Welcome to the next in a 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 Kim at curtaincallkim.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be writing or creating content about theatre?
Theatre has always been a passion of mine. I studied drama at GCSE and Theatre Studies at A Level, as well as attending youth theatre for a number of years at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.
But as well as appearing in productions back then, I’ve also watched many theatre shows from a young age. I’ve always enjoyed writing too, so last year I decided to combine the two – and curtaincallkim was born.
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?
I know it’s cheesy, but I enjoy a bit of alliteration, so to combine my name with something on brand for a theatre page felt correct! I joined Instagram in February 2025, followed by TikTok in July of the same year. TikTok was a whole new world for me.
I was a lurker on my personal account for years, so getting to grips with posting on there took some time. I like to think I’m finally getting the hang of it now. Then, towards the end of 2025, I set up a WordPress blog to post more detailed, in-depth reviews: https://curtaincallkim.wordpress.com/
What kind of shows do you cover, and in which geographical areas?
I would say the majority would be musicals, but I also enjoy plays and stand-up comedy shows. I’m based in Liverpool, so tend to predominantly cover the Merseyside area and North West venues, e.g., Manchester and Blackpool.
However, if I want to see a show enough, I will travel further, including the West End and even Broadway.
How would you describe yourself (reviewer, critic, content creator, YouTuber, influencer, other)?
I would say I mostly fit into the category of reviewer, although I do enjoy creating content I feel is relatable to theatre fans, which isn’t always necessarily a review of a show.
Why do you continue to engage with theatre?
Because there’s no place like being at the theatre! The sheer breadth of variety in what you can witness, and the sheer talent up on the stage, is unmatched. I love being able to switch off and forget the world for a few hours.
What’s the one thing that would make the theatre reviewing/content creating space easier for you personally, and/or for your platform?
I go to a lot of shows solo, and sometimes booking websites can make life difficult for those who just want to purchase one ticket – I’m sure others out there have felt my pain!
Do you have a favourite show – and any you particularly dislike(d)?
I travelled to New York especially to see Death Becomes Her last year and it was incredible. I’m desperately awaiting the day it transfers to the UK! In addition to this, I have a soft spot for &Juliet, Oliver! and SIX. Plays-wise, I saw a fantastic production of Shirley Valentine last year, too.
I recently saw The Woman In Black and, as a horror/supernatural fan, had such high hopes for it, but sadly found it to be too slow-paced and not very scary. But I know some people who love the show, and that’s the beauty of it all – everyone likes what they like!
The theatre commentary space is wide and diverse – is there any other female reviewer/content creator you would recommend, and why?
@thetheatregirlies on TikTok and Instagram. They are based in Scotland, and it’s interesting to keep up to date with the theatre scene so far north, especially as theatre shows and so many theatre creators can tend to be London-centric.
What’s the biggest change you have noticed in the theatre space since you started contributing to it?
I can see there have been many steps taken to increase accessibility for audiences – BSL interpreters, audio descriptions and relaxed performances for those who are neurodiverse. This is such a positive move in ensuring that theatre can be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
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?
I’m most active on TikTok; I post there every day. But I try to post on my Instagram page and my WordPress blog as often as I can. If only a full-time job didn’t get in the way!
Can you pinpoint one of your best reviews, features, or videos?
I’m probably biased, as I love the show and travelled such a long way for it, but my review of Death Becomes Her holds a special place in my heart. https://curtaincallkim.wordpress.com/2026/03/07/death-becomes-her-review/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRgWw77L/
How can people contact you who want to promote a show?
Email curtaincallkim@gmail.com or DM me on TikTok or Instagram!
Thank you, Kim!