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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2016 8:11:23 GMT
I don't see how a fresh interpretation of a play is something that Shakespeare needs "defending" from. Also, there's no reason not to inject comedy into Hamlet, it's got quite a good quantity of jokes, some of which are even funny by 21st century standards. By all accounts Shakepeare was a pretty modern guy, and I think we can agree a fairly clever one, I think he'd manage to survive people 'interpreting' his work however they want...heck if he were alive he'd sit back and enjoy the Royalties and fame if nowt else!
And I've never seen a director 'insert' a joke (except maybe visual gags) that wasn't already there in the text. Because turns out, old Will was a funny guy. And his plays still endure, even the humour. Oh wait is that why we still do them? because no matter what the context they're still quite good?
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Post by ldm2016 on Oct 26, 2016 8:26:53 GMT
I don't see how a fresh interpretation of a play is something that Shakespeare needs "defending" from. Also, there's no reason not to inject comedy into Hamlet, it's got quite a good quantity of jokes, some of which are even funny by 21st century standards. They did "Carry on Hamlet"... Honestly they even had a 'joke' which went:
"knock knock" "who's there" "Your Russian friend Len" "Your Russian friend is here, I'll let Lenin"
If you think that should be on The Globe...
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Post by kryz1000 on Oct 26, 2016 8:28:12 GMT
The response to Emma Rice’s departure really has been something to behold hasn’t it? I respect people’s right to react in whatever way they find appropriate but can’t we just consider the fact that it just didn’t work out?
In the age of Twitter and, indeed, TheatreBoard there are a variety of opinions now available to us, 24/7. Some of the more influential and established commentators have out-done themselves though. She’s “clearly been pushed”, “it goes deeper”, “it’s not about lighting” says one. The Globe is “deeply divided” says another. I’m sure you’ll carefully lay out your evidence to support these statements won’t you? No?
We all love a conspiracy theory but this unbridled twittering is, I would imagine, deeply unhelpful to an organisation that’s going through challenging times. If you want to support The Globe’s and Emma Rice’s future then a more measured response might be more helpful.
On a few practical points. It is very easy to find the job description online. Amongst other things, it says :
[our] theatre practice is inspired by a sense of continuing experimentation and openness of approach, underpinned by a desire to reflect theatre practice of Shakespeare’s time.
and
[the job is] To ensure that the programming in the Globe Theatre and Sam Wanamaker Playhouse provide a satisfying and coherent balance of traditional, experimental and international work.
I’ll just leave that there for those who felt that a) the Globe Management were keen to stifle creativity and innovation and b) weren’t clear about their commitment to traditional ways of working too.
Secondly. On the question of innovation. Mark R and Dominic D (and their rosta of visiting directors and companies) proved time and again that innovation is possible within these parameters. It will be possible again.
Thirdly. On audiences. This has been the most interesting one for me (and many in this thread). The Globe has played to packed, diverse houses for 20 years. Just because you’re going now doesn’t mean that the audience has only now become more diverse. The Twitterverse has led us to believe that our bubble is the only bubble. Funnily enough, it’s not.
I frankly think that it’s shaming that people have been saying ‘I’ve never been before, Emma Rice got me to come and therefore this whole situation is a scandal’. The scandal is that you never came before to support this award-winning, ground-breaking, internationally-important institution. Step forward Matthew Bourne.
The theatre vs heritage vs academic debate doesn’t deserve any more airtime. The Globe was founded to deliver across all of those objectives and the previous Artistic Directors also wrestled with that balance, it seems.
Yesterday’s news was very sad indeed. But it was delivered without leaks, unseemly rushes for the door and public slanging matches. This final element was provided by ‘the audience’ who supposedly care so much that they forgot context, complexity, good grace and the power of calm reflection.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Oct 26, 2016 8:31:31 GMT
It looks rather like they [Doran, Mallyon & Whyman] 're now angling for Rice to come and work for them! That didn't work well for them last time. That production was not well-loved. If you mean the RSC/Kneehigh Cymbeline in the Swan, which I recall wasn't to your personal taste, remember that Emma Rice was invited back to the RSC Swan to direct The Empress by Tanika Gupta, dramaturg of her sellout Globe Theatre triumph A Midsummer Night's Dream, which of course you say you didn't like either, without having actually experienced it live in the theatre.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2016 8:34:44 GMT
Goodness. All this guff about Shakespeare being protected by the Globe and their responsibility to produce "authentic" and "proper" productions. They'll be banning women from acting in the plays soon!
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Post by Honoured Guest on Oct 26, 2016 8:39:48 GMT
The response to Emma Rice’s departure really has been something to behold hasn’t it? I respect people’s right to react in whatever way they find appropriate but can’t we just consider the fact that it just didn’t work out? It "didn't work out" because the Board which appointed her has reneged on its original appointment decision, just six months in. In every other way, artistic, social and box office, it has been a success.
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Post by kryz1000 on Oct 26, 2016 8:47:40 GMT
the Board which appointed her has reneged on its original appointment decision I'm guessing that you don't have a unique insight into the debates that were had and the decisions that were made so I'll revert, if I may, to my previous point about unhelpful, unmeasured, sweeping statements. The press release says that the decision was reached 'together'. We could just take that at face value couldn't we?
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Post by mrcurry on Oct 26, 2016 8:55:54 GMT
I want tourists to come to see plays at The Globe. We should feel immensely proud that people from all around the World want to come to London and whilst there see a Shakespeare play. Immensely proud. However, they are coming to see Shakespeare performed properly not comedy versions of Hamlet or Cymbeline with street "dancing". We have a duty to preserve Shakespeare for future generations and preserve it in a manner similar to the way we received it. That is not to say, as I have said on this thread, that there is no room for modern interpretations of Shakespeare, but simply that The Globe should be the defender of Shakespeare in London and not a platform for directors who admit they don't like or care about his work to pervert our culture's greatest works. Agree with this. The only play I have walked out of before the interval was a version of A Midsummer Nights Dream that the director had tried to turn into an episode of Eastenders. Not against re-interpretations, but the Globe with an audience of students who have been studying the play, is not the place to do it.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Oct 26, 2016 9:00:38 GMT
I'm guessing that you don't have a unique insight into the debates that were had and the decisions that were made so I'll revert, if I may, to my previous point about unhelpful, unmeasured, sweeping statements. The press release says that the decision was reached 'together'. We could just take that at face value couldn't we? Here's the Statement you refer to: "The Shakespeare Globe Trust Board together with Artistic Director, Emma Rice, have determined that the current nature of work, which has characterised the period since Emma assumed the position of Artistic Director in April 2016, will conclude in April 2018, when Emma will be leaving the Globe following its 2017/18 Winter Season." The Statement is nonsensical. How could it be remotely possible that anyone could "determine" the nature of the work at a theatre immediately after they leave it?
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Post by ldm2016 on Oct 26, 2016 9:06:27 GMT
Goodness. All this guff about Shakespeare being protected by the Globe and their responsibility to produce "authentic" and "proper" productions. They'll be banning women from acting in the plays soon! Weren't you blaming white men yesterday as if no black actors have a view that Shakespeare should be taken seriously? Bit racist, isn't it?
No-one except the loony left have suggested that she was replaced because she is a woman and no-one except, yet again, the same people have suggested that the plays should be performed by men only.
There are, however, many people, myself clearly included, who believe that Shakespeare should be treated with reverence and that is what The Globe should defend. If you want hip-hop, gangster (c)rap or even heavy metal (to avoid inevitable accusations of racism by weirdos) interpretations of Shakespeare there are plenty of theatres in London to accommodate such productions. Just let The Globe and The National defend and protect our culture and heritage.
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Post by kryz1000 on Oct 26, 2016 9:06:33 GMT
How could it be remotely possible that anyone could "determine" the nature of the work at a theatre immediately after they leave i err - that's not what it says. it says that they've determined that the CURRENT nature of work.....will CONCLUDE in April 18. it doesn't say what will follow.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Oct 26, 2016 9:09:50 GMT
Yes, but the current nature of work can continue or develop after an Artistic Director leaves. A departing AD can't determine that it will conclude.
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Post by Snciole on Oct 26, 2016 9:15:31 GMT
Maybe Shakespeare was the Loch Ness Monster (on drunken dare from Marlowe)? While we're discussing outlandish theories. What next for her though? All the places she could go (Is The Gate still looking for someone) are really small and I don't think that would be helpful to take such a big step backwards. Maybe becoming AD of touring company in the short term before moving on to somewhere that suits her style. The Gate announced Ellen McDougall as new AD a couple of months ago (unless you mean the Gate in Dublin, which just announced Selina Cartmell as their new AD last month). Poor Emma, these jobs go so quickly! How wonderful to see so many new female ADs though. The Gate (Notting Hill) is a tough but rewarding space.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Oct 26, 2016 9:21:55 GMT
Poor Emma, these jobs go so quickly! How wonderful to see so many new female ADs though. The Gate (Notting Hill) is a tough but rewarding space. Emma Rice was reluctant to move to live in London but couldn't resist the opportunity to (briefly) vitalise Shakespare's Globe. I don't think there's any other London theatre which would hold much appeal to her. Kneehigh and the Globe are a perfect match, although I agree that the Globe can be used in other ways too, such as boring tourists and obsessional heritagistas in shared lighting.
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Post by alexandra on Oct 26, 2016 9:25:15 GMT
Why employ someone who openly admits that they don't love Shakespeare as much as a Globe Usherette? Why employ someone with 'radical' directing techniques ? I don't her work but I dislike what is happening much more Edit *like* "Usherette"? And what is one of those?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2016 9:34:35 GMT
I love the suggestion that we take a PR statement 'at face value'. I'm sure that's bringing a warm glow inside to spin doctors everywhere. ;-)
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Post by kathryn on Oct 26, 2016 9:36:26 GMT
The issue wasn't modern interpretation, or hip hop, or cross gender casting - all of which the Globe has had before.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2016 9:40:27 GMT
Mark Rylance did some unusual things. Dominic Dromgoole definitely did some odd things (including inserting extra-textual jokes, for those who are against any kind of text revision). The key difference here is that neither of them was pushed out with the dust barely settled on their first season. Something here really STINKS.
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Post by alexandra on Oct 26, 2016 9:40:39 GMT
Well thank God for some sanity, kryz1000. I see you're quite a new member - do stick around.
As for the Globe reneging on its appointment: on the contrary both Rice and the Globe appear to be honouring the contract, which presumably lasts until 2018. They have simply agreed not to extend it. That's their prerogative.
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Post by ldm2016 on Oct 26, 2016 9:42:50 GMT
The issue wasn't modern interpretation, or hip hop, or cross gender casting - all of which the Globe has had before. No-one knows for certain the feedback provided by donors and key stakeholders which rendered her position untenable.
However, I'm just saying why I am glad she is going and my perfect vision of The Globe.
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Post by youngoffender on Oct 26, 2016 9:44:16 GMT
Yes, they seem to be honouring the contract - but it's bizarre to be saying 18 months ahead of time that they won't be renewing. The announcement surely makes her position untenable in the interim.
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Post by ldm2016 on Oct 26, 2016 9:45:21 GMT
Mark Rylance did some unusual things. Dominic Dromgoole definitely did some odd things (including inserting extra-textual jokes, for those who are against any kind of text revision). The key difference here is that neither of them was pushed out with the dust barely settled on their first season. Something here really STINKS. Maybe their tenures as AD laid the foundation for the donor's revolt and she was simply the straw that broke the camel's back?
Also, no-one knows what she was suggesting that finally completed her swift demise...
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Post by Honoured Guest on Oct 26, 2016 9:49:25 GMT
As for the Globe reneging on its appointment: on the contrary both Rice and the Globe appear to be honouring the contract, which presumably lasts until 2018. They have simply agreed not to extend it. That's their prerogative. What will happen on the stage if no director will go near the place after April 2018?
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Post by alexandra on Oct 26, 2016 9:51:44 GMT
Yes, they seem to be honouring the contract - but it's bizarre to be saying 18 months ahead of time that they won't be renewing. The announcement surely makes her position untenable in the interim. No, unfortunately you have to make those kind of decisions in theatre (or you should) because the new AD has to start programming a year or so ahead.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2016 9:55:13 GMT
Someone will though. There's an enormous backlash against this decision, but there's also still people agreeing with it. There will be directors who agree with the board that Emma Rice was a weird appointment in the first place and won't see anything weird about wanting to step into the position. There will be directors who disagree with the board's decision but who wouldn't be able to bear seeing the Globe go to seed without any directors at the helm. They'll fill the gap, the theatre will carry on.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Oct 26, 2016 9:59:50 GMT
No, unfortunately you have to make those kind of decisions in theatre (or you should) because the new AD has to start programming a year or so ahead. The new AD, or more likely an Usher promoted to the new substitute role of Acting Interim Master of Stage, won't need much lead time to cast and rehearse actors to spout straight off the page in shared lighting. They're not going to do actual theatre after Emma Rice leaves.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Oct 26, 2016 10:01:11 GMT
I want tourists to come to see plays at The Globe. We should feel immensely proud that people from all around the World want to come to London and whilst there see a Shakespeare play. Immensely proud. However, they are coming to see Shakespeare performed properly not comedy versions of Hamlet or Cymbeline with street "dancing". We have a duty to preserve Shakespeare for future generations and preserve it in a manner similar to the way we received it. That is not to say, as I have said on this thread, that there is no room for modern interpretations of Shakespeare, but simply that The Globe should be the defender of Shakespeare in London and not a platform for directors who admit they don't like or care about his work to pervert our culture's greatest works. There is no 'proper' way. If you want theatre as archeology then there are fringe theatres that can satisfy such a minority interest..... Seriously, that attitude is antithetical to theatre, it's the root of the problem.
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Post by alexandra on Oct 26, 2016 10:05:29 GMT
No, unfortunately you have to make those kind of decisions in theatre (or you should) because the new AD has to start programming a year or so ahead. The new AD, or more likely an Usher promoted to the new substitute role of Acting Interim Master of Stage, won't need much lead time to cast and rehearse actors to spout straight off the page in shared lighting. They're not going to do actual theatre after Emma Rice leaves. I wish there was a "laugh" button, i.e. you didn't agree with it but it made you laugh.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Oct 26, 2016 10:07:10 GMT
the Board which appointed her has reneged on its original appointment decision I'm guessing that you don't have a unique insight into the debates that were had and the decisions that were made so I'll revert, if I may, to my previous point about unhelpful, unmeasured, sweeping statements. The press release says that the decision was reached 'together'. We could just take that at face value couldn't we? I posted a number of links yesterday which went against that press release, not least from Rice herself. Surely in this day and age we weigh up sources and interrogate the evidence, not automatically accepting the 'official' line?
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Post by kathryn on Oct 26, 2016 10:08:27 GMT
The issue wasn't modern interpretation, or hip hop, or cross gender casting - all of which the Globe has had before. No-one knows for certain the feedback provided by donors and key stakeholders which rendered her position untenable.
However, I'm just saying why I am glad she is going and my perfect vision of The Globe.
Well, they were happy enough to continue donating under previous ADs who included modern dancing, hip hop, cross-gender casting and the odd modern joke, so I tend to believe the statement that it was the use of a lighting rig and amplification.
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