Previous workshops

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NEW! Online criticism workshops, follow-on workshops and one-to-one classes!

Online, 14 April 2021 (8pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 17 March 2021 (8pm)

Follow-on session for participants of the first online workshop.

Online, 10 March 2021 (8pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 17 February 2021 (2pm)

Follow-on session for participants of the first online workshop.

Online, 10 February 2021 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 5 January 2021 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 11 November 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

University of Pennsylvania, online, 27 October 2020

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

George Watson’s, online, 23 September 2020 (9am and 2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 16 September 2020 (2pm)

Follow-on session for participants of the first online workshop.

Online, 9 September 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 2 September 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 12 August 2020 (2pm)

Follow-on session for participants of the first online workshop.

Online, 5 August 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 29 July 2020 (2pm)

Follow-on session for participants of the first online workshop.

Online, 23 July 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Mobius: Insights into Theatre Criticism, online, 22 July 2020 (10.30am)

Designed to be useful to anyone involved in staging theatre in the UK – whether you would have been headed to the Fringe this summer or not – we’ve teamed up with the Guardian’s theatre critic in Scotland and regular contributor to The Scotsman (and many others) to offer a special one-off webinar for theatre-makers, venue teams and others we work with.

Utah Theatre Bloggers Association, online, 18 July 2020

For the first time ever, UTBA will have an outside special guest be a presenter at the annual reviewing workshop. Mark Fisher, a theatre critic for The Guardian newspaper in the UK, will be presenting his strategies and tips for reviewing theatre. Fisher is the author of the How to Write About Theatre: A Manual for Critics, Students and Bloggers, the new classic about reviewing the performing arts.

Online, 15 July 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 24 June 2020 (2pm)

Follow-on session for participants of the first online workshop.

Scottish Drama Training Network online, 18 June 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 17 June 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Scottish Drama Training Network online, 11 June 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 10 June 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 8 June 2020 (11am)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 3 June 2020 (2pm)

Follow-on session for participants of the first online workshop.

Online, 27 May 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 20 May 2020 (2pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 13 May 2020 (2pm)

Follow-on session for participants of the first online workshop.

Online, 6 May 2020 (11am)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Online, 5 May 2020 (2pm and 7.30pm)

In this lively and interactive How to Write About Theatre online workshop, author Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and show you how to put them into practice. You’ll journey from the present day into the past, learning lessons from history about how to think about theatre. 

Central School of Speech and Drama 12 February 2020

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Santiago a Mil, Chile, 25 January 2020

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

MITsp, Sau Paulo, Brazil, 19–22 March 2019

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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University of Chichester, Department of Theatre 16 March 2018

Theatre criticism lecture

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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University of Bristol 14 March 2018

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Canterbury Christ Church University 13 March 2018

How to Write About Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe Surival Guide

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

Central School of Speech and Drama 24 January 2018

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Theatre Royal Plymouth 7 September 2017

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

Lung Ha Theatre Company, Edinburgh 28 July 2017

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

Young Vic, London 13 July 2017

How to Write About Theatre

DRAWING on his long years of experience as a national newspaper journalist, Guardian theatre critic Mark Fisher will introduce the principles of theatre criticism and discuss the demands of his job. Find out how a critic thinks about your work, consider new ways to analyse and discuss the work you see and how to make writing about your work come alive whether through a press release, blog or tweet. There will be the opportunity to ask questions, so come prepared.

Young Vic, London 13 July 2017

How to Survive the Edinburgh Fringe

GUARDIAN journalist Mark Fisher leads a workshop based on his book The Edinburgh Fringe Survival Guide, a·practical and pragmatic manual about putting on a show in the world’s biggest arts festival. The session will cover all aspects of staging a Fringe show, from getting in the right frame of mind to securing the best press coverage, generating word of mouth and making the most of a hit. As someone who has reviewed plays for over 25 years of the Fringe, he is well placed to give expert advice on the highs and lows of conquering Edinburgh. 

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University of Bath 16 March 2017

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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University of Bristol 16 March 2017

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

University of Exeter 4pm, 15 March 2017

Careers Event: Working as an arts journalist and theatre critic

WHAT are the opportunities for an arts journalist in the 21st century? Could you make a career from writing about theatre? How do you become an editor? Join Guardian theatre critic Mark Fisher for a lively and informal talk about life as an arts journalist. Question-and-answer session follows.

University of Manchester 14 March 2017

Masterclass: The Edinburgh Fringe Survival Guide

IT IS the world’s largest arts festival, attracting everyone from student first-timers to Hollywood stars. Thrilling, inspiring and bewildering in equal measure, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe can make you a star or break your bank. So what is the secret of making it work for you? Author and journalist Mark Fisher leads this lively workshop about how to make your show a success.

Canterbury Christ Church University 21 February 2017

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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University of Chichester, Department of Theatre 16 February 2017

Theatre criticism lecture

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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University of Leeds 1 February 2017

Working as an arts journalist

HOW to make a success of your show and working as an arts journalist and critic.

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Central School of Speech and Drama 25 January 2017

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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University of Roehampton 24 January 2017

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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University of Kent 23 January 2017

Working as a theatre critic

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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University of Malta, Valletta 5–7 December 2016

Critical reviewing

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Trinity College Dublin 10 October 2016

Theatre criticism

THEATRE critics Mark Fisher of the Guardian and Peter Crawley of the Irish Times discuss their jobs and the role of the critic in the internet age

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Bournemouth Arts by the Sea 1 October 2016

Angles of Approach to Writing Reviews

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Nuffield Theatre, Southampton 30 September 2016

So:Write

EXPLORE the subtle principles of reviewing theatre, with Guardian critic Mark Fisher. What exactly makes engaging and lively reviews?

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Pepperdine University at the RCS, Glasgow July 2016

Reviews, reviewers, and reviewing & theatre in Scotland

A SIGNIFICIANT part of understanding contemporary theatre in any country is knowing how critics’ reviews are generated and what their impact is on the industry. Mark Fisher will introduce students to this journalistic format, and throughout the course students will write and submit their own performance and textual analyses of productions we see.

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Acting Coach Scotland 28 June 2016

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Scottish Drama Training Network, Aberdeen 23 June 2016

The Edinburgh Fringe Survival Guide

IT IS the world’s largest arts festival, attracting everyone from student first-timers to Hollywood stars. Thrilling, inspiring and bewildering in equal measure, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe can make you a star or break your bank. So what is the secret of making it work for you? Author and journalist Mark Fisher leads this lively workshop about how to make your show a success.

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Scottish Drama Training Network, Glasgow 25 May 2016

The Edinburgh Fringe Survival Guide

IT IS the world’s largest arts festival, attracting everyone from student first-timers to Hollywood stars. Thrilling, inspiring and bewildering in equal measure, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe can make you a star or break your bank. So what is the secret of making it work for you? Author and journalist Mark Fisher leads this lively workshop about how to make your show a success. (Pic: Robin Mitchell: www.robinmitchellphotography.com)

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University of Kent 21 March 2016

Arts feature writing

HOW to pitch and structure an arts feature.

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Falmouth University 18 March 2016

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Hall for Cornwall 18 March 2016

Criticism Roundtable Discussion and One-to-One Critics’ Workshops

DEBATE about the level, quality and purpose of dialogue about theatre with reviewers and artists from around Cornwall. Also feedback sessions for particpants in Hall for Cornwall’s New Reviewer programme.

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University of Bristol 17 March 2016

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Lighthouse Poole 15 March 2016

Young Reviewers

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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University of Sunderland 14 March 2016

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Canterbury Christ Church University 8 March 2016

How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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University of Chichester, Department of Theatre 3 March 2016

Theatre criticism lecture

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Young Vic, London 1 March 2016

Genesis Directors Network: How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Find out how a critic thinks about your work and consider new ways to analyse and discuss the work you see. There will be the opportunity to ask questions, so come prepared.

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Canterbury Christ Church University 1 March 2016

Edinburgh Fringe Survival Guide

HOW to make a success of your show.

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University of Sheffield 10 February 2016

Arts journalism, criticism and the Edinburgh Fringe

HOW to make a success of your show and working as an arts journalist and critic.

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University of Manchester 10 February 2016

Masterclass: How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Liverpool Hope University 9 February 2016

Arts criticism masterclass

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of arts criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Royal Holloway, University of London 8 February 2016

Theatre Criticism Roundtable

DISCUSSION with Mark Fisher, Lyn Gardner, Catherine Love, Matt Trueman and Diana Damian-Martin.

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Leeds Beckett University 26 February 2016

Masterclass: How to Write About Theatre

JOIN Guardian critic Mark Fisher as he introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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Dulwich College 13 January 2016

How to Write About Theatre

THEATRE criticism masterclass. Guardian critic Mark Fisher introduces the principles of theatre criticism and discusses the demands of the job. Learn how to celebrate, analyse and discuss this most ephemeral of art forms – and how to make your writing come alive as you do so.

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University of Leeds 2 December 2015

The Next Stage – How to Survive the Edinburgh Fringe with Mark Fisher

HOW to make a success of your show and working as an arts journalist and critic.

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Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts 30 November 2015

The Edinburgh Fringe Survival Guide

HOW to make a success of your show.

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Ty Newydd Writers’ Centre, Criccieth 14 November 2015

Young Critics Conwy Weekend

WEEKEND workshop run by Venue Cymru/Theatr Colwyn at the National Writers Centre of Wales. Also involved were theatre critic Kate Maltby of the Times/Spectator, TV producer Steve Doherty and poet/academic Ian Gregson.

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Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, 7 November 2015

Critically Speaking: In conversation with Scotland’s theatre critics

EXAMINING youth theatre through a critical lens and debating the question of access versus quality, and how and when youth theatre can be provocative. Part of the Chrysalis festival, a new platform for ambitious, and often provocative, performances by UK-based young companies. Chaired by Thom Dibdin of alledinburghtheatre.com and featuring Mark Fisher, author of How to Write About Theatre, and Mary Brennan of the Herald.

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Edinburgh International Book Festival 2.15pm, 24 August 2015

Is arts journalism in crisis?

THE FRINGE would be nothing without the critics who rant, rave and rage about the plays, dance and comedy they see. Yet with a changing media landscape, some have claimed that theatre criticism is in crisis. Two of the most talented survivors are Mark Fisher and Joyce McMillan, Edinburgh-based critics who retain a boundless energy for theatre. Their new books each make a powerful argument that there’s life in the profession yet. Chaired by Jackie McGlone.

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Theatre Royal Winchester 1pm, 25 July 2015

Theatre Royal Winchester presents Young Critics

WORKSHOPS are led by journalists and leading theatre critics. There are exciting opportunities to review shows at regional theatres and participants will be provided with mentoring on their writing and an opportunity for their work to be published in The Big Issue.

University of Exeter 5pm, 28 Jan 2015

Careers Event: Working as an arts journalist and theatre critic

WHAT are the opportunities for an arts journalist in the 21st century? Could you make a career from writing about theatre? How do you become an editor? Join Guardian theatre critic Mark Fisher for a lively and informal talk about life as an arts journalist. Question-and-answer session follows.

Hall for Cornwall 7.30pm, 29 Jan 2015

Opportunity to become a New Reviewer

DO you have an interest in new Theatre and Dance? Do you have opinions about the performances you see? We will engage 6 reviewers in the first year of the programme, who are passionate about and regularly attend new performance work, who show a critical appreciation of the work and who communicate effectively in writing.

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