Theater criticism aims to provide an informed and impartial assessment of a play or production, helping readers understand its strengths and weaknesses.

Theater critics consider various elements of a production, including the acting, directing, set design, script, music, lighting, and overall impact on the audience.

Reviews and critiques are both forms of theater criticism, and there is no clear distinction between the two. Both can be subjective or objective, long or short, and written by professional critics or members of the general public.

Theater critics consider a variety of factors when evaluating a performance, including the acting, directing, set design, script, music, lighting, overall impact on the audience, and faithfulness to the original text.

While theater critics have their own expertise and insights, they can also benefit from the feedback of audience members, who can provide a different perspective on a performance.

Theater critics face a number of challenges, including the need to be objective and impartial, the pressure to meet deadlines, and the difficulty of writing about subjective experiences in a clear and concise way.

Theater critics have a responsibility to be ethical in their work, which includes avoiding personal attacks, being honest and forthright in their assessments, and not accepting free tickets or other gifts that could compromise their objectivity.

Theater criticism can play a vital role in improving the quality of theater by providing feedback to artists and theater companies, raising awareness of new and innovative productions, and encouraging audiences to attend more theater performances.

George Bernard Shaw, Kenneth Tynan, and Walter Kerr are all considered to be among the most influential theater critics in history, known for their wit, insight, and impact on the development of theater.

The internet has had a significant impact on theater criticism, making it easier for people to access reviews, allowing for more diverse voices to be heard, and leading to both a decline in the quality of some criticism and an increase in the quality of other criticism.

Theater criticism is often criticized for being too subjective, too negative, and too focused on the big-budget Broadway productions, neglecting smaller, more experimental theater companies.

Theater criticism can be improved by critics being more objective and impartial, more positive and encouraging, and focusing more on the smaller, more experimental theater companies.

The future of theater criticism is likely to be shaped by the changing theater landscape, the growing diversity and inclusivity of the theater community, and the increasing use of digital platforms.

A good theater critic should have a strong knowledge of theater history and theory, strong writing skills, and objectivity and impartiality.

Theater criticism can help to promote social change by raising awareness of important social issues, challenging stereotypes and prejudices, and encouraging people to think critically about the world around them.