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Judith Mackrell

@judithmackrell.bsky.social
426 followers 469 following 216 posts

Former dance writer, author of biographies, currently writing double profile of Gwen and Augustus John. Travel, food ,gardening, arts, jaunts and jokes

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Reposted by Judith Mackrell
alan @spacexecadet.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I'm rereading my copy Judith, close call actually as I had promised the loan of it to a friend a month back. Fortunately she is still bogged down in the rather good 2 vol Freud biography so Bloomsbury B hadn't reached her
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Thank you to Susannah Clapp for a mention of this on BBC FrontRow. It's a real thrill to see Lydia Lopokova back in the spot light courtesy of JamesGraham's tremendously witty, clever and moving play, Standard of Living
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Wit. elegance, risk and beauty - a world of glorious dance in Pam Tanowitz's Pastoral at the Barbican. And the spirit of Merce lives on!
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
How wonderful to see the big, beautiful brain of Maynard Keynes made the hero of J Graham's new play. Stellar acting by Rory Kinnear & delicious performance by Natalia Osipova as Maynard's great love, Lydia Lopokova I loved writing about them in my biog. Bloomsbury Ballerina.
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
En route to beautiful Budleigh Salterton for the fine sea bathing and walks and also to talk about Gwen and Augustus John tomorrow. 12.30. do come if you're in the area. @budlitfest.bsky.social
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Tomorrow at 12.45!!
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Love this particularly mad photo of Luisa
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
www.nationalgalleries.org/event/panel-... Really looking forward to being part of this panel on Tuesday. Its being live streamed, for anyone who cant make Edinburgh.
nationalgalleries.org
Panel discussion: Looking for Gwen John (in person) | National Galleries of Scotland
Book live stream tickets As part of the programme for our Gwen John: Strange Beauties exhibition, this panel discussion will consider key moments and relationships in John's life and how they impacted...
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
There has been such an outpouring of love for the brilliant and generous-spirited Richard Alston, who has died too young. I learned so much from him, watching his beautiful dances and enjoying so many conversations with him. I hope that at least some of his work finds a permanent home.
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Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
As Britain swelters through another heatwave, few people will have heard that ministers have quietly dropped plans for solar carports. Cars cooler in summer. Shelter from the rain in winter. Clean electricity all year round. A missed opportunity?
eastangliabylines.co.uk
As Britain bakes, ministers quietly park plans for solar carports
Ministers have quietly shelved plans that could have transformed Britain's biggest car parks into shaded power stations
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ArtButMakeItSports @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Lamentation (flipped, detail), by Gerard David, 1515-23, 📸 by Roberto Schmidt
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cabinetstories.bsky.social @cabinetstories.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
You may also enjoy @judithmackrell.bsky.social 's biography of Gwen and Augustus: "Artists, Siblings, Visionaries' published last year
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
It tells you everything you need to know about Kemi Badneoch and Nigel Farage that as London schools, hospitals and transport networks all buckle under extreme record-breaking temperatures, they gather with fossil fuel lobbyists, climate deniers and the far-right to demand an end to Net Zero
bylinetimes.com
As Extreme Heat Hits London, Fossil Fuel Interests and Global Far-Right Politicians Gather for a 'Glastonbury of Climate Science Deniers'
Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch are both scheduled to address the event, reports Max Colbert
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
"So ... so I said ... why not sign your treaty here, at Versailles?"
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Lucy Brouwer @notrock.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Gwen John exhib in Cardiff yesterday (greatly enhanced by reading @judithmackrell.bsky.social ‘s Artists Siblings Visionaries. Plus bonus Bleak Fabulous repping the youth of Merthyr in great photos.
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Sonia Silva ❤️ @vallygirl.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Standing ovation for Rep. Beatty, who sued Trump over the renaming of the Kennedy Center, took him to court, and won!
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Having such a blast meeting these amazing writers during this treat of a week @womensprize.bsky.social
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alan @spacexecadet.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Break a leg Judith
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Women's Prize @womensprize.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
It's time to introduce the Non-Fiction book clubs! Each have been selected as part of our Readers’ Room programme to read and review one of the titles shortlisted for the 2026 #WomensPrize for Non-Fiction and share their thoughts with Chair of Judges, @Thangam Debbonaire: bit.ly/4uuRDyr
bit.ly
Meet the 2026 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction Book Clubs - Women's Prize
These groups may be spread far and wide, with members from across the UK, but they are united by their shared love of reading. For these book lovers, their clubs are not only places to discuss their latest reads, but also vital support networks during difficult times, and spaces for genuine friendship, fun and solidarity.
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
What an event! So much looking forward to partying with judges and fellow authors
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Top tip for surviving heatwave, which I only just learned. When the worst of the heat is over, put a fan by an open window. It accelerates the flow of cooler air into the room.
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Beautiful St Swithin's church in Bath where I talked about Gwen and Augustus John today
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
At Bath Literary Fesitval tomorrow - do come if you're in the neighboughood. Its going to be the hottest day of the year, but nothing so hot as the combined stories of Gwen and Augustus John www.bathboxoffice.org.uk/whats-on/gwe...
bathboxoffice.org.uk
Gwen And Augustus John - Judith Mackrell
Shortlisted for the 2026 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Chapeau to The Ballet Boyz for celebrating their 25th anniversary in such high style. Wonderful to see old classics from the rep, by Russell Maliphant, Javier De Frutos and Chris. Wheeldon, also to discover the choreography of Xie Xin - a marvel of fluency, suspension and gorgeous mystery
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Fiona McLees @mclees-fiona.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Sharing a @hayfestival.bsky.social session with shortlisted Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction author @judithmackrell.bsky.social & our knowledgeable Gwen John curator Lucy Wood. Come join us! And read Judith’s amazing joint bio of Gwen and Augustus, & come see the show in Cardiff (it leaves in June…)
hayfestival.com
Fiona McLees, Judith Mackrell and Lucy Wood - Hay Festival
A conversation on the 150th anniversary of Gwen John’s birth, examining the enduring resonance of her quietly radical work.
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
May 8 VE Day. All those hopes and beliefs that men and women went to war for - and 81 years on we have a crew of idiots newly voted in to run our local councils. Thinking of the women journalists in my war book and feeling the shame. #TheCorrespondents #GoingWithTheBoys
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Women's Prize @womensprize.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
12 brilliant authors, one magical evening✨ Join us to celebrate the 2026 shortlists at Women’s Prize LIVE! Tickets are selling fast – book yours now: womensprize.com/readers/even...
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Covie @covie93.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Seems like the Strait of Hormuz is only open when the stock market is.
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Beautiful news 🔥🔥🔥🔥
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
This is the massive turnout for last night’s “anti regime” concert in Heroes Square, Budapest, ahead of tomorrow’s crucial Hungarian elections. Tens of thousands chanted “Russians go home”. #Orban
Aerial view of enormous crowd. Haven’t managed to source picture credit. Will post when I do
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Live on Radio London in half an hour or so to talk all things @womensprize.bsky.social with the wonderful Thangam Debbonaire and others
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Happy Easter- feeling v lucky to be out here in France where the day is just golden
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
What a thrill to be in the company of such women
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Simon Pegg @simonpegg.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Hear me out. Keep the State Visit, but send Princess Anne instead.
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
To beautiful Abergavenny to talk about Gwen John, and then to the magnificent Strange Beauties exhibition in Cardiff, with so many small treasures hung alongside familiar works
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Athenaeum Boekhandel @athenaeum.nl · 25/03/2026
De shortlist voor de Women's Prize for Non-Fiction 2026 is bekend! Lyse Doucet, Daisy Fancourt, Judith Mackrell, Jane Rogoyska, Arundhati Roy en Ece Temelkuran maken nog kans. Lees meer & bestel: athenaeumscheltema.n...
Logo: Women's Prize for Non-Fiction
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Kat Lister @katlister.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Congratulations, wonderful news! Your book has been in my “to buy” list & I plan on rectifying that as soon as I go to see the Gwen John exhibition on Easter Monday!
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Jeremy Millar @jeremymillar.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
On the Feast of Annunciation, a work of art that takes the breath away as one reaches the top of a flight of stairs, turns right, and looks upwards. Fra Angelico, Annunciation (c.1440–1445)
A fresco on the wall of San Marco monastery in Florence. In a loggia, the Virgin Mary receives the news of her pregnancy from the Archangel Gabriel. They are seemingly separated from one another by a column. The angels wings are beautifully multicoloured. The atmosphere is one of calm, and the whole scene is unspeakably beautiful.

Henry James said of this work: 'You may be as little of a formal Christian as Fra Angelico was much of one, you yet feel admonished by spiritual decency to let so yearning a view of the Christian story work its utmost will on you.'
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Dr Ann Kennedy Smith @akennedysmith.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
It's such a good book. I loved how you described John's 1909 painting of Jane Harrison's ‘colourful dishevelment as she lay on her couch, one shoe half kicked-off to reveal the darning on the heel of her stocking.’
akennedysmith.substack.com
Portrait of Jane Harrison, 1909
Introducing the legendary Jane Ellen Harrison (1850-1928)
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Sanjoy Roy @sanj0yr0y.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Wahoo, go go go go Judith! Star you are!
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Dr Ann Kennedy Smith @akennedysmith.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Excellent news, well done!
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Women's Prize @womensprize.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Congratulations to: Lyse Doucet, Daisy Fancourt, @judithmackrell.bsky.social, Jane Rogoyska, Arundhati Roy and @ecetemelkuran.bsky.social
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Joyed-up to the max to be selected for the Women's Non Fiction shortlist. It's an honour and a thrill to be in the company of such extraordinary and talented writers, even more so because all the women on the longlist were, and are, fabulous.
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Joyed-up to the max to be selected for the Women's Non Fiction shortlist. It's an honour and a thrill to be in the company of such extraordinary and talented writers, even more so because all the women on the longlist were, and are, fabulous.
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Very thrilled to fanfare the pub day for my paperback - with Gwen and Augustus John framed by eye-popping colour design @picadorbooks
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
At The Royal Ballet's Giselle last night and the evenings revelation was Reece Clarke, who is shaping up to be one of the great Romantic Albrechts, with such fullness detail and musicality in his phrasing and such detail in his acting
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign... Wonderful obituary for a wonderful man.
theguardian.com
Axel Burrough obituary
Architect whose cultural projects included the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester and the remodelling of St Luke’s church for the LSO
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign... Wonderful obituary for a wonderful man.
theguardian.com
Axel Burrough obituary
Architect whose cultural projects included the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester and the remodelling of St Luke’s church for the LSO
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Judith Mackrell @judithmackrell.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
First time seeing Stoppard's Arcadia @oldvictheatre.bsky.social and what a rush and dazzle it is. Head-spinningly clever but also so beguilingly tender.
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