Steve Carter Theatre Blogger

23/06/2026

My experience standing at the London Palladium for Jesus Christ Superstar starring Sam Ryder!

22/06/2026

Who wants some initial reactions to on stage standing for Jesus Christ Superstar starring Sam Ryder?

Feel free to ask any other questions!

Overall I loved this experience - and this cast are phenomenal! What a treat to see them so up close. It really makes you appreciate how much work goes into a production like this!

As soon as you get into the theatre you get given a wristband and a copy of the standing ticket information before your phone gets put in a Yonder pouch, so make sure you do everything you need to do before entering. Your wristband gives you free access to the cloakroom where all bags need to be stored.

You then meet back at the designated entrance for 7pm, at which point you'll be taken backstage. You then wait in another queue, get given a complimentary bottle of water, and eventually get onto the stage at around 7:15pm. I ended up stage right for act one, and in a smaller section for act two - both at the back but there are steps so my view was fine.

🎤 It's a really unique and exhilarating experience - you get to see these incredible performances, Tom Scutt's design, and Drew McOnie's thrilling choreography, up close!

🎤 It gives a completely different perspective on the show, and you may even get some brief interactions with the performers if you're at the front.

🎤 There's lots of space - although it looks a bit penned in, there's a lot of room in each section, and you'll only ever be 3 people deep.

🎤 You get to feel what it's like to be on stage for a sold out show at the Palladium. Seeing the full audience for Sam's mid-show standing ovation for Gethsemane was so special.

🎤 You have no idea where you'll be standing for either act. They filled the sections in a different order for act two and you can't really judge where in the queue you are. Make sure you're considerate of everyone's view.

🎤 It's hard to connect with the show because most of the big moments are directed out front. This isn't a show in the round, you're part of the design and some views are definitely better than others.

🎤 Standing on the Palladium stage, looking out at the audience is a real pinch me moment, and absolutely worth doing for £25!

22/06/2026

Tonight I'm heading to the Palladium to see Jesus Christ Superstar from the on-stage standing area so thought I'd post a throwback to our first London theatre trip in the midst of the pandemic. This was September 2020!

You may recognise the staging here as they used the Evita steps to create a socially distanced concert version, but as you can see this felt much more than a concert!

Did anyone else see this version?

The cast were on rotation to support with social distancing - we got to see Declan Bennett, Tyrone Huntley and Anoushka Lucas. Tyrone is back for the Palladium run and I'm buzzing to see him as Judas again!

It was such a memorable day - we went up early and took a walk around the West End first. I remember taking pictures of all the theatres as they say empty. It feels like such a long time ago now!

I love Jesus Christ Superstar, and this production has a special place in my heart for these memories. It was so good to revisit it on tour a couple of years ago, and I'm excited to see it super sized on the Palladium stage tonight!

18/06/2026

AD | Festival 2026 continues at Chichester Festival Theatre with another play receiving its world premiere in the Minerva. Tonight was the press night for 45 Years, a stage adaptation of Andrew Haigh's 2015 film.

Adapted for the stage by Hannah Patterson and starring acclaimed actors Gabriel Byrne and Geraldine James, 45 Years asks what happens to a marriage when it is suddenly put under pressure.

Kate and Geoff are preparing for a party to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary when Geoff receives a letter informing him that the body of his past love has been discovered in the melting ice in Switzerland 50 years after she went missing.

What ensues is a narrative that explores the inevitability of time and the thawing of a relationship after long-held secrets are unearthed. We are left considering whether events and decisions made before you even met your partner still matter, and whether they should hold sway over your current lives together.

The stark, minimal staging centers the couple as the focal point, with lighting shifts and carefully constructed sound design echoing the growing tension. The occasional dripping water symbolising their bond melting away was effective, although I expected it to develop more as the play progressed.

This feels like an intimate study of a strained relationship, favouring nuance and subtext over a dramatic unearthing of their history. Nothing is loudly challenged and there's no real conflict - instead, it offers a realistic portrayal of two people dealing with an unsettling revelation.

It was a real treat to see Gabriel Byrne and Geraldine James on stage, delivering the high-quality performances you would expect. The play also features Gillian Bevan as their friend Lena - interestingly, the role Geraldine James played in the original film.

45 Years is playing in the Minerva until the 11th of July. It runs as a single act with no interval, so you'll be home by dark!

17/06/2026

Self Esteem - A Complicated Woman ❤️

Self Esteem's run of summer shows bidding farewell to A Complicated Woman began last night at the gorgeous brand-new music venue, the British Airways ARC.

This is by far my favourite live show I've ever seen, and I'm so happy I got to experience it for a final time - both uplifting and cathartic in equal measure. Rebecca Lucy Taylor bakes something into her music which not only feels deeply healing, but also brings the audience together as one, culminating in the most joyful finale. Even after the performers have left the stage, the audience continues that connection with a final dance together and a huge conga line.

It's clear that this show is very special to everyone involved, and what a way to kick off this final run! Exceptional.

15/06/2026

10/06/2026

Here's the moment I was surprised with the Portsmouth Theatres Standing Ovation Award at the end of The Spotlight Awards ceremony.

A huge thank you to Jack and Jules not only for this award, but for putting all of your trust in me to lead the judging panel and deliver these awards. We are so lucky to have you and the rest of the team at Portsmouth Theatres championing the arts.

Thank you also to my fabulous co-hosts and co-collaborators Hannah and CP - even if you were very sneaky! 😉 It's been a joy to get to know you both over the last year, and to share the stage with you.

Thank you to Jon, Rebecca and Sarah for the footage! ❤️

Cover photo: Steve Spurgin

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

After months of planning the inaugural Spotlight Awards played to a full house, bringing together our theatre community for an evening I'll never forget. I wish I could bottle the atmosphere. I stood behind the curtain for a moment before the show soaking in the excitement, and I've never heard roars of cheering like it. Here's a selection of pics from last night and our tech day on Sunday.

I use the word community rather than amateur when describing our local scene, not because I don't like the word amateur, but because community is exactly what it is. We are a community and I feel so incredibly lucky to be a part of it.

This was my first time hosting anything in my life. I was asked beforehand if I was nervous, and honestly I felt like I was coming on stage in front of a theatre full of friends. Thank you to CP and Hannah for sharing the stage with me - I loved being up there with you.

The Spotlight Awards are a platform to show that quality theatre is everywhere, and is for everyone. They exist to amplify and celebrate the vibrant and diverse programme of shows in the Greater Portsmouth area, and to make everyone feel like there is a place for them.

I wasn't lying when I said this has been the best thing I've ever been a part of. To see just how much the evening meant to so many people makes me feel so full. Please continue to share your pictures and videos from last night - I'm loving looking through them all.

Thank you to everyone involved in the evening, and to our incredible performers who set the tone perfectly. I was stood side of stage for every performance and every award beaming with pride.

And finally, the secret award. Thank you Jack and Jules for awarding me with the first Portsmouth Theatres Standing Ovation Award. This award is dedicated to all of the incredible theatre content creators and independent reviewers out there who pour their passion into the industry. I feel very grateful ❤️

Do you want another one? Let's go Spotlight Awards 2027!