An appeal for less competitions, awards, prizes and ten best lists in the theatre world and in general can’t be a bad thing.

This article titled “Isn’t it time to lay off the list-making and let our artists make art?” was written by Laura Barnett, for guardian.co.uk on Wednesday 16th March 2011 13.03 UTC There are, to borrow a phrase, two types of people in the world: those for whom the vagaries of life take form only when neatly broken down, numbered, and summarised, and those who break out in a cold sweat at the very thought of list-making. I count myself definitely among the former – no day has really got under way until I have compiled a to-do list and set about fulfilling it.   Yet even I, a great lover of lists, felt my heart sink a little on discovering that Red magazine has unveiled a list called “20 under 30″ in its new April issue. Published to launch the magazine’s annual Red Hot Women awards for “the most inspiring working women across Britain”, this list is intended to identify “Red’s hottest women of tomorrow”. Alongside a fashion designer, chef and “digital guru”, the list includes several women in the arts, with whom regular readers of the Guardian’s culture sites will no doubt be familiar. Royal Ballet principal Lauren Cuthbertson, 26, who wowed audiences as Alice in Christopher Wheeldon’s new production of Alice in Wonderland, is rightly singled out as “the prima ballerina”.   Comedian Josie Long, 28, is given the somewhat dubious accolade of “funny girl”: dubious not because she’s not funny, but because the epithet sounds more than a little patronising. Singer Alexandra Burke (still only 22 – yikes!), has been named “the X Factor survivor”, while 29-year-old actor Michelle Dockery, fresh from ITV’s Downton Abbey and an acclaimed turn as Ophelia at the Sheffield Crucible, is called, with good reason, “the rising star”. Among the magazine’s more under-the-radar choices are 30-year-old architect Hana Loftus, co-founder of the Colchester-based architectural practice Hat Projects, and the poet and playwright Caroline Bird, who is 24.   So far, so fair enough – they’re all talented women, and hats off to them for having that talent recognised. But do they really need to be singled out in yet another list? The arts scene is already swamped with lists. At this time of year, the zenith of awards season, you can’t open a paper or turn on a computer without discovering yet another round-up of nominees for “best blah” or “most convincing blah blah” or “best supporting blah blah blah”. In the last month alone we’ve had, in quick succession, the Baftas, the Oscars, and the Oliviers. The rest of the year is no better, revolving around a succession of “hot 100s” (the figure is almost always 100). In theatre, we have The Stage 100; in art, the ArtReview Power 100; and across media and the arts, The Hospital Club 100, to name but a few.   What all these lists have in common, of course, is the desire to sort the proverbial wheat from the chaff: to tell us who’s hot and who’s not, who’s in and who’s out – and, in some cases, to present those with the talent or good fortune to fall into the former categories with a big shiny trophy. Women-only lists like Red magazine’s are also about redressing the balance, celebrating female achievement and inspiring other women to follow suit.   All of which is perfectly laudable. But do any of these lists really tell us anything remotely interesting or unexpected about our arts scene? What about the people left off – the hundreds and thousands of talented artists, actors, screenwriters, singers, poets, comedians, dancers and so on who never merit a mention because they don’t have a PR, or they don’t look quite good enough to be primped and preened for a magazine shoot, or their work isn’t mainstream enough? Does their absence from such lists make them any less important, their art any less worthy of our time?   I wonder how much the artists who regularly crop up on these lists really benefit from our obsession with ranking and categorising. The grateful tears of each year’s crop of Olivier, Oscar or Bafta winners – and the quickfire offers of major roles – suggests the benefits are substantial. But the worst thing for any artist is to compare themselves endlessly with others. Lists may be brilliant for giving form to the drudgery of the day-to-day, but let’s lay off telling artists who’s hot and who’s not, and just let them get on with what they do: making art.

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Do you like to see a good old fashioned play on the London stage with a proper plot, serious actors not TV stars and a playscript that makes you think, fear, jump in surprise and maybe even laugh? Theatre breaks in London don’t have be just for musicals, there are a number of very good plays on in the West End at any time of year, but the autumn season is particularly good for theatre breaks to see plays. The main difference to booking musicals theatre breaks  is that the plays do tend to be on for much shorter runs. So unless you want to see Mousetrap again, and why wouldn’t you, then you might need to hear about a good play that’s on now, and book it with a hotel break for maybe next month or sometime within a medium timespan when you know the play will still be running. Otherwise you just keep on missing the best ones because they close after about twelve weeks or something like that. For example, just arrived in London is a play called Deathtrap which is a big production with four great actors and a fantastic set, a proven playscript because it’s been on before in Broadway for a very long run as it happens, and in London once before in the 1980s. But if you want to book theatre breaks to see Deathtrap then you would need to have a date in mind that is before 22nd of January,  2011. That may seem a long way away, but once you start thinking about Christmas and New Year theatre breaks , the time has been and gone! Simon Russel Beale is in Deathtrap Deathtrap is one of the bigger productions but there are some others coming up for short runs as well. The Arthur Miller play – “All My Sons” finished on 2nd October 2010 Season’s Greeting by Alan Ayckbourn starring Catherine Tate opens on December 8th 2010 Top tip for 2011 drama theatre breaks will be Blithe Spirit, a Noel Coward comedy starring Ruthie Henshall and others. But if you want to see a Noel Coward before next year then Design For Living is on at the Old Vic until November 27th 2010. Yes Prime Minister is a comedy play based on the TV series but brought up to date for Gielgud Theatre which opened on 16th September 2010 booking through til 15th January 2011. This would be a good bet for theatre breaks in London too. And if you prefer Oscar Wilde, then “An Ideal Husband” is at the Vaudeville Theatre from 4th November 2010 to 19th February 2011

I went to see Sweet Charity in the West End a couple of weeks ago. It was a superb production and Tamzin Outhwaite was quite stunning in the title role. The show transfered from the Mernier Chocolate Factory after a very successful run. You can’t help but be impressed by Tamzin’s performance. She is on stage for most of the show and she is never still. Her energy is amazing and the set piece numbers like If They Could See Me Now are brilliant. It is her comic timing that really surprised me, I’d no idea she was such a good comedy actress. After all she’s played so many dramatic roles in soaps and other TV productions who’d have guessed she’d be such a great singer, dancer and all round entertainer? The rest of the cast are great too of course. Tamzin’s co star Mark Umbers plays all Charity’s male interests, a grand total of 4 roles! I particularly like him as the weedy, insecure Oscar. I won’t spoil the lift scene for you but it’s hysterical! The chorus of dancers sing what is probably the most menacing version of Hey Big Spender you are ever likely to hear and generally give excellent performances with some lovely comic touches. They also give a spirited and spaced out performance of The Rhythm of Life which is guaranteed to get your toes tapping!

I can’t recommend this production enough and I think it’s perfect for theatre breaks.

Dylan Moran “What It Is” Theatre Breaks Dylan Moran, star of TV’s Black Books, Shaun Of The Dead and Run Fat Boy Run is back in London with his show, What It Is. At The Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue London until December 5th, Dylan Moran “What It Is” tickets are also available as Comedy Theatre Breaks in London, with tickets and hotel room included. I saw him head the bill at the Hackney Empire’s New Act of The Year show many years ago and very much enjoyed his surrealist monologues. Since then, Dylan Moran’s legendary stand up rants have sold out across the world cementing this unkempt wordsmith’s reputation as one of the foremost comics of his generation. Likened to Dave Allen and labelled ‘The Oscar Wilde of Comedy’ Dylan is unpredictable, bizarre, elegiac, often cruel but above all painfully funny. Dylan Moran sees through the joys and disappointments of human existence with the sensibility and intense perception of a man teetering on the edge. He chews life up and coughs it out, he’s a one of a kind. Booking Until: Saturday, 05 December 2009 Evenings: Monday to Saturday 8pm Running Time: 2 hours Suitable for ages 14+ Dylan Moran on Germany

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London Comedy Breaks at the O2 Stand up comedians are the new rock stars and here’s a chance to see two of Britain’s best in a venue that’s fast becoming the UKs favourite arena for top names. The O2 is a start of the art music and performance space built inside what used to be called the Millennium Dome. What’s there now includes an indoor arena, a music club, a cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars, shops and restaurants. Comedy breaks comprise of good lower tier seats for the special one-off comedy shows at the O2 coupled with a nearby four star hotel stay so you don’t have to worry about getting back afterwards. Eddie Izzard at the O2 Eddie Izzard live at the O2, ticket & 4* hotel, £145 per person Available: 3rd December 2009

Eddie Izzard’s comedy style is unique. He kind of mumbles and rambles off at tangents all the while trying to make a very serious point, or else a completely absurd one.  This is an unmissable chance to see Eddie Izzard, one of Britain’s comedy greats! His recent five week residency in London’s Shaftesbury Avenue sold out in less than forty-eight hours, breaking box office records. Russel Brand at the O2 Russell Brand live at the O2, ticket & 4* hotel, £115 per person Available: 17th April 2009

Russell Brand works himself up into a frenzy on a regular basis, surprising himself as much as anyone as to what he’s going to say next!  The controversial but acclaimed comedian will visit The O2 as part of his Scandalous tour as he takes a deserved break from writing, acting, TV and radio to return to his first love - stand up comedy. For news of more great comedy breaks with unique availability and theatre breaks offers, please subscribe to our newsletter

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Jim Linwood has added a photo to the pool:

Up The Creek is a well known London comedy club with a separate bar area which serves Thai food.

Bill Bailey Tinselworm

Originally uploaded by Andyrob

I like Bill Bailey. His clever wit is surreal and funny without resorting to personal attacks and lowest common denominator smut that passes for fashionable comedy these days. And he’s a great improvising musician as well of course, which adds significantly to the entertainment when he gets the chance to have the stage to himself for any significant time. Bill Bailey’s “Tinselworm” tour has bewildered and delighted audiences all over the UK in 2007, down under in 2008 and now finishes off in London’s Gielgud Theatre booking until December 30th.

** Bill Bailey Tinselworm Tickets **

a Bill Bailey Tinselworm

Eddie Izzard - Stripped

Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Eddie Izzard brings his “Stripped” comedy tour to the Lyric Theatre in London for 23 nights in London’s West End November and December 2008.

a Eddie Izzard - Stripped

takomabibelot has added a photo to the pool:

See also: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aroberts/1670252465/

Comedy Theatre Originally uploaded by Andyrob