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Post by nash16 on Sept 13, 2024 13:56:23 GMT
“Logistical reasons”/“technical issues”/“cast injury”…
All well worn excuse tropes used over the years, but normally they have PR to come up with “conscious uncoupling”/“”child outside of my marriage” (🤣) excuses.
Interesting to note the Exchange have yet to use the description The Stage tweeted last night, which is:
“.@stagedirectors and @equityuk are working with actors and creatives involved in the postponed production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, to resolve a "disagreement" between the theatre’s management and the company.”
This seems more on the money.
Sounds like cast/creatives wanted the show to go ahead, but maybe audience complaints have made the theatre put it all on hold.
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Post by richey on Sept 13, 2024 20:12:34 GMT
Looks like they've now suspended bookings for this.
The dates are still showing on the website but there's no option to select tickets.
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Post by harlow on Sept 14, 2024 12:00:31 GMT
Seems like the entire run has now been cancelled.
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Post by richey on Sept 14, 2024 12:11:19 GMT
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Post by Rory on Sept 14, 2024 12:28:06 GMT
What a horlicks!
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Post by oxfordsimon on Sept 14, 2024 15:12:38 GMT
There's a play to be written about this.
A Midsummer Nightmare
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Post by aloysius on Sept 15, 2024 21:12:39 GMT
I heard that the creatives wanted to include some statements about a few, contemporary culture wars / actual wars, the theatre were only made aware at dress rehearsal, tried to block it, the creatives refused and the creative differences proved insurmountable.
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Post by crabtree on Sept 15, 2024 22:42:37 GMT
I hope we get to know the truth and the details about this......
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Post by oxfordsimon on Sept 15, 2024 22:45:19 GMT
If that is what happened, it is appalling behaviour.
You don't spring that sort of surprise on your producers at that point in the process.
It is unprofessional at best.
Should the theatre have been more involved with the creative process? Possibly.
But if it was concealed from them until the very last moment then the creative team were very much wrong to do that.
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Post by crabtree on Sept 16, 2024 9:26:56 GMT
Did Shakespeare mention war in this play. Can't remember.
This will certainly have damaged the Royal Exhchange's already rather shakey reputation/
Maybe there is a genuine injury, but there are no excuses for technical issues. Or maybe a senior figure saw a performance and said 'no way!!'
Oh to have Braham, Marianne and Nicholas H back.
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Post by wookie on Sept 16, 2024 9:44:05 GMT
I hadn't heard of the director Stef O'Driscoll, so I watched an interview with her done at the Royal Court. She had quite good reviews for a show she directed there, but this was one thing she said that I thought was pertinent (from youtube transcript):
"Make your own rules. Some organisations and some buildings or some places might have a way that they think they want to do things in they'll have schemes for like merging theatre-makers to come in—I assist people and stuff like that—but like I don't think I listen to any of that and just kind of went straight to the people that are kind of wanting to talk to and just I did it. I didn't have that handbook so it's kind of like rather than fearing and trying to fit into like systems and how they do it like kind of do it the way that you want to do it."
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Post by Jan on Sept 16, 2024 14:15:40 GMT
I hadn't heard of the director Stef O'Driscoll, so I watched an interview with her done at the Royal Court. I recall she was AD of the Gate at Notting Hill when they decided after 40+ years as a local theatre to move to Camden which was unsurprisingly rapidly followed by ACE withdrawing all their funding and (I think) permanent closure. If they’d stayed in Notting Hill they would have had more chance of getting the locals to stump up the cash to let them keep going. |
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Post by zahidf on Sept 16, 2024 14:21:05 GMT
I hadn't heard of the director Stef O'Driscoll, so I watched an interview with her done at the Royal Court. I recall she was AD of the Gate at Notting Hill when they decided after 40+ years as a local theatre to move to Camden which was unsurprisingly rapidly followed by ACE withdrawing all their funding and (I think) permanent closure. Gate hasnt closed down, they have a show in Nov! |
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Post by Jan on Sept 16, 2024 14:21:37 GMT
I recall she was AD of the Gate at Notting Hill when they decided after 40+ years as a local theatre to move to Camden which was unsurprisingly rapidly followed by ACE withdrawing all their funding and (I think) permanent closure. Gate hasnt closed down, they have a show in Nov! Oh do they ? I stand corrected. |
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Post by zahidf on Sept 16, 2024 14:30:20 GMT
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Post by ceebee on Sept 16, 2024 14:32:40 GMT
I hadn't heard of the director Stef O'Driscoll, so I watched an interview with her done at the Royal Court. She had quite good reviews for a show she directed there, but this was one thing she said that I thought was pertinent (from youtube transcript): "Make your own rules. Some organisations and some buildings or some places might have a way that they think they want to do things in they'll have schemes for like merging theatre-makers to come in—I assist people and stuff like that—but like I don't think I listen to any of that and just kind of went straight to the people that are kind of wanting to talk to and just I did it. I didn't have that handbook so it's kind of like rather than fearing and trying to fit into like systems and how they do it like kind of do it the way that you want to do it." She sounds well articulate. Sick, innit? |
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Post by SilverFox on Sept 16, 2024 16:01:29 GMT
I hadn't heard of the director Stef O'Driscoll, so I watched an interview with her done at the Royal Court. She had quite good reviews for a show she directed there, but this was one thing she said that I thought was pertinent (from youtube transcript): "Make your own rules. Some organisations and some buildings or some places might have a way that they think they want to do things in they'll have schemes for like merging theatre-makers to come in—I assist people and stuff like that—but like I don't think I listen to any of that and just kind of went straight to the people that are kind of wanting to talk to and just I did it. I didn't have that handbook so it's kind of like rather than fearing and trying to fit into like systems and how they do it like kind of do it the way that you want to do it." She sounds well articulate. Sick, innit? kind of ..... |
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Post by zahidf on Sept 16, 2024 16:10:27 GMT
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Post by oxfordsimon on Sept 16, 2024 16:18:39 GMT
I can see why the theatre took issue with that.
There are many ways to look at Dream as a play. But trying to impose a commentary on the Gaza situation really isn't a valid one.
Theatre can and should be political but only when the text supports it.
If you want to do theatre about Gaza, find the right vehicle. Or write a new text.
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Post by crabtree on Sept 16, 2024 16:47:46 GMT
but how did it take so long into the production process to become an issue? The Dream? Could even a play like Coriolanus support such themes? not sure.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 16, 2024 17:01:46 GMT
This all sounds so messy. Feel sorry for everyone suddenly out of work as a result of this.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 16, 2024 17:04:55 GMT
I hadn't heard of the director Stef O'Driscoll, so I watched an interview with her done at the Royal Court. She had quite good reviews for a show she directed there, but this was one thing she said that I thought was pertinent (from youtube transcript): "Make your own rules. Some organisations and some buildings or some places might have a way that they think they want to do things in they'll have schemes for like merging theatre-makers to come in—I assist people and stuff like that—but like I don't think I listen to any of that and just kind of went straight to the people that are kind of wanting to talk to and just I did it. I didn't have that handbook so it's kind of like rather than fearing and trying to fit into like systems and how they do it like kind of do it the way that you want to do it."Go and build your own theatre and do it the way you want to do it there then. |
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Post by marob on Sept 16, 2024 17:06:09 GMT
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 16, 2024 17:22:03 GMT
Article is behind a paywall. You can access 3 articles a month free by signing up.
Main points:
Multiple sources close to the production say issues were related to references to the Israel-Gaza war that had been inserted into this new version of Shakespeare’s play, which relocated the story to Manchester’s clubbing scene.
Inclusion of "Free Palestine" graffiti, daubed on a piece of set.
The conflict is referenced in a rap that one of the rude mechanicals performed as part of the ‘play within the play’ in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Above are not confirmed by the theatre and Stef O’Driscol was not reachable.
REX spokesperson “ At the Royal Exchange Theatre we want to work with artists who address complex issues. Sadly, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream a number of challenges occurred which led to a decision to cancel the production – including injuries, a delayed technical week and changes late in the process. Despite our best efforts we were unable to get the show on as planned and took the difficult decision to cancel the production. Every effort was made to get the production on stage,"
O’Driscoll and many of the cast members were keen to stand by the content of the production, causing a dispute between the company and management: the "disagreement" referenced earlier this week by union Equity.
Equity also confirmed its members would be paid and would not be "out of pocket" following the cancellation of the show. Quote:
”Equity has contacted the theatre requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the reasons for cancellation, the impact on our members and the steps being taken now. We remain very concerned about this situation and its impact on our members."
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Post by richey on Sept 16, 2024 18:18:05 GMT
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