David Pattie
@davidpattie.bsky.social
Teaches Drama at University of Birmingham. Scot. And unfeasibly tall.
Written about Beckett, UK theatre, popular music, Eno, Kraftwerk, Velvets, Talking Heads, and why gigs look the way they do.
Written about Beckett, UK theatre, popular music, Eno, Kraftwerk, Velvets, Talking Heads, and why gigs look the way they do.
What he said.
Like all too many children in the UK today, I grew up poor. I am no longer poor, and I am delighted to pay higher taxes to reduce - or ideally eliminate - child poverty. 1/3
November 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
What he said.
You can moan about Brexit
Or blocked, fetid drains;
Opine about Farage
Or odd aches and strains;
You might even discourse on
Undefinable stains;
But nothing's as bad
As the WiFi on trains.
Or blocked, fetid drains;
Opine about Farage
Or odd aches and strains;
You might even discourse on
Undefinable stains;
But nothing's as bad
As the WiFi on trains.
November 26, 2025 at 6:01 PM
You can moan about Brexit
Or blocked, fetid drains;
Opine about Farage
Or odd aches and strains;
You might even discourse on
Undefinable stains;
But nothing's as bad
As the WiFi on trains.
Or blocked, fetid drains;
Opine about Farage
Or odd aches and strains;
You might even discourse on
Undefinable stains;
But nothing's as bad
As the WiFi on trains.
Reposted by David Pattie
Universities are in crisis, and I don’t think it’s helpful to phrase that as “exiting the market”. They’re not mid-range shoe shops, these are educational pillars in society
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Universities are in crisis, and I don’t think it’s helpful to phrase that as “exiting the market”. They’re not mid-range shoe shops, these are educational pillars in society
Reposted by David Pattie
Just out. I've written a major report (with David Edgar) looking at the effect of Covid on British Theatre. You can download it here: www.britishtheatreconsortium.co.uk/britishtheat...
British Theatre Before and After Covid
www.britishtheatreconsortium.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Just out. I've written a major report (with David Edgar) looking at the effect of Covid on British Theatre. You can download it here: www.britishtheatreconsortium.co.uk/britishtheat...
Reposted by David Pattie
I find it far easier to believe that Nigel Farage was a schoolboy racist than that he was ever actually a child.
November 25, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I find it far easier to believe that Nigel Farage was a schoolboy racist than that he was ever actually a child.
Reposted by David Pattie
Reposted by David Pattie
Someone give him a calculator to spell 80085 with and let the rest of us get on with our lives unmolested.
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Someone give him a calculator to spell 80085 with and let the rest of us get on with our lives unmolested.
Reposted by David Pattie
Great to read this table, the week after my institution announces a voluntary severance programme, to see the government introducing a policy that will cost us an extra *£13 million*
These are HEPI estimates of the 20 institutions affected: I think this illustrates the impact if the tariff is absorbed in full by institutions.
What share of the 6% tariff different universities may try to pass on to fees - or the impact might be on demand if they did - is not publicly known.
What share of the 6% tariff different universities may try to pass on to fees - or the impact might be on demand if they did - is not publicly known.
November 24, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Great to read this table, the week after my institution announces a voluntary severance programme, to see the government introducing a policy that will cost us an extra *£13 million*
Reposted by David Pattie
the thing that scares me about Labour HE policy is that because I work in the sector I can see how absolutely insane it is, which makes me wonder just how terrible their policies are in all the other sectors I’m in less of a position to engage with critically out of lack of knowledge.
November 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
the thing that scares me about Labour HE policy is that because I work in the sector I can see how absolutely insane it is, which makes me wonder just how terrible their policies are in all the other sectors I’m in less of a position to engage with critically out of lack of knowledge.
Reposted by David Pattie
Rest in Peace to a legend. I interviewed her for my PhD in her kitchen in Woodquay and I’d say the secondhand cigarette smoke shortened my life by a decade. It was amazing craic.
Rest in Peace
Margaretta D’Arcy.
Actress, playwright, author, activist.
Original member of Aosdána
May she rest in power
Margaretta D’Arcy.
Actress, playwright, author, activist.
Original member of Aosdána
May she rest in power
November 23, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Rest in Peace to a legend. I interviewed her for my PhD in her kitchen in Woodquay and I’d say the secondhand cigarette smoke shortened my life by a decade. It was amazing craic.
Seems like the right thing to do.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Meet the AI workers who tell their friends and family to stay away from AI
When the people making AI seem trustworthy are the ones who trust it the least, it shows that incentives for speed are overtaking safety, experts say
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Seems like the right thing to do.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by David Pattie
Today is Trans Day Of Remembrance
#TransLivesMatter #TDoR #TDoR2025 #TransDayOfRemembrance #TransAwarenessWeek #SayTheirNames
*** Trigger warning for the following thread: Violence against trans people (especially TWOC) * * *
#TransLivesMatter #TDoR #TDoR2025 #TransDayOfRemembrance #TransAwarenessWeek #SayTheirNames
*** Trigger warning for the following thread: Violence against trans people (especially TWOC) * * *
November 20, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Today is Trans Day Of Remembrance
#TransLivesMatter #TDoR #TDoR2025 #TransDayOfRemembrance #TransAwarenessWeek #SayTheirNames
*** Trigger warning for the following thread: Violence against trans people (especially TWOC) * * *
#TransLivesMatter #TDoR #TDoR2025 #TransDayOfRemembrance #TransAwarenessWeek #SayTheirNames
*** Trigger warning for the following thread: Violence against trans people (especially TWOC) * * *
Reposted by David Pattie
While I am getting loads of attention I wasn't expecting... did you know I run the free education programme 'Romancing the Gothic' which has free online classes from experts around the world every week?
Get your tickets here!
share.google/tegHFYWn1yp7...
Get your tickets here!
share.google/tegHFYWn1yp7...
Romancing the Gothic
Romancing the Gothic – Romancing the Gothic runs free-to-access talks on Gothic, horror, folklore and supernatural topics. We run weekly talks and a b...
share.google
November 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
While I am getting loads of attention I wasn't expecting... did you know I run the free education programme 'Romancing the Gothic' which has free online classes from experts around the world every week?
Get your tickets here!
share.google/tegHFYWn1yp7...
Get your tickets here!
share.google/tegHFYWn1yp7...
Glad to be part of the ruin of Anthropic.
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Glad to be part of the ruin of Anthropic.
(Publisher asks me to think about non-copyrighted images for a book cover)
Me: MY SMORGASBORD IS THE INTERNET AND I SHALL FEAST
Me: MY SMORGASBORD IS THE INTERNET AND I SHALL FEAST
November 17, 2025 at 6:10 PM
(Publisher asks me to think about non-copyrighted images for a book cover)
Me: MY SMORGASBORD IS THE INTERNET AND I SHALL FEAST
Me: MY SMORGASBORD IS THE INTERNET AND I SHALL FEAST
Reposted by David Pattie
Big very scary announcement that I never thought I'd have to make so I put nice music and a relaxing nostalgic background on it for you.
November 17, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Big very scary announcement that I never thought I'd have to make so I put nice music and a relaxing nostalgic background on it for you.
This is simultaneously an excellent photograph, and the most terrifying thing I've ever seen.
Sequinned cushion in the Kino bar (2025) photograph by Anne Billson
November 17, 2025 at 12:42 PM
This is simultaneously an excellent photograph, and the most terrifying thing I've ever seen.
@realDonaldTrump Because they are SOCIALIST yr best President is gonna sue the COMMIE BBC because they REFUSE to cast Trump in CALL THE MIDWIFE if the very bad BBC WONT LET TRUMP BE A MIDWIFE I will DECLARE WAR on London and Hemel Hempstead THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
November 10, 2025 at 9:46 PM
@realDonaldTrump Because they are SOCIALIST yr best President is gonna sue the COMMIE BBC because they REFUSE to cast Trump in CALL THE MIDWIFE if the very bad BBC WONT LET TRUMP BE A MIDWIFE I will DECLARE WAR on London and Hemel Hempstead THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
A thing I'm doing.
@moderniststudies.bsky.social @modernistudies.bsky.social @beckettletters.bsky.social @beckettreading.bsky.social
29th November 2025 is scheduled for the online Samuel Beckett seminar, “Decoding Colding in Beckett.”
Please share the details (below)with your colleagues, students, and friends.
29th November 2025 is scheduled for the online Samuel Beckett seminar, “Decoding Colding in Beckett.”
Please share the details (below)with your colleagues, students, and friends.
Hello Beckettians and Modernists! You can now access registration link, full programme of the seminar, and abstracts and bio on the website of The Samuel Beckett Society: samuelbeckettsociety.org
November 9, 2025 at 1:23 PM
A thing I'm doing.
@eleanormorton.bsky.social, just being brilliant. As ever.
Football Chant Therapy For Men
(With @misterabk.bsky.social @bigdirtyfry.bsky.social @seanburkeshow.bsky.social @samlakecomedy.bsky.social @wsebag.bsky.social @bjalborough.bsky.social @cbthorburn.bsky.social and Chris Weir)
www.youtube.com/shorts/V20uv...
(With @misterabk.bsky.social @bigdirtyfry.bsky.social @seanburkeshow.bsky.social @samlakecomedy.bsky.social @wsebag.bsky.social @bjalborough.bsky.social @cbthorburn.bsky.social and Chris Weir)
www.youtube.com/shorts/V20uv...
Football Chant Therapy #comedy #football #mentalhealth
YouTube video by Eleanor Morton
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:04 PM
@eleanormorton.bsky.social, just being brilliant. As ever.
Reposted by David Pattie
Trump's farts 'growing more powerful by the day' says White House.
November 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Trump's farts 'growing more powerful by the day' says White House.
There's something really therapeutic in working through an editor's comments on something you've written. It's like doing a crossword when you already know the answers.
November 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
There's something really therapeutic in working through an editor's comments on something you've written. It's like doing a crossword when you already know the answers.
Edited changes on my Inside No 9 chapter to work on today. Which means I shall have to rewatch some episodes of Inside No 9.
What. A. Hardship.
What. A. Hardship.
November 5, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Edited changes on my Inside No 9 chapter to work on today. Which means I shall have to rewatch some episodes of Inside No 9.
What. A. Hardship.
What. A. Hardship.
I must confirm that I do not, in fact, wish you were here.
I must confirm that I am *not* a rock. Neither am I an island.
I must confirm that I am *not* every woman.
November 5, 2025 at 5:16 AM
I must confirm that I do not, in fact, wish you were here.