Welcome to the second of a new series celebrating female colleagues who engage with theatre as critics, reviewers, bloggers or content creators. I am using ‘theatre’ to encompass all live arts performances, and ‘reviewer’ to cover all those who add commentary on what they see.
The master list is at: https://loureviews.blog/spotlight-on-female-theatre-reviewers-bloggers-critics-and-content-creators/
If you would like to be profiled as part of this project, please get in touch.
Today, I turn my attention to Emma of Emma’s Theatrics.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be writing or creating content about theatre?
Hi! My name is Emma, I am 21, and I am a theatre reviewer. By day, I am finishing up a law degree here in the UK before going on to do a Master’s Degree in Performing Arts Management.
I’ve loved performing and live theatre since I was a child, so naturally, for my 18th birthday, I asked for tickets to see Newsies in London. Very quickly, my Instagram filled up with videos from curtain calls and all kinds of theatre content.
Amidst all of this content, I decided to write a quick review of the show to show the cast my appreciation for their kindness, as well as a sort of journal entry for my own memories. Very soon, this became a habit when I went to the theatre.
If you have your own platform, when did it start, and how did you come up with the name? If you write for one or many platforms, which was the first, and how did you become involved with it?
Emma’s Theatrics – this name came to me very randomly, as anyone who knows me personally will know that I am a very dramatic and outgoing person.
I wanted something short and sweet that would stick to people’s minds and would conveniently fit onto a logo. So when I saw that this name was still available, it felt like fate! My blog is where it is today because other women in this space believed in me before I believed in myself.
The fear of not belonging is real, and it nearly held me back, but being championed by brilliant female reviewers gave me the courage to keep going and eventually launch something of my own.
Before launching my own platform in May 2025, I wrote for Adventures in Theatreland, joining Vicky and her team in late May 2023 and watching the blog grow into the incredible space it is today, almost from the very beginning.
My route to AIT was wonderfully random; a Newsies curtain call account I started following led me to the blog and opened the door to theatre beyond those big productions in the West End. The best part of it all was discovering new shows, walking in blind, and being completely blown away by true and fictional stories alike.
Do go and read Vicky’s spotlight [coming soon!], she has done some amazing work for years, and all the while being a considerable way away from London. I could never thank her enough for her support over the years.
I have also covered the occasional review for Matinee Mouse over the years.
What kind of shows do you cover, and in which geographical areas?
I cover plays and musicals, as well as the occasional concert production. All mostly in London, or in Woking/Guildford, thanks to the location of my university.
How would you describe yourself (reviewer, critic, content creator, YouTuber, influencer, other?).
I don’t think I’ll ever fully identify with the term ‘influencer’, even if what I do loosely fits the description.
Through my content and reviews, I try to give people genuine recommendations for shows to see across London, and for that reason ‘Reviewer’ and ‘Content Creator’ feel much more like me.
Why do you continue to engage with theatre?
As with many of my peers, theatre is my life. I don’t think I could ever do without it. I think there is something so inherently magical and important in live performance, especially with the rise of the power of AI.
I could go on for days speaking about this question, but in a nutshell, this is it. I can’t live without the pure joy that it brings me on a daily basis, just thinking about it all.
What’s the one thing that would make the theatre reviewing/content creating space easier for you personally, and/or for your platform?
Engagement. It really is as simple as that. The algorithm is increasingly difficult to understand and keep up with, and it can be hard to stay motivated when the work you pour yourself into doesn’t always reach the people it should.
I wish independent reviewers and content creators didn’t have to measure their worth in followers, likes and views, but unfortunately, that is the reality of the space we operate in.
Genuine engagement from people who love theatre is what keeps the passion alive. A like, a follow, a comment. That’s all it really takes to keep it all going…
Do you have a favourite show – and any you particularly dislike(d)?
I’ve reviewed over a hundred shows since I started, so choosing a favourite is very difficult.
Musicals will have to be Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre, which I reviewed for AIT years ago. And plays, without a doubt, John Proctor is the Villain at the Royal Court Theatre.
As far as shows I’ve disliked, this is a question I don’t love answering for one specific reason: my goal is to champion all kinds of shows, and negativity doesn’t really come into the picture when trying to achieve this.
The theatre commentary space is wide and diverse – is there any other female reviewer/content creator you would recommend, and why?
Adventures in Theatreland, Tab in the City, West End Caitlyn, Theatrical Lydia, Ellie Talks Theatre, and so many more. These women are some of the kindest and most generous people I have ever known. Always keen to give a hand with anything, give inspiration or advice. Beyond that, they are all incredibly talented and unique in what they put out there.
What’s the biggest change you have noticed in the theatre space since you started contributing to it?
I’d say how diverse it is slowly becoming, with reviewers coming from all different walks of life, all with a unique take on the theatre scene.
It’s incredible how easy it is to understand how subjective theatre is when there are so many individuals with different voices.
And which social networks are you most active on? If you are not on any, what is your opinion of their place in theatre reviewing/content creation?
Though I have my own website, I am most active on Instagram, where you will find all of my content.
Personally, I think social media is an incredible place when it comes to this sort of job. If anything, this is exactly what social media should be used for, in my opinion.
It makes it so incredibly accessible for anyone to contribute to the community, whilst staying anonymous, or not!
Can you pinpoint one of your best reviews, features, or videos?
One of my favourite reviews will have to be John Proctor is the Villain, it’s a show I could watch over a hundred times, and a review I was very proud to write.
How can people contact you who want to promote a show?
I’d say the best way is by emailing me. You can find my email on my Instagram account (@emma_theatrics). Otherwise, you can always DM me on Instagram.
Thank you, Emma!