Following my work at the Wokingham Times, I was offered further experience under London Newspaper Group thanks to a family friend of ours - Tim Harrison. I was still 15 at this time, and was given the task of reviewing theatre by my request. I enjoyed a memorable week of reviewing everything from art displays at the National Gallery to film previews at Fox House. Mostly I reviewed theatre, and have repeated my experience since. I worked at the Ealing Gazette, and the Hounslow office for London Newspaper Group chasing news stories as well as focussing on theatre reviews.

Aside from my writing, I love theatre immensely. I take Theatre Studies at A-level, and regularly go to the theatre, both locally (in the Wokingham/Bracknell area), at the Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford and at the National Theatre on London's South Bank. I have attended a number of drama summer schools at Ufton Court which focussed on Commedia Del Arte and Restoration Comedy. For anyone who loves performing and is interested in exploring different styles of theatre and learning about it's history, I thoroughly advise you to consider one of these summer schools as the experience is truly magical. It is an international course that attracts applicants from around the world - click here for the website.

While watching a play in Surbiton I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the sub-editor of the Wokingham Times, who was impressed by my enthusiasm for writing and theatre and willing to give me a chance at writing regularly. I was thrilled and rang the paper the next day, arranged to go in for a chat and to show them my portfolio of articles, and from there was offered a regular review slot. I work for them occassionally when they need me to do a review, or if there is a show that I am particularly interested in seeing. The relationship is fantastic and I can't believe that you can actually be paid to watch theatre and discuss it.

Despite the job being highly enjoyable, reviewing comes with a lot of responsibility. I try to cater for a variety of needs. As I write for a local paper my reviews must be light and accessible to try and encourage passive readers to watch theatre and support local companies, while as a regular theatre goer myself I know that others will want a deeper analysis of the play with a helpful recommendation as to whether it is worth seeing or not. Apart from informing your audience of the show's worth, and getting in a plot summary, I feel an obligation to the theatre company that I am reviewing to be constructive in my criticism and offer a useful commentry about the play if it is new writing as well as the acting and staging. The demands I try to meet make the job a tight juggling act that is constrained by a general limit of 300 words. When reading my reviews it is important to recognise the purpose for which they are written and these constraints. Many plays merit much deeper discussion, but I have to cut ruthlessly to get the balance right. If you have any feedback about my reviews then do Email me, as comments, advice and constructive criticism are always appreciated. Just click on the links to your left to read my reviews. Thanks.