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 Lorna at Theatreland Adventures.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be writing or creating content about theatre?
Growing up in Ireland, I always loved watching movie musicals and was a huge Disney fan. I also went every year as a child to see the pantomime at one of the two theatres in Cork. I think deep down I was always a theatre kid, but never quite had the confidence to fully lean into it. But when I was in fourth year in secondary school, we did Les Misérables as our school musical, and that’s when I completely fell in love with theatre.
That love only grew over the years, and I found myself heading to Dublin more regularly for shows at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Then, when I moved to London in 2023, I realised I didn’t really know anyone who shared that interest. So I decided to start an Instagram account as a way to connect with fellow theatre lovers. What began as a simple theatre diary account became something much bigger than I ever expected, and it’s been amazing getting to share my love of theatre with such a lovely community.
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 always remember the first time I came to London on holiday and the joy of realising that the theatre district was actually called “Theatreland” on the street signs. I also have a real love for travel, exploring new places and going on adventures, and the combination of those two passions inspired the name of my Instagram account.
I first set it up in April 2024, but I didn’t post very much at the beginning. That Christmas, I looked back on my year and regretted not posting more, and realised I was at a crossroads. I could either delete the account or properly commit to it, so I decided to commit, and it’s been the best decision I’ve made.
What kind of shows do you cover, and in which geographical areas?
Honestly, a bit of everything. I’m based in London, so most of the shows I cover are there, mainly across the West End and beyond. I also love visiting festivals like the Edinburgh Fringe, and I recently reviewed a show at Brighton Fringe too. I really enjoy getting to experience all different kinds of theatre, from big musicals to new plays and smaller productions.
In an effort to combine my love of travel with my love of theatre, I’m also trying to get to more regional shows, and I try to get back to see a show in Dublin at least once a year.
How would you describe yourself? (Reviewer, critic, content creator, YouTuber, influencer, other)?
I would say I probably fall somewhere between a reviewer and a content creator. I love sharing my thoughts on shows, but I also really enjoy creating content that captures the excitement and community that comes with theatre.
Why do you continue to engage with theatre?
So many friends and family have said to me, “Surely you’ve seen every show by now?” But the wonderful thing about live theatre is that there is always something new to discover. New shows are announced all the time. Since moving to London, I’ve also been able to experience so much more fringe theatre that I probably never would have found if I hadn’t started this journey.
What I love most about theatre is the escapism it brings. You can walk into a theatre, leave the real world behind for a few hours and completely lose yourself in a story. There’s something really special about that feeling, and it’s what keeps me coming back.
What’s the one thing that would make the theatre reviewing/content creating space easier for you personally, and/or for your platform?
More hours in the day would be great! I have a full-time job, so I sometimes find myself finishing work, writing a review, and then heading straight out to another show. I love it and wouldn’t change it for the world, but if we could just add maybe another three hours to the day (after I finish work, of course), it would really help.
Seriously, though, I’m still learning a lot about the content creation world. I think I’m finding my feet more now and starting to understand algorithms and how to make content that actually connects with fellow theatre fans and is more engaging.
Do you have a favourite show – and any you particularly dislike(d)?
Les Misérables was the show I first fell in love with when we performed it in school, and the first time I saw it in the West End, it completely took my breath away, and honestly, it still does. I’ve always said that’s my all-time favourite show.
Some newer favourites are Hadestown, Paddington and Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).
My favourite play is The Comedy About Spies, which completely stole my heart during the first preview last year and still very much has it. I love a silly, clever comedy, and Mischief do that so well.
As for least favourite, probably Fame. I just really struggled to get into it.
The theatre commentary space is wide and diverse – is there any other female reviewer/ content creator you would recommend, and why?
There are so many, and I’m coming across new ones all the time. Content I’ve really enjoyed recently has been from Tab in the City, Theatre & Tonic, Kat Masterson and Shows With Soph. They each bring something really different, but their content is consistently engaging and a joy to watch.
Theatre Lights Happy Nights is another creator I’ve really connected with, and Pauline has been so supportive of my content and very encouraging, always pushing me to keep going and try new things.
What’s the biggest change you have noticed in the theatre space since you started contributing to it?
From a positive perspective, and I’m not sure if this is a change in the industry itself or just me being new to it, the sheer volume of shows announced on a weekly basis still blows my mind. Living in Ireland, I mostly only heard about the big announcements, but now being closer to it I’ve realised there is so much more out there in terms of diversity and scale than I ever knew.
From a more negative perspective, theatre etiquette has really declined over the past few years, and it can sometimes make it harder to fully get lost in the world of a show. That feeling of escapism I look for is harder to find now.
And which social networks are you most active on? If you are not active on any, what is your opinion on their place within theatre reviewing/ content creation?
I mainly post on Instagram, and I also have a Facebook page connected to it.
Earlier this year, I started posting on TikTok too, but it is still early days, and I am figuring it out as I go.
Can you pinpoint one of your best reviews, features, or videos?
In terms of views and engagement, the videos I posted after the Les Misérables 40th Anniversary are probably the strongest.
In terms of what I enjoyed creating the most, it would have to be the reels I made in New York earlier this year. I had not been to New York since 2017, so I was so excited to see shows there. I would wake up at 5am, unable to sleep and end up putting together the reel from the night before.
How can people contact you who want to promote a show?
Email: lorna.theatrelandadventures@