Theatre News

Sarah Crompton and Holly Williams join WhatsOnStage

The two writers will join Matt Trueman on the reviewing team following the departure of Michael Coveney

Sarah Crompton and Holly Williams
Sarah Crompton and Holly Williams

Sarah Crompton and Holly Williams will join the reviewing team at WhatsOnStage following the departure of Michael Coveney.

Crompton joins Matt Trueman as joint Chief Theatre Critic, replacing Coveney who stepped down earlier this month after completing ten years in the role.

Williams will work alongside Trueman and Crompton as a Staff Critic. Each will take up their roles with immediate effect.

Crompton said today: "I am absolutely thrilled to be joining WhatsOnStage and contributing theatre reviews and blogs to its expanding and significant platform. It is a brilliant forum for telling the story of British theatre at a fascinating and vibrant time, and from my point of view dovetails perfectly with my work for other organisations."

Crompton is one of Britain’s most respected writers and broadcasters, commentating on all aspects of culture and the arts. Her work appears in the Guardian, the Sunday Times, The Times, the Observer, British Vogue, Intelligent Life, and the Evening Standard among others. She is a regular contributor to the BBC’s Front Row and Saturday Review and was previously the Arts Editor in Chief of the Daily Telegraph, and a contributor to BBC2’s The Review Show.

Williams said today: "It's been a privilege to write for WhatsOnStage, recognised for both the breadth and depth of its coverage of theatre around the country, forming an essential contribution to a lively, rigorous critical conversation. So I am delighted to become one of their staff critics, alongside such talented colleagues as Matt Trueman and Sarah Crompton."

Williams is a theatre critic, and arts and features writer. Having worked in various capacities at the Independent and Independent on Sunday since 2010, she is now a freelance journalist, and has written for the TLS, the Evening Standard, Time Out, the New Statesman, the Guardian, Fest and Exeunt. She was awarded a Special Commendation in the Allen Wright Award for arts writing at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015, and shortlisted in 2014.

WhatsOnStage's Sita McIntosh said,"I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Sarah and Holly to the WhatsOnStage team. To have writers of their calibre join us, alongside Managing Editor Daisy Bowie-Sell and Matt Trueman, will ensure the company’s position at the forefront of online theatre journalism."