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Neil Dowden


Neil Dowden

Neil's day job is working as a freelance editor for book publishers such as HarperCollins, Penguin, Faber and British Film Institute Publishing, but as a night person he prefers reviewing for Exeunt. He has also written features on the theatre and reviewed films, concerts, albums, opera, dance, exhibitions, books and restaurants for various newspapers and magazines, including The Stage and What's On in London, as well as contributing to a couple of books on 20th-century drama and writing a short tourist guide to London for Visit Britain. He insists he is not a playwright manqué but was born to be a critic and just likes sticking a knife into luvvies. In fact, as a boy he wanted to become a professional footballer, but claims there were no talent scouts where he then lived on the South Wales coast, and so has had to settle for playing Sunday league for a dodgy south London team. Apart from the arts and sport, his other main interest is travel, and he is never happier than when up a mountain, though Everest Base Camp is the highest he has been so far. He believes he has not yet reached his peak.


Articles by Neil Dowden


Review: 8 Hotels at Chichester Festival Theatre
13 August 2019
Reviews • Chichester • National

Review: 8 Hotels at Chichester Festival Theatre

1-24 August
By Neil Dowden

The green-eyed monster: Neil Dowden reviews Nicholas Wright’s drama about the dangerous rivalry between actors Paul Robeson and José Ferrer.


Review: The Meeting at Chichester Festival Theatre
23 July 2018
Reviews • Chichester • National • Reviews

Review: The Meeting at Chichester Festival Theatre

July 13 - August 11
By Neil Dowden

Complex ideas and striking symbolism: Charlotte Jones makes a successful return to stage-writing with this nineteenth-century drama.


Review: Tartuffe at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
31 May 2018
Reviews • West End & Central

Review: Tartuffe at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

25 May - 28 July 2018
By Neil Dowden

‘Lacks any sense of jeu d’esprit’: Neil Dowden reviews Christopher Hampton’s relocation of Molière to Trump’s America.


Review: Pressure at the Park Theatre
5 April 2018
Reviews • London Theatre • OWE & Fringe • Reviews

Review: Pressure at the Park Theatre

March 28 - April 28
By Neil Dowden

Weathering the storm: David Haig’s D-Day drama is old-fashioned and expertly acted.


Review: The Plough and the Stars at the Lyric Hammersmith
23 March 2018
Reviews • London Theatre • OWE & Fringe • Reviews

Review: The Plough and the Stars at the Lyric Hammersmith

March 15 - April 7
By Neil Dowden

No museum piece: Sean Holmes’ self-aware modern-day Sean O’Casey revival doesn’t feel revolutionary.


Review: Titus Andronicus at the Barbican
19 December 2017
Reviews • London Theatre • Reviews • West End & Central

Review: Titus Andronicus at the Barbican

December 7 - January 19
By Neil Dowden

The bizarreness takes over from the brutality: Blanche McIntyre’s production can’t balance the horror and the humour of Shakespeare’s bloodbath.


Review: Cell Mates at the Hampstead Theatre
18 December 2017
Reviews • OWE & Fringe

Review: Cell Mates at the Hampstead Theatre

30 November 2017 - 20 January 2018
By Neil Dowden

Very much a character study, not a spy drama: Neil Dowden reviews the Hampstead Theatre’s revival of Simon Gray’s play about an unlikely friendship.


Review: Coriolanus at the Barbican
13 November 2017
Reviews • West End & Central

Review: Coriolanus at the Barbican

6 - 18 November 2017
By Neil Dowden

Dripping with blood and sweat: Neil Dowden reviews the opening production of the RSC’s Rome Season at the Barbican.


Review: Apologia at Trafalgar Studios
11 August 2017
Reviews • West End & Central

Review: Apologia at Trafalgar Studios

Until 18 November 2017
By Neil Dowden

A defence, not an apology: Neil Dowden reviews Stockard Channing in Alexi Kaye Campbell’s dinner party drama.


Review: Sweet Bird of Youth at Chichester Festival Theatre
12 June 2017
Reviews • Chichester • National • Reviews

Review: Sweet Bird of Youth at Chichester Festival Theatre

June 2 - June 24
By Neil Dowden

Lacks real poignancy: The flaws in this little-performed Tennessee Williams are exposed in Jonathan Kent’s laboured production, says Neil Dowden.


Review: The Cherry Orchard at Arcola Theatre
26 February 2017
Reviews • OWE & Fringe

Review: The Cherry Orchard at Arcola Theatre

Arcola Theatre ⋄ 15 February - 25 March 2017
By Neil Dowden

The axe falls on the old society: Neil Dowden reviews the final play in the Arcola’s Revolution season.


Review: HE(ART) at Theatre N16
16 January 2017
Reviews • OWE & Fringe

Review: HE(ART) at Theatre N16

Theatre N16 ⋄ 10 - 28 January 2017
By Neil Dowden

“Love, compassion, art and class”: Neil Dowden reviews Andrew Maddock’s new play at Theatre N16.


Review: Saint Joan at the Donmar Warehouse
22 December 2016
Reviews • West End & Central

Review: Saint Joan at the Donmar Warehouse

Donmar Warehouse ⋄ 9th December 2016 - 18th February 2017
By Neil Dowden

The martyr in the boardroom: Neil Dowden reviews Josie Rourke’s updated version of Saint Joan.


Review: Magnificence at the Finborough Theatre
31 October 2016
Reviews • London Theatre • OWE & Fringe • Reviews

Review: Magnificence at the Finborough Theatre

Finborough Theatre ⋄ 25th October - 19th November 2016
By Neil Dowden

Radical themes that still reverberate today: Neil Dowden reviews the first revival of an early Howard Brenton work since 1973.


Review: No’s Knife at the Old Vic
6 October 2016
Reviews • London Theatre • West End & Central

Review: No’s Knife at the Old Vic

Old Vic ⋄ 29th September - 15th October 2016
By Neil Dowden

Haunting beauty: Neil Dowden reviews Lisa Dwan’s performance of Beckett’s Texts for Nothing.


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