollins
November 6, 2025 at 6:31 PM
“Goodbye. Goodbye Shirley Valentine”
So sad to hear she’s left us.
My Mum took me to see Shirley Valentine in the West End when I was pretty young. We sat in the Vaudeville’s front row and Pauline Collins delivered one of her “kids, eh” asides straight at me. I was in love. #RIPPaulineCollins
So sad to hear she’s left us.
My Mum took me to see Shirley Valentine in the West End when I was pretty young. We sat in the Vaudeville’s front row and Pauline Collins delivered one of her “kids, eh” asides straight at me. I was in love. #RIPPaulineCollins
Get yourself up to @parktheatrelondon.bsky.social - this new play is fab ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/04/t...
THE MEAT KINGS! (Inc) OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – last year’s Papatango prize winner is a real smasher
Photograph by Marc Douet THE MEAT KINGS! (Inc) OF BROOKLYN HEIGHTS by Hannah Doran directed by George Turvey Park Theatre, London – until 29 November 2025 running time: 2 hours 30 minutes inc…
ajhlovestheatre.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Get yourself up to @parktheatrelondon.bsky.social - this new play is fab ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/04/t...
Brilliantly played by the team at this new musical to release images of the beloved titular character just as they do their first preview. Paddington is Paddington-ing beautifully. I have got something in my eye. #Paddington #PaddingtonMusical
November 1, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Brilliantly played by the team at this new musical to release images of the beloved titular character just as they do their first preview. Paddington is Paddington-ing beautifully. I have got something in my eye. #Paddington #PaddingtonMusical
Off to the Donmar for THE MAIDS - and just worked out that this’ll be the 130th production I’ve seen there. How the hell did that happen?! 🤔❤️
November 1, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Off to the Donmar for THE MAIDS - and just worked out that this’ll be the 130th production I’ve seen there. How the hell did that happen?! 🤔❤️
ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/01/c... - get yourself to the Arcola if you’ve got the stomach for it #CrocodileFever
CROCODILE FEVER – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – buckle up, this Northern Irish sisters black comedy is a wild ride
Meghan Tyler and Rachael Rooney, photograph by Ikin Yum CROCODILE FEVER by Meghan Tyler directed by Mehmet Ergen Arcola Theatre, London – until 22 November 2025 running time: 2 hours includin…
ajhlovestheatre.org
November 1, 2025 at 12:23 AM
ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/11/01/c... - get yourself to the Arcola if you’ve got the stomach for it #CrocodileFever
Enjoyable to see the first two Richard Hannay’s from the original West End run of The 39 Steps onstage together in the Almeida’s The Line Of Beauty. Charles Edwards (who subsequently played Hannay om Broadway) and Robert Portal. Both ageing like fine wines.
October 31, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Enjoyable to see the first two Richard Hannay’s from the original West End run of The 39 Steps onstage together in the Almeida’s The Line Of Beauty. Charles Edwards (who subsequently played Hannay om Broadway) and Robert Portal. Both ageing like fine wines.
Absolutely over the moon that The Old Vic is giving us another chance to see Stoppard’s ARCADIA next year. It’s a dazzlingly brilliant play, thought-provoking and often hilarious, with the most extraordinary emotional gut punch at its conclusion. Cannot wait.
October 29, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Absolutely over the moon that The Old Vic is giving us another chance to see Stoppard’s ARCADIA next year. It’s a dazzlingly brilliant play, thought-provoking and often hilarious, with the most extraordinary emotional gut punch at its conclusion. Cannot wait.
Obviously she’ll always be remembered for Sibyl, and rightly so, but anybody who saw Prunella Scales as Coral Browne and QE2 in the West End transfer of Alan Bennett’s Single Spies knew they were watching greatness. Phenomenal performance.
October 28, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Obviously she’ll always be remembered for Sibyl, and rightly so, but anybody who saw Prunella Scales as Coral Browne and QE2 in the West End transfer of Alan Bennett’s Single Spies knew they were watching greatness. Phenomenal performance.
RIP Prunella Scales. Always one of my favourites, a fabulous actress, utterly brilliant at comedy and tragedy, and a lovely woman by all accounts. Condolences to Samuel, Joseph and family.
October 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
RIP Prunella Scales. Always one of my favourites, a fabulous actress, utterly brilliant at comedy and tragedy, and a lovely woman by all accounts. Condolences to Samuel, Joseph and family.
Absolutely loved John Proctor Is The Villain on Broadway, and it will play like a dream (nightmare) at the Royal Court- this whole season announcement is an absolute triumph. A play about cannibalism?! New Ryan Calais Cameron, Swinton, Oldman, co-prod with Sherman…. EVERYTHING sounds like a must-see
October 28, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Absolutely loved John Proctor Is The Villain on Broadway, and it will play like a dream (nightmare) at the Royal Court- this whole season announcement is an absolute triumph. A play about cannibalism?! New Ryan Calais Cameron, Swinton, Oldman, co-prod with Sherman…. EVERYTHING sounds like a must-see
Great to see @LynetteLinton doing so well in #BBTAs last night, picking up Best Director for Donmar’s exquisite INTIMATE APPAREL and Best Play Production for West transfer of magical Shifters from the Bush Theatre. Huge congratulations, great evening. Those actual awards are HEAVY though😳
October 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Great to see @LynetteLinton doing so well in #BBTAs last night, picking up Best Director for Donmar’s exquisite INTIMATE APPAREL and Best Play Production for West transfer of magical Shifters from the Bush Theatre. Huge congratulations, great evening. Those actual awards are HEAVY though😳
Fabulous night at #BlackBritishTheatreAwards last night. The sense of community, love and mutual respect in the room is so moving. Here’s co-founder Omar Okai with the roof raising current Lady Marmalades of Moulin Rouge West End ❤️🖤#BBTA
October 27, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Fabulous night at #BlackBritishTheatreAwards last night. The sense of community, love and mutual respect in the room is so moving. Here’s co-founder Omar Okai with the roof raising current Lady Marmalades of Moulin Rouge West End ❤️🖤#BBTA
The only thing more delightful than her own surprise at winning Best Actress in a Play at last night’s #BBTAs was the way #BeverleyKnight bigged up her co-star #NtombizodwaNdlovu. Can’t wait to see them both in #MarieAndRosetta next year @sohoplacelondon
October 27, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The only thing more delightful than her own surprise at winning Best Actress in a Play at last night’s #BBTAs was the way #BeverleyKnight bigged up her co-star #NtombizodwaNdlovu. Can’t wait to see them both in #MarieAndRosetta next year @sohoplacelondon
Love and luck to all the nominees (and ultimate winners) at the #BBTAs tonight. Excited to be there to support my fab friend Nicola Blackman as she wins her Lifetime Achievement award. So well deserved ❤️
October 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Love and luck to all the nominees (and ultimate winners) at the #BBTAs tonight. Excited to be there to support my fab friend Nicola Blackman as she wins her Lifetime Achievement award. So well deserved ❤️
Really liked #TheAssembledParties at Hampstead Theatre - here’s my review ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/10/26/t...
THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – if Chekhov was a New Yorker he might have written this bittersweet gem
Tracy-Ann Oberman and Jennifer Westfeldt, photograph by Helen Murray THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES by Richard Greenberg directed by Blanche McIntyre Hampstead Theatre, London – until 22 Novembe…
ajhlovestheatre.org
October 26, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Really liked #TheAssembledParties at Hampstead Theatre - here’s my review ajhlovestheatre.org/2025/10/26/t...
Gotta say, watching BOG WITCH and HOT MESS on consecutive nights feels pretty bleak, environmentally speaking. 😳🌎
Blimey though Danielle Steers is a proper star isn’t she. I mean, I think I knew that before, but I guess I’d forgotten.
Blimey though Danielle Steers is a proper star isn’t she. I mean, I think I knew that before, but I guess I’d forgotten.
October 17, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Gotta say, watching BOG WITCH and HOT MESS on consecutive nights feels pretty bleak, environmentally speaking. 😳🌎
Blimey though Danielle Steers is a proper star isn’t she. I mean, I think I knew that before, but I guess I’d forgotten.
Blimey though Danielle Steers is a proper star isn’t she. I mean, I think I knew that before, but I guess I’d forgotten.
Went up to Soho Theatre Walthamstow for the first time last night. Astonishing venue….plus a very good show www.whatsonstage.com/news/bryony-...
Bryony Kimmings’ Bog Witch at Soho Theatre Walthamstow – review
Marking the playwright and performer’s first solo show in half a decade, the piece runs until 25 October
www.whatsonstage.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Went up to Soho Theatre Walthamstow for the first time last night. Astonishing venue….plus a very good show www.whatsonstage.com/news/bryony-...
2026 is the year of CATS! Voguing on Broadway AND outdoors in Regents Park. It’s one of my favourite shows, so no complaints here. 😊😻
October 14, 2025 at 12:28 PM
2026 is the year of CATS! Voguing on Broadway AND outdoors in Regents Park. It’s one of my favourite shows, so no complaints here. 😊😻
