About

Rural Showbiz Review looks at entertainment made, presented and enjoyed beyond the big-city circuit. We cover live shows, venues, touring and the customs that gather an audience, with an eye for the details that make each setting distinctive.

What we cover

Our interests range from the shape of a variety bill to the way a village hall is arranged for an evening performance. We consider touring shows, outdoor events, local entertainment traditions and the behind-the-scenes choices that affect how a night unfolds. We favour subjects that remain useful to readers well after one event has passed.

Who it is for

This is for curious audience members, community performers, organisers and anyone who enjoys seeing how entertainment comes together. You need no specialist knowledge: a fondness for a good show and an interest in its setting are plenty.

How we look

We pay attention to choices readers can recognise: the order of a programme, the feel of a room, the demands of taking a show on the road and the small rituals shared by an audience. We aim to explain rather than prescribe, and we do not assume that every rural venue or audience is alike.