Community Agreements

Show-Score is a diverse community of people who love theatre and want it to flourish. Collectively, we see lots of theatre. When we review a show, we help others find the right show for them.

Every community can benefit from a set of shared agreements. These are ours:

I will help my fellow theatre fans. When I score a show, I will detail the elements of the show I did or didn't enjoy (i.e. the script, the set, the music, the performances etc). I understand that saying “Just go!” or “Stay away!” doesn't provide enough context. I will say what I thought, why, and who might enjoy the show, even if I didn't.

I will be constructive. I will write with a spirit of generosity, even if a show is not to my taste. We all know what it feels like to walk out of a show walking on air, or wanting that time back, but that really doesn't help others understand whether a show is for them. I will write about what worked for me and what didn't.

I will be respectful. Personal attacks and bullying are never acceptable. While engaging with story, plot, production elements, and performances all inform our experience, I will not make disparaging remarks about an individual's physical appearance.

I will be discreet. If I attended a Show-Score Member Night, I will not mention the fee I paid for my ticket in my review.

I will be honest with my community. For Show-Score to be truly helpful, the reviews on it need to come from a truthful place. If I'm involved in a production, or have a relationship with someone on the team, I will not review it.

I will not score a show if I didn't see the whole thing. If I walked out of a show before it finished, I will not score it. It's not fair to your fellow theatre fans to read a review based on a partial experience. By the same token, I will not review a dress rehearsal of a show.

Helpful Tips!

Be free to express yourself openly and honestly.
Write with sensitivity, empathy and understanding.
Comment on the acting rather than the actor unless there is a newsworthy reason to do so.
Ensure your comments are balanced, fair and designed to be productive.
Avoid referring to immutable characteristics such as age, race, gender and appearance unless such characteristics directly affect the production's meaning.
Keep in mind that these reviews are not about objectivity, they are about your response to a work of art. These reviews reflect your experience as much as the show you are reviewing.

These tips don't limit debate. They encourage it. Theatre is meant to provoke a response. So get started! Score a show you've seen and help others decide if it's the right show for them.