About

Curious Theatre Guide is for people who want to look beyond whether they liked a performance and notice how it works. We explore plays, acting, stagecraft and the experience of being in an audience, in language that fits a busy day.

What we cover

Our subjects include the shape of a scene, the work a gesture can do, the way a set suggests a place and the conventions that help audiences follow a live story. We also consider theatre history and the choices involved in approaching an unfamiliar performance. Each piece has its own question rather than trying to cover everything at once.

Who it is for

Readers may be regular theatregoers, occasional ticket-holders, students of performance or simply curious about what happens onstage. You do not need specialist vocabulary or a particular theatre background. The aim is to offer a useful way in, not a test of what you already know.

How we look

We pay attention to evidence visible in a play or performance and distinguish observation from interpretation. Where a subject allows more than one reading, we say so. Our writing offers ways to notice and think, rather than instructions about what a performance must mean.