Young Critics Reviews

The Lichfield Festival Young Critics are all aged 18 and under. They attend a number of events at the Lichfield Festival and send us their review within 24 hours.


Wednesday, 22 July 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
6 ballet dancers on a stage lit in colourful lighting and projection
Young Critic Thea saw ballet’s one-night return to Lichfield Festival and took the opportunity to tell us all about it.  On the 13th of July I saw ‘Sleeping Beauty’ by
Tuesday, 21 July 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Joe Stilgoe plays piano with Liza Pulman.
Lichfield classics, Liza Pulman and Joe Stilgoe, returned to the Festival last week and Young Critic Amy snagged a front row seat to tell us all about it.  Liza Pulman
Tuesday, 21 July 2026 / Published in News, Young Critics Review
Summer transports us to the far-away sounds of Kasai Masai as she saw them with Young Critics in Lichfield this month.  As the crowd took their seats in the sweltering
Sunday, 19 July 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Harper saw Liberata Collective perform ‘Antonia: Beyond the Myth of Marie Antoinette’ and told Young Critics all about it.  I was delighted to have the opportunity to view this performance!
Saturday, 18 July 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
In the streets of Ancient Rome, a bloodied corpse of an elite chariot racer is left to rot, until Flavia Albia discovers it while out walking her dog. She enters
Saturday, 18 July 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Headshot of Tracy Borman.
Returning favourite Tracey Boreman took Lichfield Festival on a trip through everything Anne Boleyn, from Maggie Smith to the White Falcon. Emelia caught her visit to write for Young Critics. 
Saturday, 18 July 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Young Critic Ophelia takes us along on a warm July evening to see Holly Carter, read what she has to say about forming connections with audiences.  Calming, captivating and effortlessly
Wednesday, 15 July 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Young Critic Emelia, visited Lichfield Festival to catch both music and cinema in the Cathedral.  The KNDS Fairey Brass Band encapsulated the enticing sound of ‘Wallace and Gromit: the Wrong
Wednesday, 15 July 2026 / Published in News, Young Critics Review
Marie Antoinette character.
Isla popped back to eighteenth century France with Liberata Collective and got the read on Marie Antoinette for Young Critics.  On Wednesday last week I had the opportunity to see
Wednesday, 08 July 2026 / Published in News, Young Critics Review
Lichfield Cathedral above a crowd
The Festival has kicked off with the high drama of Othello staged outside Lichfield Cathedral by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Young Critic Lucian tells us how ‘it almost felt that
Wednesday, 08 July 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Maja, a teenage girl turns to face the camera in front of outdoor stage
Maja transports us back to the first night of Lichfield Festival, with a sunset, the Cathedral bells, and tragedy on stage.  Othello, performed by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, wonderfully mimicked
Saturday, 18 April 2026 / Published in News, Young Critics Review
Annaya looks back on Annie Garthwaite’s appearance at Lichfield Literature Festival, she tells us what we should learn from historical women and how Garthwaite came to write ‘The Kings Mother’.
Friday, 17 April 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Arthur got the chance to see Robert Colls speak about his new book ‘George Orwell: Life and Legacy’. See what he thought about his untellable anecdotes and Jean-Paul Sartre. ‘George
Wednesday, 15 April 2026 / Published in News, Young Critics Review
Two men sit on a stage in front of a seated audience
Young Critic, Emelia, got the chance to hear Masud Husain speak about his new book ‘Our brains, our selves’ at Lichfield Literature Festival in March. At the Hub at St
Monday, 13 April 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Ben Benson sits on a stage with an interviewer, gesturing with his hands
From foxes and parmos, to crisp traditions and faggots, Young Critic Phoebe tells us all about Ben Benson’s appearance at Lichfield Literature Festival to talk about his new book ‘All
Friday, 10 April 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Tracey Boreman sits behind a table signing a book with a visitor stood in front of her
Young Critic, Isla, had the chance to interview historian, author, and presenter Tracey Boreman on her new book ‘The Stolen Crown’. From power struggles to wedding venues, Boreman covers it
Wednesday, 08 April 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Headshot of Katja Hoyer.
Young Critic, Holly, got the chance to speak to Kaja Hoyer about her new book ‘Beyond the Wall’. Read what she had to say about everything East Germany.  As part
Monday, 06 April 2026 / Published in News, Young Critics Review
Book cover of Intelligence written by Robert Newman.
Young Critic, Amy, looks back on Rob Newman’s visit to Lichfield Literature Festival. With Newman’s takes on the benefits of comedian-authors and 1930s female philosophers, it was an event that
Sunday, 05 April 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Book Cover of The Bonfire of Insanities: How Does This Government Thing Work Again? written by John Grace.
Young Critic, Noah, shares what he thought of John Crace’s appearance at Lichfield Literature Festival to speak about his new book ‘The Bonfire of the Insanities: How Does This Government
Saturday, 04 April 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Headshot of Alison Weir.
From witchcraft to Cosmo magazines, Young Critic Emelia shares her thoughts on Alison Weir’s latest visit to Lichfield Literature Festival.    Women gaining power and influence in a ‘man’s world’,
Thursday, 02 April 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
From lettuce to machines the size of buildings, toilet rolls to the Suez Canal, Tim Minshall uncovers it all. Read what Katy, one of our Young Critics, thought about Tim’s
Wednesday, 01 April 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Book cover of Entitled written by Andrew Lownie. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.
Murder, the royals, and Epstein, Young Critic Rosa shares her experience hearing Andrew Lownie speak about his new book ‘Entitled’. It was a dramatic start to the evening. We learned
Tuesday, 31 March 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
A full seated audience in a wood panelled hall with John Suchet on stage at the front
Katy got the chance to see John Suchet speak about his new book ‘In Search of Beethoven: A Personal Journey’ at Lichfield Literature Festival as part of Young Critics. Read
Monday, 30 March 2026 / Published in News, Young Critics Review
Arthur Snell and an interviewer sit on a stage facing an audience
Near death experiences and how we should maybe think about moving the Canada. Young Critic, Harper, shares her thoughts on Arthur Snell’s visit to Lichfield Literature Festival to talk about
Tuesday, 24 March 2026 / Published in News, Young Critics Review
Book cover of Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things written by Pierre Novellie.
Lucian got the chance to hear Pierre Novellie speak about his new book at this years Lichfield Literature Festival. Covering everything from Warhammer to Einstein, read Lucian’s thoughts on the
Saturday, 21 March 2026 / Published in Young Critics Review
Young critic, Maja, saw Tom McTague speak about his book Between the Waves at Lichfield Literature Festival. The book travels through Britain’s relationship with Europe leading to the 2016 Brexit
Tuesday, 16 December 2025 / Published in News, Young Critics Review
View down the nave of Lichfield Cathedral, lit by blue and red lights, a choir dressed in black stands at the end
‘As we all know from ‘How the Grinch stole Christmas’, [singing and celebrating together] is the true spirit of the holiday.’ One of our young critics, Amy, got the chance
Monday, 11 August 2025 / Published in Young Critics Review
Lizzie Ball and James Pearson this afternoon presented a programme of music by the “grandfather of jazz violinists” Stéphane Grappelli and his contemporaries. This included a piano solo by George
Wednesday, 23 July 2025 / Published in Young Critics Review
Katie Arnstein’s one-woman storytelling, stand-up hybrid was an extremely moving and impactful performance. Arnstein’s ability to connect with her entire audience, despite its variety, through such a real, authentic story
Wednesday, 23 July 2025 / Published in Young Critics Review
In many ways, the life of Arthur Bliss benefits from discussion in the way I saw it- the beautiful venue of St Mary’s, and a speaker to play his music