Mark Shenton
Encyclopedia
Mark Shenton is a London-based British
arts journalist
and theatre critic
. Since April 2002 he has been chief Theatre Critic for the Sunday Express. He also writes a daily blog for The Stage
On-Line as well as reviews and features for the weekly newspaper, and contributes to newspapers and theatre magazines in the UK and around the world.
, Cambridge where he read law, graduating in 1985 and gaining his MA Cantab in 1987.
and Broadway
shows. He became editor for Arts and Entertainment at the Press Association in October 1990, and subsequently managing editor for Arts and Lifestyle, finance data and television listings, before becoming a freelance arts journalist in April 2002, specialising in theatre.
Shenton is the London correspondent for Playbill.com, is associate editor of Theatrevoice.com and writes regular theatre blogs for The Guardian
online, as well as contributing monthly features to West End theatre programmes.
He is currently chairman of The Critics' Circle
, Drama section.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
arts journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and theatre critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
. Since April 2002 he has been chief Theatre Critic for the Sunday Express. He also writes a daily blog for The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
On-Line as well as reviews and features for the weekly newspaper, and contributes to newspapers and theatre magazines in the UK and around the world.
Education
Up to the age of 16 he was educated at St John's College, Johannesburg. He took O and A levels at Albany College, London then in 1982 took up studies at Corpus Christi CollegeCorpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, Cambridge where he read law, graduating in 1985 and gaining his MA Cantab in 1987.
Career
His first job in London came in 1986 at Dewynters plc where he edited and co-ordinated the publication of theatre programmes and souvenir brochures for West EndWest End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
and Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
shows. He became editor for Arts and Entertainment at the Press Association in October 1990, and subsequently managing editor for Arts and Lifestyle, finance data and television listings, before becoming a freelance arts journalist in April 2002, specialising in theatre.
Shenton is the London correspondent for Playbill.com, is associate editor of Theatrevoice.com and writes regular theatre blogs for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
online, as well as contributing monthly features to West End theatre programmes.
He is currently chairman of The Critics' Circle
The Critics' Circle
The Critics' Circle is a professional association of British critics of dance, drama, film, music, visual arts and architecture. It was established in 1913 as an offshoot of the Society of Dramatic Critics, which had been formed six years earlier but had become inactive.For many years the Circle...
, Drama section.
Publications
Publications include:- Harden's Theatregoers Handbook, co-authored with Roger Foss, Harden's Ltd (2004) ISBN 187372165X, ISBN 9781873721650