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Post by teamyali on Apr 2, 2023 15:42:39 GMT
I remembered last year when Danny Lee commented on his Olivier nomination that he didn’t have an acting agent (or was that he used to be represented by an agency but he became freelance at the time of his nomination) and that the congratulatory letters were sent to his writing agency. I believe it’s normal to have separate agencies if you’re not only an actor but also a writer-director, though I think it’s more feasible to be in one talent agency but with different agents for acting or writing/directing (in the case of Emerald Fennell, who’s under United Agents, there’s a different contact person for acting bookings and behind the camera work).
We’re not exactly privy or nitty-gritty with Danny Lee’s career, although he’s open about his struggles as an actor of color. I was expecting he’ll be more booked after his Olivier nomination. He’s not exactly afforded the privilege as his peers.
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Post by luvvie23 on Apr 3, 2023 19:13:30 GMT
Danny Lee Wynter has announced that he is withdrawing from the play. But it is still going ahead. Due to personal reasons. Wow. I’ve heard it hasn’t been an easy process. Maybe not a great idea to cast yourself as the lead? Maybe a bit too close to the play. Very sad. Either way.
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Post by sam22 on Apr 3, 2023 19:52:08 GMT
Now reflected on the Royal Court's website: It is with deep regret we have to announce that due to personal circumstances, Danny Lee Wynter has taken the difficult decision to withdraw from performing the role of David in BLACK SUPERHERO. The role of David will now be played by Lewis Brown. royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/black-superhero/
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 3, 2023 19:59:38 GMT
Now reflected on the Royal Court's website: It is with deep regret we have to announce that due to personal circumstances, Danny Lee Wynter has taken the difficult decision to withdraw from performing the role of David in BLACK SUPERHERO. The role of David will now be played by Lewis Brown. royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/black-superhero/Can’t say I’m surprised tbh. Not the ‘technical difficulties’ then
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Post by foxa on Apr 3, 2023 21:06:15 GMT
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Post by londonpostie on Apr 3, 2023 22:45:37 GMT
Probably not, though Donmar and Hampstead upstairs jostling one another for podium positions.
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Post by crowblack on Apr 4, 2023 7:42:52 GMT
Danny Lee Wynter has announced that he is withdrawing from the play. But it is still going ahead. Due to personal reasons. Wow. I’ve heard it hasn’t been an easy process. Maybe not a great idea to cast yourself as the lead? Maybe a bit too close to the play. Very sad. Either way. Yes, that's a lot of pressure, putting a first time writer on in the main house and having them in the lead role too. The theatre could have handled it better though. We're used to the idea of actors being off, shows cancelled through covid and they could have just said that so audiences could make other arrangements.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 4, 2023 15:49:11 GMT
Danny Lee Wynter has announced that he is withdrawing from the play. But it is still going ahead. Due to personal reasons. Wow. I’ve heard it hasn’t been an easy process. Maybe not a great idea to cast yourself as the lead? Maybe a bit too close to the play. Very sad. Either way. Yes, that's a lot of pressure, putting a first time writer on in the main house and having them in the lead role too. The theatre could have handled it better though. We're used to the idea of actors being off, shows cancelled through covid and they could have just said that so audiences could make other arrangements. I think the full story will come out soon.
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Post by jr on Apr 5, 2023 4:52:21 GMT
Pity, I thought he was the best thing on it. Unlike Dyllón Burnside, probably the worst stage acting I have seen in ages.
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Post by londonpostie on Apr 5, 2023 10:49:37 GMT
<cough> <cough> Powering up tonight. Tickets available for today and tomorrow on the unmentionables.
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Post by showgirl on Apr 5, 2023 15:57:07 GMT
Had pencilled in tomorrow's matinee as time unexpectedly free, but that was before the hiatus. Now I'll wait for reports of the effect (if any) of the cast change.
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Post by marob on Apr 6, 2023 17:22:53 GMT
Saw this this afternoon. I enjoyed it a lot, and found it quite funny, though am not quite sure what to make of it overall.
Pre-show speech mentioning that Lewis Brown would be performing with script in-hand as he’s only had since Saturday to learn the part.
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Post by teamyali on Apr 7, 2023 5:54:52 GMT
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Post by luvvie23 on Apr 7, 2023 7:39:09 GMT
I understand that Danny must be going through so much pain. But, surely it couldn’t have been so bad that he couldn’t get through a relatively short run of his own debut play, on the main stage of the Royal court? Daniel Evans is not known to be problematic. And nobody would have forced DLW out. Especially given the times we are in with understanding mental health and the backlash if we are not empathetic to emotional struggle. This (to me) is a massive opportunity wasted. It had mixed reviews and it isn’t selling. Could that be a part of the problem? My sympathy is with cast and the poor actor going on stage with the script in hand.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 7, 2023 7:46:25 GMT
There’s always two sides to every story
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Post by kate8 on Apr 7, 2023 7:57:18 GMT
I understand that Danny must be going through so much pain. But, surely it couldn’t have been so bad that he couldn’t get through a relatively short run of his own debut play, on the main stage of the Royal court? Daniel Evans is not known to be problematic. And nobody would have forced DLW out. Especially given the times we are in with understanding mental health and the backlash if we are not empathetic to emotional struggle. This (to me) is a massive opportunity wasted. It had mixed reviews and it isn’t selling. Could that be a part of the problem? My sympathy is with cast and the poor actor going on stage with the script in hand. If you’re having a MH crisis then sometimes you can’t even get through today, or the next hour, never mind a few weeks. I don’t think you understand at all. I’m glad he felt able to step away and put his own health first, and that the RC has supported him.
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Post by max on Apr 7, 2023 7:57:22 GMT
Quite a few big names coming in with words of support on that Instagram message. Russell T Davies, various directors, and actors. Jonathan Harvey says: "Quite unprecedented. But yes. It’s your play. It will always be your play". So some kind of dispute over the version that's reached the stage.
After not enough input on 'Rare Earth Mettle' it may be that there's been too much for the writer's dignity to take on 'Black Superhero'. I've read mainly very good reviews, a few middling, but no bad ones. Sometimes spats in the creative process get parked when the outcome comes good. This feels like an issue of deeper integrity.
There's a good argument for plays/shows growing up from a smaller company, where writer/makers/target audience are close to it in its early versions, and then it goes to the wider world as a largely 'done deal' with the receipts to prove it works (and to ward off interference). I certainly don't want to say to any writer 'work your way up from Studio Theatre' - it's exciting to see a play get Main Stage plus all the bells and whistles - but the cost of starting there may be too great.
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Post by luvvie23 on Apr 7, 2023 8:25:41 GMT
I understand that Danny must be going through so much pain. But, surely it couldn’t have been so bad that he couldn’t get through a relatively short run of his own debut play, on the main stage of the Royal court? Daniel Evans is not known to be problematic. And nobody would have forced DLW out. Especially given the times we are in with understanding mental health and the backlash if we are not empathetic to emotional struggle. This (to me) is a massive opportunity wasted. It had mixed reviews and it isn’t selling. Could that be a part of the problem? My sympathy is with cast and the poor actor going on stage with the script in hand. If you’re having a MH crisis then sometimes you can’t even get through today, or the next hour, never mind a few weeks. I don’t think you understand at all. I’m glad he felt able to step away and put his own health first, and that the RC has supported him. I’m not saying the Royal court hasn’t supported him. Danny said that any attempt to say that this play isn’t his will not end well, and that he is not F#*king about…. That to me is someone is mentally stronger for stepping away which is good. Am I wrong to sympathise with a company who thought they were going to be playing 8 performances a week, to then have lots cancelled and have an actor thrown on with the book? It’s not all about one person. It’s about a company. And there are two sides to a story
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Post by kate8 on Apr 7, 2023 8:58:37 GMT
luvvie23 of course you’re not wrong to sympathise with the rest of the company, but I think you are wrong to say ‘surely it couldn’t have been so bad that he couldn’t get through a relatively short run…’ Yes, it clearly is that bad. There are no doubt things we don’t know, but saying ‘there are two sides to a story’ suggests you doubt the severity of his mental health. Maybe I’ve misunderstood your meaning? As someone who’s had MH issues, maybe I’m over-sensitive, but if someone says they need to walk away for their MH, we don’t have to know any more, just believe that it won’t have been a decision taken lightly.
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Post by luvvie23 on Apr 7, 2023 9:09:49 GMT
luvvie23 of course you’re not wrong to sympathise with the rest of the company, but I think you are wrong to say ‘surely it couldn’t have been so bad that he couldn’t get through a relatively short run…’ Yes, it clearly is that bad. There are no doubt things we don’t know, but saying ‘there are two sides to a story’ suggests you doubt the severity of his mental health. Maybe I’ve misunderstood your meaning? As someone who’s had MH issues, maybe I’m over-sensitive, but if someone says they need to walk away for their MH, we don’t have to know any more, just believe that it won’t have been a decision taken lightly. I agree with you and I am wrong to suggest that it couldn’t have been that bad. And I shouldn’t question an individuals mental health. But there were (allegedly) previous directors on this project. One very well known director that stepped down. To have a play out on as a first time writer is a privilege not bestowed on many. The court were maybe a bit naive to let a first time writer star in his own play.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2023 9:15:21 GMT
Am I wrong to sympathise with a company who thought they were going to be playing 8 performances a week, to then have lots cancelled and have an actor thrown on with the book? It’s not all about one person. It’s about a company. And there are two sides to a story
I think empathy (or sympathy if you prefer) should be directed toward all involved until facts suggest otherwise.
Your earlier comment,"But, surely it couldn’t have been so bad that he couldn’t get through a relatively short run of his own debut play, on the main stage of the Royal court?" seems a bit lacking in that regard.
An alternative read would be given all that is at stake, something as obvious to the playwright as anyone else in the company, it really must have been that bad for him to make the decision that he did.
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Post by luvvie23 on Apr 7, 2023 9:36:39 GMT
Am I wrong to sympathise with a company who thought they were going to be playing 8 performances a week, to then have lots cancelled and have an actor thrown on with the book? It’s not all about one person. It’s about a company. And there are two sides to a story
I think empathy (or sympathy if you prefer) should be directed toward all involved until facts suggest otherwise.
Your earlier comment,"But, surely it couldn’t have been so bad that he couldn’t get through a relatively short run of his own debut play, on the main stage of the Royal court?" seems a bit lacking in that regard.
An alternative read would be given all that is at stake, something as obvious to the playwright as anyone else in the company, it really must have been that bad for him to make the decision that he did.
you are not wrong. I stand corrected.
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Post by jgblunners on Apr 7, 2023 9:48:55 GMT
Mental health issues should of course be approached seriously. I’m sure we would all commend Mr Wynter for making a very difficult decision in order to protect/improve his mental health. However, I would caution against doling out too much sympathy for him. There are indeed two sides to every story.
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Post by cherokee on Apr 7, 2023 14:23:11 GMT
That latest statement does not sound as if it comes from someone who has left the show amicably or willingly. He sounds bitter and angry. I'd be very surprised if it was his decision to leave: sounds like he was forced to and really isn't happy about it. Things must have got very bad for the playwright to be evicted from his own show. I wonder if we will learn more in time.
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Post by imstillhere on Apr 7, 2023 21:32:53 GMT
He was obviously made to step down. Perhaps these negotiations are why the show went dark for so long? The Royal Court not making a statement about this feels suspicious. What happened? What are they trying to hide? What did Wynter do? Were complaints made about Wynter’s behavior from the other members of the company or theatre? I think something like that probably happened.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Apr 7, 2023 22:19:02 GMT
I would be surprised if he works again anytime soon once the full story comes out
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Post by teamyali on Apr 7, 2023 23:17:42 GMT
Danny Lee’s best friend, actress Sinead Matthews, also posted on IG supporting him. She said that his mental health is sound and he’s not had a breakdown… http://instagram.com/p/Cqv1oKWoGKi
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Post by luvvie23 on Apr 8, 2023 7:00:15 GMT
Danny Lee’s best friend, actress Sinead Matthews, also posted on IG supporting him. She said that his mental health is sound and he’s not had a breakdown… http://instagr.am/p/Cqv1oKWoGKi posts like this are a shame in my personal opinion. He should let his play thrive and enjoy the rest of the run.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2023 16:11:45 GMT
Some of you all seem quite fixated on the behind the scenes stuff. Might I suggest a reality TV series instead?
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Post by luvvie23 on Apr 8, 2023 18:20:10 GMT
Some of you all seem quite fixated on the behind the scenes stuff. Might I suggest a reality TV series instead? when you turn up to the theatre after, sorting childcare, travel, spending…. To be turned away when you get to the theatre. Also, to be told it’s technical difficulties. I think it makes sense to be a bit curious when it turns out that there were other things afoot.
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