David Jays

The battle to keep London's youth dancing The landscape for youth dance is uncertain, but a few strong voices and organisations are continuing to push for its teaching as a transformative performing art

Finally, a piece exploring youth dance in London, which I thought would become pessimistic (because funding, infrastructure) but the enthusiasm and smarts of the youngers are infectious
www.standard.co.uk/culture/danc...

Also kind of loved this batshit crazy show last week
www.standard.co.uk/culture/danc...

Songs of the Bulbul at Sadler’s Wells East review: tumultuous and cinematic With chords crashing and vocals soaring, it feels like a finale erupts every five minutes

Anyway here's my latest tabloid dance gubbins - on Aakash Odedra's throbbingly vivid Songs of the Bulbul
www.standard.co.uk/culture/danc...

"I love your dance reviews," said someone at the theatre last night. "They’re so tabloid!" Which is... thank you?

‘I would go-go dance in a shower then work on sonnets!’ Ncuti Gatwa’s sexy new Shakespearean drama After surviving the whirlwind of Doctor Who, the actor returns to the stage in ‘horny Elizabethan drama’ Born With Teeth. He and co-star Edward Bluemel discuss bust lips, hot pants and queering the Ba...

‘I would go-go dance in a shower then work on sonnets!’ Ncuti Gatwa’s sexy new Shakespearean drama

Cheeky Gatwa talks to David Jays in @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

That image of the team is a wonderful time capsule of a photo

The play that changed my life: ‘Michael Gambon’s offstage anarchy as Falstaff made the show better’ When Elliot Levey was cast in Henry IV, Parts One and Two, he didn’t expect water-bombing, corpsing and a character redefined by new teeth

Elliot Levey is a terrific actor - and such a lovely writer. This is so good on sharing the stage with Michael Gambon's Falstaff: "It got to the point where I was permanently wet, we all were. Michael would throw a water bomb at me as I walked on stage."
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

I'm only sad that Edward Bluemel's love of fishmongery didn't make the edit: "I used to watch salmon filleting videos on YouTube late at night. And I love a pair of white wellies"

‘I would go-go dance in a shower then work on sonnets!’ Ncuti Gatwa’s sexy new Shakespearean drama After surviving the whirlwind of Doctor Who, the actor returns to the stage in ‘horny Elizabethan drama’ Born With Teeth. He and co-star Edward Bluemel discuss bust lips, hot pants and queering the Ba...

So this was fun: spoke to Ncuti Gatwa & Edward Bluemel about queering the classics, the best level of fame and Ncuti's student gig as a go-go dancer. (And a bit of Doctor Who obvs)
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

Also: "Other players are loud and expressive on court; Draper will say “Yup,” sharply, when an opponent’s shot lands out, and otherwise grunts and gasps in a mostly private way, like someone fixing a pipe under a sink."

Everything Sam Knight writes is golden. He's gleefully good on Jack Draper: "In person, he is large-limbed but contained. He is a jock who might have got a little fucked up last night but is now being polite to someone’s parents. (He might also be about to eat the contents of their fridge.)"

Intimate Apparel review – Lynn Nottage’s exquisitely stitched tale of a seamstress’s dreams Samira Wiley is superb as a corset-maker who embroiders dreams for herself and others in Lynette Linton’s tremendous production

Wonderful review from @mrdavidjays.bsky.social of Intimate Apparel at the Donmar - who tells me he would have liked to have been able to mention the magnificent costumes by Alex Berry, as well as praise for the entire cast, but word count forbad.
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

That's very generous of you, Marie, thank you. It does feel like an omission, so v understandable that you noticed it. It's such a great show - really hope you and your niece enjoy it.

There was a whole para - Alex Berry's costumes are lovely - but the wordcount wouldn't permit. And I really wanted to mention all the actors, who are extraordinary.

This Bitter Earth review – fighting and flirting in a wild ride steered by Billy Porter There is crackling chemistry in Harrison David Rivers’ two-hander starring Omari Douglas and Alexander Lincoln

This Bitter Earth review: every scene ends in a strop or a snog & Billy Porter's production presses down hard on the pedals
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

Intimate Apparel review – Lynn Nottage’s exquisitely stitched tale of a seamstress’s dreams Samira Wiley is superb as a corset-maker who embroiders dreams for herself and others in Lynette Linton’s tremendous production

LOVED Intimate Apparel. Lynette Linton is a wonderful director of actors - performances in her shows are always warm and ample. A company of talents surpass themselves, in a show rich with care. Loved it.
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet at Sadler's Wells review: 'you can’t look away' A glittering opening night for The Who’s ballet included a star-making performance from Paris Fitzpatrick

We saw Elton from afar, not to mention Dame Penelope Wilton: a good night for star spotting at Quadrophenia, but the real dazzle was on stage www.standard.co.uk/culture/danc...

Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill at Regents Park review: flawed but endearing This collation of ballets from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s game-changing musicals is packed with treats, but still feels diluted

Dream Ballets at the Open Air was a lovely idea: pairing serious dance talent to lush Rodgers & Hammerstein. But still can't work out how/why all 3 choreographers staged versions of the same limiting scenario
www.standard.co.uk/culture/danc...

Rolling hills, rolling clouds seen from Theatr Clwyd

Theatr Clwyd taking shape

The hillscape views from the theatre? 5 stars

Tick, tick … Boom! review – a triumphant shout for theatrical ambition Performed and designed with gusto, Jonathan Larson’s zippy musical about creative passion is a fitting show to relaunch this cherished Welsh stage

Loved revisiting Theatr Clwyd to see the redeveloped theatre (had a hard hat tour, a day out doesn’t get better than this). And Tick, tick... boom! is a punchy opening show - a statement of intent about the urgent necessity of making art
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/j...

The Midnight Bell at Sadler’s Wells review: a splendidly seedy dance drama Matthew Bourne peers into the aching hearts frequenting a seedy 1930s pub in his production’s latest work

In Matthew Bourne's The Midnight Bell, everyone drinks so much you may feel slightly squiffy yourself. It's furtive glances, dire couplings and blotto all the way to bedtime
www.standard.co.uk/culture/danc...

Buildings and Lime bikes and bush theatre sign and cats with headlights in background

Bush theatre in blue hour rain
#blueskymonday

Oh yes, I missed Playing Cards. Looks like he's mostly been doing opera / ballet / Shakespeare in the last few years

Racking my brains, but can't remember. I did have tickets for Seven Streams at the National for the day after lockdown - at the time I thought missing a Lepage epic was as bad as things would get

We used to see a load of Robert Lepage shows in London. This Macbeth doesn't sound great, but still makes me want to see more of his boggling sense of stage design

From nude Harry Potter to a scribbled Hitler: meet the man behind theatre’s most eye-grabbing posters He created the iconic Phantom of the Opera mask, made Daniel Radcliffe go topless and even had his Führer design banned on the tube. Theatreland’s go-to graphic artist Bob King talks us through his bo...

Also! I met lord of the theatre poster Bob King. Enjoyed hearing about strong graphic design, and even more about the dog which got sent home in a taxi when his owner went on to the theatre
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/m...

Reviewed flamenco diva Sara Baras at Sadler's Wells. Phenomenal footwork and a beast of a curtain call that is quite possibly still going on
www.standard.co.uk/culture/danc...

‘Please don’t fart, this is art’ – Stephen Sondheim’s musical The Frogs review A droll Dionysos, an ab-obsessed himbo and a waddling ballet for goggle-clad frogs can’t outshine Sondheim’s songs in this rarely seen version of the ancient Greek satire

Excited to see The Frogs - you should get a badge every time you add an unseen Sondheim to your list. It's not great, but it's Sondheim
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/m...

Jane Eyre at Sadler’s Wells: 'thickets of men blunt the emotional force' Northern Ballet’s take on Jane Eyre is faithful to the book but is a little over-stuffed

Review catch up - Northern Ballet's Jane Eyre, choreographed by Cathy Marston, is slightly overstuffed - but reminded me of happy days bunking off to read the novel (adult David would never etc)
www.standard.co.uk/culture/danc...

Probably the world's greatest choreographer does not like choreographing Crystal Pite is in demand around the world for her visceral, epic work but for the Canadian artist, the demands of creation means the journey to success can be a struggle

Had a delightful chat with Crystal Pite - still giggling at the genius choreographer insisting she really REALLY doesn't like choreographing
www.standard.co.uk/culture/danc...