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 Emmie at Theatre and Tonic, who leads a vast team of writers keeping theatre commentary alive!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be writing or creating content about theatre?
My journey began back in 2011 when I was studying Dance at Coventry University. We were asked to produce a blog as part of our studies, in which we could review shows we had seen and reflect on our practice.
It wasn’t until 2014 that I officially launched my website, after concluding I wanted to remain in the industry somehow. The rest, as they say, is history..
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?
So my first name was Carpe Diem Emmie. Using the term ‘Carpe Diem’ came from my friend, who sadly died from cystic fibrosis in 2013 at the age of 20 – it was her favourite saying!
I have never really contributed to other sites, apart from West End Best Friend for 6 months before realising I needed to focus on my own stuff.
What kind of shows do you cover, and in which geographical areas?
I cover everything. I actually started as a Dance reviewer (and its something I definitely want to get back into someday), but predominantly musicals and plays.
I am based in the East Midlands, so I cover there and towards the West Midlands. I sometimes sell a kidney to go to the West End.
How would you describe yourself (reviewer, critic, content creator, YouTuber, influencer, other)?
I don’t have the qualifications to consider myself a critic, but I think I sit on the boundaries of a content creator and reviewer.
Why do you continue to engage with theatre?
I think it’s so important to find what brings you joy – and theatre is that for so many people, including us. It can bring out the best in us, but obviously, it also holds a lens to all the important things happening in society as well.
What’s the one thing that would make the theatre reviewing/content creating space easier for you personally, and/or for your platform?
I think the transparency of what audiences can/cannot do when visiting the theatre is so important. In a world that is so driven by getting the next viral piece of content, there have been so many blurred lines and opportunities missed where we can stop the opportunity for trolls towards performers.
Do you have a favourite show – and any you particularly dislike(d)?
My favourite show is RENT (so yeah I’m buzzing the West End are getting it back!). I’m not a fan of Les Miserables and that will pain a lot of the theatre community but it just wasn’t for me!
The theatre commentary space is wide and diverse – is there any other female reviewer/content creator you would recommend, and why?
People like Lou (LouReviews), Emma (Curtain Call Reviews), and Lindsay (Fairy Powered Productions) are great women who graft like nobody’s business in a space that is quite saturated with white men having the biggest influence.
What’s the biggest change you have noticed in the theatre space since you started contributing to it?
I think there’s definitely been more opportunities to bring so many different audiences in. The work is far more ambitious and more modern to suit today’s audiences!
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?
TikTok and Instagram mainly but our website is always doing the main biz!
Can you pinpoint one of your best reviews, features, or videos?
I have absolutely loved most of our interviews we have done on Theatre and Tonic but also seeing our website used in promotional material across the West End BLOWS MY MIND!
I think the industry is starting to accept the smaller fish are just as important as those bigger ones.
How can people contact you who want to promote a show?
Drop us a follow on Instagram @theatreandtonic or email us on theatreandtonic@gmail.com
Thanks, Emmie!