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Post by smithfield on Jul 5, 2024 9:08:20 GMT
I'm new to the London theatre scene and have only scene Uncle Vanya at the Orange Tree and will be seeing The Voice of the Turtle at Jermyn Street. I know that the current artistic director at the Orange Tree, Tom Littler, was the artistic director at Jermyn Street. I'm interested in the place these theatres occupy in the world of London theater and how you all would characterise their approaches, artistic aspirations, audiences, etc. Am I right to link them? If so, what are their unique selling propositions (to put things in too-crude commercial terms)?
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Post by alicechallice on Jul 5, 2024 12:10:24 GMT
I tend to think about them as being part of the second cluster of 'producing-houses' in London, the 'B-Team' as it were, but I'm only meaning that in terms of notoriety rather than quality. The 'A-Team' is Donmar Warehouse, Almeida, Old Vic, Hampstead. I'd say that the National Theatre is on it's own upper level, outside but no less prominent than West End theatres.
However, the Orange Tree has being very visible in the last few years, credit very much due to Tom Littler and his predecessor, Paul Miller. For many years, it seemed to have a particular function of housing revivals of forgotten plays but now the programming can rival some of those theatres I mentioned in my A-Team, particularly when it comes to the diversity of the plays. I suppose the main thing holding it back from the masses is it's location, and the main issue with Jermyn Street is that it's so small.
Tom Littler also did a great job with the programming at JST but another factor is that you don't get as many well-known actors performing at these theatres. I'm not necessarily talking about star power but experience in terms of playing roles in theatre, television, film & being a recognisible quantity to audiences.
It would be great if they could continue to rival those other theatres, they're both in a relatively good place at the moment profile-wise, not sure about financially however.
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Post by Jon on Jul 5, 2024 12:28:09 GMT
The Orange Tree has thrived but they are laser focused on the local audience, they have had the likes of James Fleet and Freddie Fox starring there but one has to wonder if it because it's local to them so not a huge commute.
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Post by lynette on Jul 6, 2024 12:52:55 GMT
Tom Littler did amazing stuff at Jermyn St. Not just the programming but what he directed himself. His Shakespeare direction superb. So i was sad he left but he must aim high.
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Post by showgirl on Jul 7, 2024 3:39:05 GMT
For me both theatres seem to be doing well at present, both with programming and production quality, which is good since I did wonder how JST would fare after Tom Littler moved on, though anyone other than Paul Miller taking over at the OT would have been a relief to me, as I found his tenure dreadful: I went from wanting to see almost everything in a season in Sam Walters' time to hardly anything - and even some of those productions I did see were so dire that I either walked out at the earliest opportunity or stuck it out and still regret it. Whilst I agree with alicechallice that Paul Miller did a lot to raise the profile of the OT - which needed it after suddenly losing its Arts Council funding - imo this was done at the expense of the long-term regulars. I accept the need to attract new audience members but not at the expense of the old. Now, under Tom Littler, the current OT season seems almost like a return to what, for me are the good old days of Sam Walters, not only with the programming and reputation of the actors appearing but also the very welcome return of the Thursday matinee post-show discussions, which had almost disappeared during Paul Miller's time. Also, the OT remains affordable with £15 tickets if you book early enough, whereas JST is very expensive unless you take a chance on one of a couple of early previews, evening only, which doesn't work for me - and I have tried it and learned my lesson. During the main run the tickets cost well over double that - and JST add a booking fee, which the OT doesn't, so whilst I will take a chance at the OT for a £15 matinee, I have to be very sure before I fork out for one at JST now. |
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Post by smithfield on Jul 7, 2024 5:41:35 GMT
All these comments are very illuminating--thank you!
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