Young Festival Critics

I have never experienced a show like this before but, I am now a true believer that opportunities like this are a once in a lifetime and would advise anyone with a chance to be part of it to get involved.

‘Criticism is still so misunderstood. Is it good or bad, the best or the worst, we critics are asked – and no matter how many times we care to explain that things are rarely black or white and it’s the shades of grey in between that make something interesting or not the most sensational quotes will always make their way on to the hoardings and the well written, well balanced, review will more as not be put to one side.

For me the opinion has always mattered less than the way in which it is expressed and in an age where the most outspoken among us don’t always feel it is necessary to substantiate their views in any thoughtful, meaningful, way it’s great that schemes like Newbury’s Young Festival Critics are giving a platform to budding young arts enthusiasts with something to say.

Sharing the experience of a play, a film, a concert, or piece of art or literature is what it is all about. The best critics make us feel part of that experience whether or not we were there ourselves. I like to think that doing so is an art in itself.’