Neil Dowden

Neil's day job is working as a freelance editor for book publishers such as HarperCollins, Penguin, Faber and British Film Institute Publishing, but as a night person he prefers reviewing for musicOMH. He has also written features on the theatre and reviewed films, concerts, albums, opera, dance, exhibitions, books and restaurants for various newspapers and magazines, including The Stage and What's On in London, as well as contributing to a couple of books on 20th-century drama and writing a short tourist guide to London for Visit Britain. He insists he is not a playwright manqué but was born to be a critic and just likes sticking a knife into luvvies. In fact, as a boy he wanted to become a professional footballer, but claims there were no talent scouts where he then lived on the South Wales coast, and so has had to settle for playing Sunday league for a dodgy south London team. Apart from the arts and sport, his other main interest is travel, and he is never happier than when up a mountain, though Everest Base Camp is the highest he has been so far. He believes he has not yet reached his peak.
Neil Dowden


Articles by Neil Dowden


Drunk Enough To Say I Love You? @ Royal Court, London (Theatre)

James Brown + The Zutons @ Roundhouse, London (Live)

Paul Weller + The Magic Numbers @ Roundhouse, London (Live)

The Raconteurs @ Brixton Academy, London (Live)

The Bluetones – The Bluetones (Albums)

Babyshambles @ Brixton Academy, London (Live)

Snow Cake (Films)

Piano/Forte @ Royal Court Theatre, London (Theatre)

The Alchemist @ Olivier, National Theatre, London (Theatre)

Olivier Marchal (Features)

Rock’n'Roll @ Duke Of York’s Theatre, London (Theatre)

The Life Of Galileo @ National Theatre, London (Theatre)

Paul Weller – Catch – Flame! (Albums)

The Field @ Tricycle Theatre, London (Theatre)

No Exit (Huis Clos) @ Landor Theatre, London (Theatre)

Show Boat @ Royal Albert Hall, London (Theatre)

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium (Albums)