Welcome to thejollylion.com

Miss Julie – TOADS Theatre Company
(© Brian Tilley Photography) 2013

I am Jolyon Tuck and I have been cheerfully blogging reviews of local amateur theatre on and off since the autumn of 2010. Because people have kept reading the reviews, I’ve expanded the scope of the site to include reviews of professional and student theatre, largely because I love these things too and want to tell everyone how marvellous it all is.

At the end of every review here you will see my original motivation, that I had grown tired of performing in half empty venues and reading reviews of plays that had been written by people who would openly admit that they didn’t like having to watch amateur theatre.

Jack and the Beanstalk – Shiphay ADS
(© Brian Tilley Photography) 2010

I know there will be people who read this that can relate to the night when you go on stage, look out at the audience and know there are more people involved in staging the production than there are in the auditorium.

I have tried getting involved with publicity for a local group, with mixed success, but the problems appear to be the same whichever group you look at. So, I decided that rather than trying to sell tickets, I would go out and see what’s out there, report back to you, in the hope you might go out and support these groups too.

What did I find?

Black Widow – TOADS Theatre Company
2011

• There are lots of great, enthusiastic productions being staged all of the time.
• Professional shows struggle to draw audiences too.
• You learn a lot about your own performance by watching others perform.
• I can’t possibly review everything in South Devon and rehearse to be in plays as well!

Mansfield Park – Shiphay ADS
2010

So, the forthcoming theatrical attractions page is there to encourage you to go out and find the shows on locally, whether I’m reviewing them or not. I am but one man, keen to enjoy the shows you stage. Many groups have found reviews here by accident, but if you want to be sure of a review, please just contact me and I’ll be happy to plan my theatre going around you.

Equally, if you’ve seen something in the South West and want to share your thoughts, why not send me a review to post. Goodness, you may even review something I am in – that would be a bonus!

Finally, as the years blogging pass I find myself straying out of the theatre from time to time, which means the odd review of Doctor Who stuff, largely because I’m more than a bit of a fanboy at heart.

If you find reviews of books, audio dramas or worse still, film and television creeping into the blog, it’s only because I want to hold my own attention, as well as you wonderful visitors…