iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Chris Neville-Smith (not theatre) @ohno-itschris.bsky.social · 8h

Antisemites celebrate three years of being allowed to say the quiet bit out loud.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 13h

Sorry Andy, cat's out the bag. Kemi's found out you're voiced by Michael Hordern.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 14h

New review: All at sea, at @livetheatre.bsky.social and coming @thesjt.bsky.social. Won't say too much as there's moderate spoilers in the review, but it's a different story to the real one - where a greed, pride and folly lead to a shocking resolution. chrisontheatre.wordpress.com/2026/10/06/a...

chrisontheatre.wordpress.com

All at Sea

Image: Von Fox Productions I’m known for not falling in line with local enthusiasm when I don’t agree, but it’s fair to say that for Alison Carr this is playing on hard mode. Alis…

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Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Chris Neville-Smith (not theatre) @ohno-itschris.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

URGENT CLARIFICATION: When our organisation resolved to build a giant machine to mince all the kittens in the world, that did not mean we intend to mince all the kittens in the world. We only voted down an amendment to not mince kittens is because we won't mince kittens so there's no need for it.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

FFS ChatGPT is now running adverts saying how great it is you can use it to write a thank you note. At this rate, ChatGPT ads are going to be showing an output of "breathe in ... breathe out ..."

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Late addition to bold choices: The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists from Ensemble 84. Not sure I get all the play that Ensemble 84 produce, but they way they staged Mother Courage was innovative and superbly executed. chrisontheatre.wordpress.com/2026/09/22/w...

chrisontheatre.wordpress.com

What’s worth watching: autumn 2026 – spring 2027

Twelve Angry Men, Knightmare Live, Our Friends in the North 1979-184, All at Sea, Hadestown and more …

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Guys, I've decided I will be doing coverage of the Russell Brand trial whilst it's ongoing. I hate the mawkish behaviour of true crime podcasters and want to avoid grisly details, but the question of complicity from associated studios/venues does need a spotlight.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

This is good. Only the first five minutes relevant here, but a good argument made for why you should have faith in your own writing and not rely on ChatGPT to "improve" it. And 12/10 for the patience with an AI writer being talked out of using AI. www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FZX...

youtube.com

Yes, we can tell when you use ChatGPT.

YouTube video by JJJacksfilms

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Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Chris Neville-Smith (not theatre) @ohno-itschris.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I don't think that platitude statement is going to get the Green Party off the hook. Even if nothing happens because of the motion, it's now an organisation's official policy to wilfully misrepresent the beliefs of one minority. That's liable to fall foul of the Equality Act on multiple counts.

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Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Chris Neville-Smith (not theatre) @ohno-itschris.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Update: excellent news for solicitors who specialise in the Equality Act.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

On which case, I expect massive fallout for anyone even indirectly implicated. This ain't gonna be a footnote.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

2025: Google: News alert on your phone! Me: Let's see. Google: Here is a list of articles on Google news for you to check yourself. Me. Cheers. 2026: Google: News alert on your phone! Me: Let's see. Google: Here is out AI bot taking a wild stab in the dark as to what this is about. Me. FML.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Wrote this reply thread to someone taking the position that AI are is a valid as human art because over a billion people use ChatGPT and Gemini. For once I was polite. How did I do?

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Second non-Stoke appearance from Claybody Theatre.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Mate, this is getting ridiculous now. Your captain really has this much of a beef with one specific whale?

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Oh come on, @jayforeman.bsky.social 's easily going to win this. He'll find his way way before anyone else. (And if you don't think this is a competition with a winner, it is now., You don't know how competitive Jay Foreman is.)

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

And another new review: The Trial of Romeo Oscar @thesjt.bsky.social. Bumping this up the queue because it's still running to Saturday. After several plays worldbuilding dystopian futures with robots, this time Alan Ayckbourn absolutely nailed it. chrisontheatre.wordpress.com/2026/10/01/t...

chrisontheatre.wordpress.com

The Trial of Romeo Oscar

The latest sci-fi from Alan Ayckbourn, and this time he’s absolutely nailed the world-building.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

New review: The Departure. Promising new script from Tom Wells about two strangers who have more in common than they'll admit being forced to confront this - but they spend so long evading these issues I just they'd get to the point. chrisontheatre.wordpress.com/2026/09/30/t...

chrisontheatre.wordpress.com

The Departure

We are officially in Alphabetti Theatre’s “dark” period, but things aren’t completely quiet at the moment. If you’re wondering how a new play by Tom Wells showed up as…

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Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Most TV is just this now.

17271941974

Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Chris Neville-Smith (not theatre) @ohno-itschris.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Glad the EU is pulling its finger out but HOW THE FUCK IS THE IRISH GOVERNMENT GETTING AWAY WITH STALLING THIS LONG? This is clear-cut collusion and profiteering from war crimes.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Taken me nearly two months to do this, but I've written a personal reflection on Durham Free Fringe, looking at how far we've come, where we can do better, and what happens next. chrisnevillesmith.info/wp/2026/09/2...

chrisnevillesmith.info

My personal reflection on Durham Free Fringe 2026 – Chris Neville-Smith's play writing site

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

New comment post. The more I think about that Mitchell and Webb row, the more I think it's a bad idea. Not much of a censorship issue, but raises some serious questions about the BBC's attitude of moral guardianship - and who they're not listening to. chrisontheatre.wordpress.com/2026/09/24/t...

chrisontheatre.wordpress.com

That Mitchell and Webb Row

Dropping sketches from That Mitchell and Webb Look isn’t really a censorship issue – but it’s still a bad idea for numerous reason.

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Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Michael Brandon @michaeljbrandon.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Unless David Starkey is available, my money is on Danny Dyer.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Okay, who do you think is the new James Bond? Wrong answers only please. I think it's a toss-up between Austin Powers and Bungle from Rainbow.

Bond author predicts ‘people will be very angry when they find out’ who’s been cast as new 007

Writer of new Bond novel doesn’t think current frontrunner would be a convincing choice
Jacob Stolworthy
Wednesday 23 September 2026 04:10 EDT

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

One of the running jokes of The Onion's satirical right-wing cartoonist is the way he gives away clues about his own pitiful life. At least two here.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

British Airways media employee: Hey, do you think we should open a Bluesky account just in case there's any bad publicity we need to handle? British airways boss: Nah, nobody pays attention to anything written on Bluesky. bsky.app/profile/sara...

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Can't remember if I commented on this, but long overdue. Only thing that stopped me submitting to this is that by the time this came along, I'd already gone ahead and performed it.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

IMHO, the warning sign was Russell T Davies changing Davros to able-bodied because classic Davros is offensive to disabled people. Except nobody was asked. Russell T Davies decided for them. Pushback from disabled viewers was ignored. And worst: the BBC didn't consider this a problem.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Your reminder that humour and offence are both subjective. Decide for yourself based on your own personal preferences if you like. Imposing your verdict on everybody else rarely ends well.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Still think the Mitchell and Webb decision was a dumb one, but please keep it in proportion. It is, at worst, petty moralising. It is not "Orwellian", whatever that means.

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Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Chris Neville-Smith (not theatre) @ohno-itschris.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

... [silence] ... Did you hear me, I said "the FART left" ... [silence] ... You know, like the far left but a T on the end ... [silence] ... Because that's what the far left are like, you know [silence] ... Hey, is this mic switched on?

JD Vance: We need sombody who will fight back against the fart left. Now, you may not even have heard that, but I just called then the fart left, not the far left.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Don't think this is a good idea myself. One of the favourite recruiting lines of the alt-right is "You'd never be allowed to make [beloved classic comedy] now." Moves like this - which seem to serve no purpose other than pre-empting minor sensibilities - only gives said alt-right ammo.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Meanwhile, applications are open for the replacement "Independent Comedy Festival Leicester". indiecomedyfest.co.uk/take-part/

indiecomedyfest.co.uk

Take part - Independent Comedy Festival

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Not good. Amongst other things, if it's that bad it only heightens suspicions that LCF knew it was insolvent long before they admitted it.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This is worth watching as a study of AI's capabilities - and why AI imagery is nowhere near a substitute for human actors and directors. (And that's without considering how how of this copies the original TV scenes.)

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Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Elysium Theatre Company @elysiumtc.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Elysium Theatre Company & Andy Jordan Productions presents Paul Herzberg's 'The Moth' at the Finborough Theatre, 27 October - 21 November. A riveting political thriller, 'The Moth' explores the legacy of Apartheid and the limits of forgiveness. Tickets: www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk/productions/...

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Pretty sure those 10 artists can't stand Noel Gallagher either.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Ouch, this meeting between Leicester Comedy Festival's creditors and trustees doesn't look good. This note from the Live Comedy Association.

14. Ticket money from 2026 was due to be paid on 19 April, a date communicated to comedians and promoters in advance of the festival. On 17 April an email was sent saying payments would not be made. At what point did trustees know payments couldn't be made, and does this reflect the robust scrutiny and challenge of financial forecasts described in the report?

The trustees stated that they did not know payments would not be made, and that the first they knew of it was when they read about it on the comedy website Chortle.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Usual caveat applies: self-selecting samples are not terribly reliable, but ... These findings, if right, aren't going to be a surprise. This is a problem throughout the arts: introductory courses are easy, booking professionals is easy, the bit in between is hard, so everyone ignore the problem.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

ANDREW HUSBAND: We've done it! We've closed the funding gap with AI! MALCOLM TUCKER: Thank fuck for that. For a moment I thought you'd asked ChatGPT for savings or some crap ... HUSBAND: ... TUCKER: ... HUSBAND: ... TUCKER: It's fucking ChatGPT, isn't it? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

AI and council tax rise plans considered to close Durham funding gap

The county council says it faces an £83.7m budget gap by 2030, driven by rising costs.

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Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Chris Neville-Smith (not theatre) @ohno-itschris.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The kid should totally leave his phone in a different student room every night for the next three weeks.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

On this day in 2006, the showbiz world was left reeling. Kermit the Frog revealed that his recent visit to hospital were not routine examinations, but instead treatment for multiple fractures - due to years of violence and abuse from his long-time partner, Miss Piggy.

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Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Chris Neville-Smith (not theatre) @ohno-itschris.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

With all the resignations going on, I finally looked at my local Reform council leader's Wikipedia page. Holy. Fucking. Shit. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_...

en.wikipedia.org

Andrew Husband - Wikipedia

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Reposted by Chris Neville-Smith

Chris Neville-Smith (not theatre) @ohno-itschris.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Okay, I vote we give Piddington its independence. Then immediately declare war and invade. It's been ages since the UK did a war that was an irrefutable victory, so let's do it now and keep up national morale.

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Chris Neville-Smith @cns-theatre.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Thinking of bring back my alter ego Larry Blondell for next year's Durham Free Fringe. But hey, if Ed Sheeran wants Larry to open his gig he'd be up for it.

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