Michael Billington's own selection from twenty years of reviewing theatre for The Guardian - from 1971-1991.

Arranged chronologically, with an extensive introduction on the role of the critic, these reviews and occasional 'think pieces' add up to an authoritative yet highly personal history of British theatre over two vital decades at the end of the twentieth century.

'Easily the most important collection since Tynan, and the most enjoyable' — Observer

'invaluable... When it comes to scrupulous, generous, enthralled and knowledgeable responsiveness to theatre, he is unequalled' — Times Literary Supplement