About John OBrien

JOHN O’BRIEN born in London in 1960 is a born and bred Londoner. His mother was an illiterate Irish traveller. His early years were spent in Ladbroke Grove. He was born at number 40 Lancaster Road. In 1967 the family was rehoused in Hackney. He attended Brooke House School for Boys in Clapton, - as did Lord Sugar. He became head boy and was the first person in his family to make it to university, gaining a place at Goldsmiths College in 1978. He took a degree in Sociology and a PGCE . From 1982 until 1993 he taught at schools in Hackney and Richmond. In 1984-85 he attended Bristol University where he gained a Diploma in Social Administration. From 1985 until 1989 he studied part-time in the evenings for a degree in English Literature at Birkbeck College. He stayed on at Birkbeck from 1990-1992 to study for an MA in Modern English Literature. He left teaching in 1993 and has worked as a tutor, researcher, writer and tour guide. He leads bespoke guided tours on London’s history, art , architecture and culture. He has attended numerous courses at Oxford University - Exeter College, Rewley House & Kellogg College. In London, he attends courses at Gresham College, The National Gallery, The British Museum, The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, The British Academy and The Royal Society.

Review: Twelfth Night at Wilton’s Music Hall

September 14, 2018 Last updated: September 14, 2018 7:19 pm By John OBrien Leave a Comment

The Watermill Theatre Production of Twelfth Night is WP3. By that, I mean a wonderful play, a wonderful place and a wonderful production. If you are new to Shakespeare this production is the perfect place to start, if you know the play then this version will knock you off your feet. If music be the … [Read more...]

Thriller Live Gala Charity Performance at the Lyric Theatre

September 13, 2018 Last updated: September 13, 2018 6:03 pm By John OBrien Leave a Comment

Last night (Wednesday 12th September 2018) was a special celebration to mark the 4,000 production of Thriller Live at the Lyric Shaftesbury Avenue. In Michael's spirit of caring and giving, all net proceeds from the performance were donated to The Princes Trust, specifically to support young people. … [Read more...]

Distance at Park Theatre, London | Review

September 8, 2018 Last updated: September 8, 2018 4:44 pm By John OBrien Leave a Comment

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. Every year 4,000 men take their own lives. This is four times the rate for women. What is going on? To explore this question Alex McSweeney’s new play Distance presents us with the case of Steven (brilliantly played by Adam Burton), a recently … [Read more...]

Michael Jackson Diamond Celebration – London

August 30, 2018 Last updated: August 30, 2018 11:28 am By John OBrien

The King of Pop Michael Jackson would have been 60 on 29th August. Some of the cast members from Thriller Live celebrated by setting off on an open-top bus tour from outside the Lyric Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue at noon on 29th August. Four cast members sang from the top of a double-decker bus … [Read more...]

St Petersburg Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake at the London Coliseum

August 24, 2018 Last updated: August 24, 2018 2:44 pm By John OBrien

Borrow, beg or blag a ticket but just get yourself into the Coliseum because this production of Swan Lake has to be seen. Stunning sets, sumptuous costumes, spine-tingling music and dancing that takes your breath away make this an evening to be treasured. By the end, I was left feeling utterly … [Read more...]

Richard II at The Bread and Roses Theatre | Review

August 23, 2018 Last updated: August 23, 2018 2:24 pm By John OBrien

Open The Vault’s production of Richard II is commendably brief and succinct. Director Joshua Jewkes has done wonders with a tiny space and few props. His version of Richard II is refreshing and at 80 minutes straight through the pacing never flags. The plot is clearly presented and the political … [Read more...]

Antic Disposition’s Much Ado About Nothing | Review

August 22, 2018 Last updated: August 22, 2018 2:20 pm By John OBrien

This French-themed production of Much Adieu About Nut-ting by Guillaume Shack- spear is in 3D: Delightful, Delicious & DeLovely. This production has a triple layer of engagement. First the setting. Performed in Gray’s Inn Hall a magnificent Elizabethan dining space in London’s legal heartland … [Read more...]