How to write drama reviews

Writing drama reviews need not be as hard as one might imagine. At it's most basic all you need is a note book, several pens and either a seat near a theatre safety light or a small pocket torch, perhaps suitably shielded so as not to cause interference with the enjoyment of theatregoers.

And you need is a love of drama and an understanding of it. The understanding of drama can be learned.

One of the cardinal rules of reviewing a play is to never give away the ending of a play or too much of the plot. -It's amazing how many supposedly experienced journalists can get this basic point wrong.

When writing a review, resist the urge to be clever. People read drama reviews to see what's on at the theatre, not to see how witty the reviewer thinks they can be. -Sadly, someone who thinks they are a wit is usually only half-right!

Puns, witticisms and jokes based on the name of the play, character or cast members are the hallmark of a very poor reviewer. No matter who they are, or how much they are paid.

When going to the theatre to review a play ensure you arrive as early as possible. Ensure you get an up-to-date cast list. Familiarise yourself with the programme and programme notes before you start to review the play.

Leave any preconceptions at home. If you have seen the play before, or seen the cast members in a different play or the same play (this could happen if you review plays in drama festivals) remember that you have never seen this performance before! It's fresh and new and so must you be!

Never make the mistake of thinking you can get away with writing a review without having seen the play, by just looking at the cast list and guessing how it went.

The careers of many journalists -even some experienced ones- have foundered on this particular rock. Casts can be changed at a few minutes notice, plays cancelled, etc.

When you are writing your review (or "crit" which is short for criticism, as some people call them) never go over the top with criticism.

If you think someone didn't learn their lines, draw attention to the fact. -After all, that's one of the reasons you are reviewing the play!

But be careful not to use insulting terms. If you accuse an actor of not bothering to learn his or her lines and it turns out that they had stepped in with only two days notice -who would look stupid? Them or you?

There are ways around this. You will -with experience- learn how to say exactly what you mean, but in ways that wont offend. And in ways that cast and backstage crew will find genuinely helpful.

One newspaper I worked for had a policy of not writing "bad" reviews of amateur productions, because they didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings! -I kid you not!

Having been involved in amateur dramatics as an actor and technician I can assure you that the opposite is more often the truth. As long as the reviewer proves that he or she knows what they are talking about and isn't just trying to be clever at their expense, they will usually accept a review with some negative comments in it.

After all, they don't want to put on bad performances.

A review needs to be short and to the point. -This is another reason why it doesn't pay to be too witty.

How can you get hands-on experience? Talk with local drama groups. Ask them to supply you with complimentary tickets so that you can review their plays.

Read the drama reviews in the local and national press. Are they good? Could you have done better?

Play sub-editor. Try re-writing them to tighten them up.

Then submit reviews of local drama to your local press.

If your local paper doesn't have drama reviews -gently suggest that perhaps it's time they started?