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Post by Jon on Jul 21, 2024 20:42:20 GMT
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if The Tempest is one of the plays in the Shakespeare season, it has historical significance because it was the last time Shakespeare was at Drury Lane and Andrew Lloyd Webber as a boy saw John Gielgud play Prospero and Gielgud at the last performance broke the staff and declared Shakespeare would never play The Lane again and by staging Shakespeare and The Tempest, ALW is proving Gielgud wrong.
He's a bit young but Tom Hiddleston as Prospero would be interesting casting
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Jul 21, 2024 20:59:59 GMT
"The Stage understands director Jamie Lloyd has been in discussions about staging a season of Shakespeare work at the theatre, although nothing has been confirmed and representatives for the director did not respond to a request for comment“
Doesn’t sound very convincing, could they have just been reading rumours on theatreboard 😂
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jul 21, 2024 21:21:18 GMT
I am struggling to see how the minimalist approach would work in such a huge theatre
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Post by Jon on Jul 21, 2024 21:43:22 GMT
I am struggling to see how the minimalist approach would work in such a huge theatre I dunno, to use a different example Dear England wasn't exactly maximal but it worked great at the Prince Edward Theatre. I wonder if we might see the flexibility of Drury Lane in use? ALW touted it was one of the things that the refurbishment brought to the theatre. |
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Post by Jan on Jul 22, 2024 6:08:41 GMT
I am struggling to see how the minimalist approach would work in such a huge theatre I dunno, to use a different example Dear England wasn't exactly maximal but it worked great at the Prince Edward Theatre. I wonder if we might see the flexibility of Drury Lane in use? ALW touted it was one of the things that the refurbishment brought to the theatre. Yes. They are able to raise the stage to the level of the first circle (cutting out the entire stalls seating) and then potentially make it a theatre in the round - it might be a good opportunity (or the only opportunity) to try that. |
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Post by nancycunard on Jul 22, 2024 8:05:22 GMT
I know Fiennes has his Bath season next year but he’s probably at the right age now to do Lear.
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Post by claireyfairy1 on Jul 22, 2024 10:00:50 GMT
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if The Tempest is one of the plays in the Shakespeare season, it has historical significance because it was the last time Shakespeare was at Drury Lane and Andrew Lloyd Webber as a boy saw John Gielgud play Prospero and Gielgud at the last performance broke the staff and declared Shakespeare would never play The Lane again and by staging Shakespeare and The Tempest, ALW is proving Gielgud wrong. He's a bit young but Tom Hiddleston as Prospero would be interesting casting This is the kind of thing I'd be interested in seeing. Someone of Hiddleston's age playing a role traditionally cast older. I would like to see some unexpected faces as well - Daisy Edgar-Jones would be really great to see, or indeed Florence Pugh who definitely has the balls to make her stage debut in a Shakespeare in a 2000 seat theatre. I can't yawn harder at the idea of seeing Fiennes do Lear. |
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Post by avfan on Jul 22, 2024 10:28:20 GMT
My understanding is that at least one production will be in the round and although not quite a Kit Kat club make over, the capacity will possibly be reduced, I believe it will be three plays and they're aiming huge for at least one production casting wise, names that have been touted are Tom Hanks (Heard this one multiple times), Frances McDormand (only one or two folks have mentioned) but the absolute wish list is Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep (I rate this one as highly unlikely as can't see Meryl Streep doing it)! I saw Tom Hanks on Broadway and he was great so it would be wonderful to see him in the west end.
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Post by Jon on Jul 22, 2024 10:52:08 GMT
My understanding is that at least one production will be in the round and although not quite a Kit Kat club make over, the capacity will possibly be reduced, I believe it will be three plays and they're aiming huge for at least one production casting wise, names that have been touted are Tom Hanks (Heard this one multiple times), Frances McDormand (only one or two folks have mentioned) but the absolute wish list is Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep (I rate this one as highly unlikely as can't see Meryl Streep doing it)! I saw Tom Hanks on Broadway and he was great so it would be wonderful to see him in the west end. Jamie Lloyd is certainly aiming high casting wise. I do hope we get some British names as well. Tom Hanks as Prospero would be great casting although weirdly I'd prefer seeing Tom Hiddleston in the role even though it's usually played by an older actor |
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Post by Dave B on Jul 22, 2024 11:07:12 GMT
been touted are Tom Hanks Well that would make filling all the seats at TRDL a whole lot easier... |
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jul 22, 2024 11:14:28 GMT
Although I like his movies Tom Hanks isn't an actor who excites me or I'd want to see on stage. He'd sell our drury lane though.
I'd say the opportunity to do Shakespeare on the London stage with an award winning director at one of the great London theatres where other acting legends have performed, is mighty appealing to some American actors egos.
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 22, 2024 11:24:05 GMT
been touted are Tom Hanks Well that would make filling all the seats at TRDL a whole lot easier... Almost positive someone got the wrong end of the stick as it's definitely Tom Hiddlestone doing one of these (someone heard the wrong Tom H) I was under the impression this season is 2 plays, with the second one having an even bigger star attached to it (both male led productions from what I've heard) |
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Post by Dave B on Jul 22, 2024 11:25:17 GMT
Anyone a hint of an announcement date? Is this what WOS is teasing?
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Post by avfan on Jul 22, 2024 11:27:28 GMT
You're 100% right it is Tom Hiddleston but Mr Hanks has also been mentioned, we all know how this goes though until its confirmed it's all hearsay, but both Tom's have been mentioned! The two Toms were mentioned by the folks who were talking about the season at Drury Lane, but this was back in May so things may have changed since then.
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Post by Jon on Jul 22, 2024 11:31:51 GMT
I've already mentioned The Tempest as my guess for one of them given the historical significance at Drury Lane, no idea on the other one though, maybe Julius Caesar or Titus Andronicus
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Post by Talisman on Jul 22, 2024 12:04:37 GMT
Tom Hanks as Prospero would be great casting although weirdly I'd prefer seeing Tom Hiddleston in the role even though it's usually played by an older actor Agreed He is usually played by an older actor but Miranda is 15 so this is not required. |
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Post by Jan on Jul 22, 2024 12:29:39 GMT
Tom Hanks as Prospero would be great casting although weirdly I'd prefer seeing Tom Hiddleston in the role even though it's usually played by an older actor Agreed He is usually played by an older actor but Miranda is 15 so this is not required. Hiddleston really isn’t suited to Prospero - doesn’t mean he won’t be cast of course. Leontes a better fit. |
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Post by theatrenerd on Jul 22, 2024 12:59:25 GMT
Whilst Drury Lane has a big seating capacity, the scale of the productions I can imagine being the same as the NT Olivier when they do their Shakespeares, so I am looking forward to seeing what this season has to offer. Especially if they can attract some great names - Tom Hanks would be amazing and also was Falstaff in 2018 in Los Angeles so possibly a role he could reprise.
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Post by Talisman on Jul 22, 2024 13:17:58 GMT
We seem to be retuning to the days of Henry Irving when stars were the most important aspect of any production.
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jul 22, 2024 13:21:59 GMT
We seem to be retuning to the days of Henry Irving when stars were the most important aspect of any production. I don't really think those days have ever gone away? Stars to sell tickets is nothing new, especially when you have to fill Drury Lane 8 shows a week. |
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Post by Jon on Jul 22, 2024 13:26:17 GMT
We seem to be retuning to the days of Henry Irving when stars were the most important aspect of any production. I don't really think those days have ever gone away? Stars to sell tickets is nothing new, especially when you have to fill Drury Lane 8 shows a week. Star casting is still important to theatre producers, Tom Holland sold out R&J in minutes and the David Tennant Macbeth is sold out as well. |
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Post by Jan on Jul 22, 2024 13:49:40 GMT
We seem to be retuning to the days of Henry Irving when stars were the most important aspect of any production. I don't really think those days have ever gone away? Stars to sell tickets is nothing new, especially when you have to fill Drury Lane 8 shows a week. I think in the commercial sector it has never gone away but it is a more recent phenomenon in the subsidised sector - the abandoning of the company approach at NT and RSC has facilitated it. |
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Post by alicechallice on Jul 22, 2024 14:32:22 GMT
Little bit of a query from the Theatre Monkey on my shoulder...
Due to the fact that you cannot see the front of the stage from the Grand Circle or the Balcony, if in-the-round, wouldn't we potentially be looking at those areas being closed off, therefore reducing the amount of seats that will need to be sold..?
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Post by Talisman on Jul 22, 2024 15:14:39 GMT
I don't really think those days have ever gone away? Stars to sell tickets is nothing new, especially when you have to fill Drury Lane 8 shows a week. I think in the commercial sector it has never gone away but it is a more recent phenomenon in the subsidised sector - the abandoning of the company approach at NT and RSC has facilitated it. It doesn’t seem to be a problem as there are plenty of people willing to pay the prices that this approach necessitates (along with general spiralling production costs of course). |
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Post by avfan on Jul 22, 2024 15:31:42 GMT
Little bit of a query from the Theatre Monkey on my shoulder... Due to the fact that you cannot see the front of the stage from the Grand Circle or the Balcony, if in-the-round, wouldn't we potentially be looking at those areas being closed off, therefore reducing the amount of seats that will need to be sold..? I think it will, again I may be completely wrong but the thought process was that selling that space out 8 shows a week even for very limited runs will take some mega star power so to reduce down the capacity somehow would allow Jamie Llyod more creative freedom and offer more chance of a sell out, or if they get a massive star for one of the shows they transform it back to it's current size. When you think Benedict Cumberbatch sold out the barbican for 12 weeks it is doable but only with a huge of the moment name. Again this could all be hearsay. |
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