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Post by talkstageytome on Jun 15, 2016 10:03:06 GMT
www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/2016/mark-shenton-weighing-in-on-the-national-theatres-plus-one-controversy/?utm_content=buffer6745c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferAn interesting read. To be honest I've shared my views on this so many times that I'm tired of it. It's a shame that unsociable hours are a part of the job, but critics aren't the only ones who work late at night. I can see when Mark Shenton is coming from, but if a surgeon working a night shift started asking for a friends to be let into the emergency room with her, they'd be laughed at I'm sure. Theatre criticism is a job with a huge number of perks, and Mr Shenton is in a fortunate enough position to have a steady paid writing job, which is extremely rare. I appreciate that suddenly having your +1 taken away may have come as a shock,but constantly writing tweets and articles about it has already not done any good. I doubt yet another article is going to change anything. And besides, not all shows offer a +1 anyway. Also, having been invited to 'review' a show for my 'blog' (Or as some would see it, invited to share my thoughts on that guy from the james bond films in this weird musical except there wasn't much dancing and the songs were not very happy etc etc. idk I don't even like theatre I'm just doing it for the freebies despite having spent £20 on the train and 3 hours of my life on traveling to and from the theatre... woe is me! ...Come on!) by the National Theatre a few weeks ago, and subsequently receiving positive feedback from them, the constant belittling of 'bloggers' and wannabe critics seems a bit uncalled for. Still, Mr Shenton makes some interesting points. It'll be interesting to see if other theatres follow suit, or whether the National will subsequently reverse its position on the whole thing.
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1,103 posts
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Post by mallardo on Jun 15, 2016 10:17:19 GMT
I'm impressed that you're on the NT bloggers list, tstm. Well deserved. Your blog is really very good.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2016 10:41:32 GMT
OMG I can't believe he's still going on about this - no one cares!
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834 posts
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Post by Steffi on Jun 15, 2016 10:45:16 GMT
Will he ever stop moaning and just do his job? I get he is trying to explain his position but he comes across as needy and entitled.
I often can't see my friends on working days because some of them work evenings while I'm on a 9 to 5 job. Doesn't mean I can complain that I can't bring them to work. Working people have to arrange their social life around their job. That's life.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2016 11:24:43 GMT
Yes - I do appreciate the value of having someone extra there as a sounding board, but really, it is a perk and as such you can't complain too much if it's taken away.
As for unsocial hours and not being able to see friends/family - welcome to lots of other people's worlds! My sister and her partner both have pressured jobs with a hefty commute. They also have children. There are days they only see each other for an hour at the end of the day. They live for the occasional weekend when they both happen to have a weekend off! But you've got to accept that just comes with work sometimes...or else find another job.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2016 11:46:30 GMT
Indeed! anyone who works shift work will struggle to see family/friends around work, likewise anyone in resturant/pub and theatre jobs! We don't get to take our friends to work why should Shenton?
As an (unpaid!) critic/blogger, I totally agree that it's a lovely thing to sometimes get to take someone with you-but it's not a requriment you are being paid (or not paid!) to give your opinion...something Shenton doesn't seem to have much trouble with.
He was being odious to a blogger on twitter who wrote a piece on the plus-1 debacle, the writer echoed much of what we say here in a polite and reasonable way, of course Shenton was having none of it.
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Post by Polly1 on Jun 15, 2016 12:04:17 GMT
'Not again' was also my first thought but the following sentence made me really angry:
" In my capacity as an awards judge and theatre journalist, I too would put the merit of the show above the perks – but on a margin call, the extra ticket might swing my vote."
More or less admitting that he's open to bribery.
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Post by Nicholas on Jun 15, 2016 12:10:33 GMT
Here’s the thing I really, really, really don’t understand. As you’ve all said, theatre critics aren’t the only ones who work unsociable hours, and anyone in any other night-time profession can’t bring along a buddy. SO MAKE FRIENDS ON THE JOB! It’s not like critics work in isolation. What is so shameful about making friends with each other? That would make it sociable. Film critics clearly talk to each other and make friends. Not making friends with other theatre critics is just stubbornness.
Surely, too (I speak not as a blogger but a relatively regular theatregoer with a severely compromised social life), any starting blogger doesn’t have the excuse of getting paid to go to the theatre or getting their reviews widely published, but still has to say to friends “I can’t come out tonight because in the long run I want to be a theatre critic so have to go using my own free time and own money on my own initiative on my own”. It’s not sociable for bloggers either, Mark! If you want to encourage them, this is it!
I’ve banged on about this enough, so I concede to Michael Billington. He’s always upfront about the pros and cons of criticism, what the medium does wrong and what he could do better, without complaint. If Shenton discussed the matter like this, with humility, taking some blame for himself and appreciating the fortune of his position, we’d respect him far more:
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2016 12:21:06 GMT
I do appreciate the part where Shenton admits it's annoying having to give up the perk because they've got used to having the perk and anyone would be disgruntled about losing something they've had for so long, but the rest of the article? Put on your big boy pants and get ON with it, Mark.
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Post by Steffi on Jun 15, 2016 12:23:22 GMT
Here’s the thing I really, really, really don’t understand. As you’ve all said, theatre critics aren’t the only ones who work unsociable hours, and anyone in any other night-time profession can’t bring along a buddy. SO MAKE FRIENDS ON THE JOB! It’s not like critics work in isolation. What is so shameful about making friends with each other? That would make it sociable. Film critics clearly talk to each other and make friends. Not making friends with other theatre critics is just stubbornness.
Mark Shenton can't make friends with his fellow theatre critics. He's too busy befriending performers so he can drop some more names on Twitter. ;-) Sorry, the man just really, really gets on my nerves.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jun 15, 2016 12:27:20 GMT
OMG I can't believe he's still going on about this - no one cares! Allegedly, Tim Minchin and Matthew Warchus got inspiration for their forthcoming musical from Mark Shenton's daily column.
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 15, 2016 12:39:41 GMT
I've known Mark Shenton for a good while. All I can say is that as a person, he is one of the kindest and most helpful people I know in the industry. Just redressing the balance. I agree, TM. I've also known Mark personally for a very long time, and I cannot agree with you more on how he is personally. Always friendly, kind, generous with his time and extremely loyal. I don't know what it is about his comments on social media and his blogs/articles that just make me go a bit *facepalm*-y!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2016 12:42:22 GMT
Exactly! and most bloggers/amatuer critics (in the literal sense who write for publications but don't get paid) have "day jobs" as well so double the lack of 'social time' but they do it anyway because for whatever reason (wanting a 'foot in the door' or just passion for it).
Personally I think Shenton feels very insecure about the rise of bloggers etc (despite his involvement with 'My Theatre Mates') becuase it's showing him he doesn't have the 'authority' he thinks he does.
Meanwhile someone like Billington, isn't making such an undignified fuss (I may not always agree with him but I certainly respect his informed and considered opinion unlike others)
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4,047 posts
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Post by kathryn on Jun 15, 2016 13:56:32 GMT
This is starting to feel like a pinned thread, he complains so often!
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Post by The Matthew on Jun 15, 2016 14:26:32 GMT
OMG I can't believe he's still going on about this - no one cares! Our eight-page discussion of it suggests otherwise.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2016 14:31:55 GMT
I think abby was referring specifically to +1-gate. And in fairness, our thread on that has nowhere near the longevity of this one.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2016 14:48:48 GMT
West End Wilma wades in as well...
Who I have often thought of as Shenton in drag...
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Post by Phantom of London on Jun 15, 2016 14:55:03 GMT
I agree critics shouldn't get an extra ticket.
However as others pointed out on here, I kind know Mark Shenton and out of all the critics, he covers the most ground , whether it is the London Palladium, or no critics land - a room above a pub.
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Post by Snciole on Jun 16, 2016 9:46:54 GMT
Why is he so insecure? My relationship with the theatre is primarily a one on one experience with me and the production. If a pair is offered as a blogger and I can find a plus 1 then I am happy to take someone who might enjoy the production but I also don't mind going alone. I was offered a pair of free tickets as standard for Aladdin (Tonight YAY!) and knew I would be able to find a hanger on but it is far harder to go to a fringe venue and find someone who wants to come along so I often go alone.
My boyfriend works weird shifts so it means, depending on schedules, we can go a week or so without seeing each other. I am alarmed that Shenton's partner seems to have no life outside free theatre whilst his partner is working. What does Shenton do if his partner has made other plans? Take someone else or just go alone. As others have said not all theatres give pair tickets as standard, does he refuse to review those or pay for the +1?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2016 9:59:41 GMT
He certainly implied somewhat that he'll review a play if he only gets one free ticket, but he'll give it a better review if he can take a friend along. *ahem*
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Post by Honoured Guest on Jun 16, 2016 9:59:53 GMT
I haven't checked back, but my recollection is that the NT announced that it was continuing to offer critics a guest ticket, but for a nominal charge of £20 instead of being complimentary.
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Post by partytentdown on Oct 11, 2016 9:47:35 GMT
Shenton sarcastically moaning that the NT may make him pay for a second biscuit at today's press conference.
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Oct 11, 2016 10:06:28 GMT
He needs to get a grip!
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Post by theatremadness on May 3, 2018 14:01:34 GMT
Dragging up an old thread, but I see Mark Shenton's take some time out of his busy schedule to be a dick again. And to someone who was agreeing with him!
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4,047 posts
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Post by kathryn on May 3, 2018 14:39:17 GMT
I have never regretted unfollowing Shenton.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2018 14:43:01 GMT
Shenton sarcastically moaning that the NT may make him pay for a second biscuit at today's press conference.
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617 posts
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Post by loureviews on May 3, 2018 14:49:33 GMT
Why exactly should critics always get freebies - or feel entitled to them?
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2018 14:51:55 GMT
Dragging up an old thread, but I see Mark Shenton's take some time out of his busy schedule to be a dick again. And to someone who was agreeing with him!
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on May 3, 2018 15:07:18 GMT
^If I could like that twice I would!!
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3,107 posts
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Post by Rory on May 3, 2018 15:08:40 GMT
Yes, in my view a very nasty comment to have made. No need for it whatsoever. He seems popular with the industry folk though.
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