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Post by SilverFox on Sept 10, 2024 10:19:18 GMT
There is no reason why the National Theatre has just to programme for that one building. If there is a lack of capacity due to renovation, then they should be doing shows in other venues all round the country. In fact, they should regularly be staging work in all parts of the country. Become truly National not just focused on London. Not an occasional tour. Regular seasons that take in the regions. Agree 100%.
The NT used to tour much more - now they seem to think that the live transmissions tick the box. Forcing ENO to relocate is a mistake, but all the major funded companies - ROH / ENO / NT / RSC should have a requirement within their funding to present work outside London (or Stratford). The stage at Manchester Palace was specifically rebuilt to accommodate the ROH - it was used just once for a season. The RSC used to have a successful residency at several Newcastle upon Tyne venues. The Olivier productions could - with very little work - be designed to also be staged at the Leeds Playhouse, Sheffield Crucible or Chichester Festival to name but three, the Lyttleton and Dorfman have an even wider range of possible partners. Co-productions would benefit both the regional venue and London audiences (Standing at the Sky's Edge an example of a successful transfer on three open stages Sheffield, NT and WE). Touring is expensive, and London is possibly the only area large enough to sustain the 'big' subsidised companies year round, but that should be a reason for them not to additionally be seen in the regions.
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Post by Jon on Sept 10, 2024 10:28:36 GMT
I suspect the chances of the National or ROH abandoning their London home and becoming more regional instead are zero.
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Post by awjc on Sept 10, 2024 10:31:10 GMT
There will be a staggered closing of all three. Also, the public areas are being *refreshed* (those stair carpets have been threadbare for years). Perhaps in this time they can offer two plays in rep in the remaining theatre, to compensate for the lack of new work?
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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 10, 2024 11:32:39 GMT
No one is suggesting the National or ROH would leave London this would never work as tickets sales are London centric. I agree the subsidised theatre should tour, the National used to go to the Lowry regularly, but unless it was a big hit like War Horse sales were dreadful, however I get it is subsidised and should be there to serve everyone who pays tax. It is a tough balance between subsidy and ticket sales.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Sept 10, 2024 11:38:19 GMT
I suspect the chances of the National or ROH abandoning their London home and becoming more regional instead are zero. It is not about giving up the current home but about using it as a base and to take work out into the whole nation. Whether that be big theatres, small venues or found spaces, the National Theatre should serve the whole nation. Yes, a permanent home and a creative hub should remain. But the work needs to be properly National in scope and not limited to one building with an occasional transfer/tour. Take theatre to the nation. Don't make the nation come to a building.
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Post by kit66 on Sept 10, 2024 12:02:26 GMT
Anyone remember when the Lyttleton was turned into two auditorium with a floor/ceiling coming out from the dress circle with one auditorium above - the Lyttleton Loft - using the circle seats and a new stage and one below using the stalls seats and stage. I remember"Play without words" played in one of the new spaces. I can't remember why the Lyttleton was converted.Was it because one of the other theatres was closed at that time?
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 10, 2024 12:09:19 GMT
Anyone remember when the Lyttleton was turned into two auditorium with a floor/ceiling coming out from the dress circle with one auditorium above using the circle seats and one below using the stalls seats. I remember"Play without words" played in one of the new spaces. I can't remember why the Lyttleton was converted.Was it because one of the other theatres was closed at that time? I remember watching Play without words, Birds and Prayer for owen meany. The programming was refreshing as Trev or John Caird's naturalism is rather dull to me. *** The NT and all our big companies should tour. Regular seasons in the same venue will help build audiences
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Post by marob on Sept 10, 2024 12:12:15 GMT
As someone who’s only been to the ROH a handful of times, I have to say I agree that they should have to stage work outside London. They seem to be on tour in Asia quite often, they should do so in the country they’re actually based in.
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Post by Jon on Sept 10, 2024 12:17:10 GMT
As someone who’s only been to the ROH a handful of times, I have to say I agree that they should have to stage work outside London. They seem to be on tour in Asia quite often, they should do so in the country they’re actually based in. I suspect the reason they don't tour the UK is because of cost reasons. Opera rarely does well touring wise. I would say in defence of the National, they do co-productions like Nye and Underdog: The Other Bronte but it's very costly to do it regularly and indeed it's probably the same for other theatres.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Sept 10, 2024 19:20:01 GMT
As someone who’s only been to the ROH a handful of times, I have to say I agree that they should have to stage work outside London. They seem to be on tour in Asia quite often, they should do so in the country they’re actually based in. I suspect the reason they don't tour the UK is because of cost reasons. Opera rarely does well touring wise. I would say in defence of the National, they do co-productions like Nye and Underdog: The Other Bronte but it's very costly to do it regularly and indeed it's probably the same for other theatres. I regularly review WNO when they tour to Oxford and Milton Keynes. There is rarely more than a handful of empty seats even for some of the obscure repertoire. Pieces like War and Peace, Makropolus Case and Death in Venice were pretty much sold out. Opera on tour does well when it is done well. But it is very expensive. So it is the funding cuts that are harming touring opera.
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Post by bordeaux on Sept 10, 2024 21:03:29 GMT
Given his last flop there in 2018 He should probably zip it Perhaps now the most irrelevant and tone deaf of all living playwrights Joint with Stoppard In fact Hare's last play, Straight Line Crazy, was his best work for some time. Though I think it's true to say that all his best 21st century work is based on fact more than imagination - Via Dolorosa, The Permanent Way, Stuff Happens. He's still a very entertaining journalist, I find, with a very good eye for a funny anecdote. I'd rather read a continuation of his autobiography than see a new play of his. Stoppard is 87 and has an amazing body of work behind him; I can't see what he's done to deserve your contempt. What do you mean 'irrelevant' anyway? It's a journalistic concept. It implies we want to see plays that are about me, me, me, my life, my world, my people. I don't - I'm happy to be introduced to people and worlds apart from my own. And 'tone deaf'? That suggests he's saying things you think people should shut up about, that he's not following the accepted rules. And his last play was an extremely impressive attempt to deal with the central horror of the 20th century, to approach it from a new angle (the time span from the 1890s to the 1950s added something new, I think) and to create a moving family drama. I think the subject is still relevant if you wish to use that word. People are living longer. Writers are going to be writing for longer. Plays and novels will be written by people in their 80s for the foreseeable future. You may find them irrelevant and tone deaf - but with any luck you'll be there one day and perhaps they won't sound so tone deaf and irrelevant then.
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Post by Dave B on Sept 11, 2024 9:11:45 GMT
Slightly random question if anyone might have any previous experience. If the NT stages go dark for a chunk of next year, even through staggered closings - will my credit be extended? I have a fairly large chunk at the moment and much of it will run out in summer next year. We are booked through for everything announced so I'm now a bit concerned that there will be nothing to book with the amount I have.
Ta!
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Post by aspieandy on Sept 12, 2024 12:59:28 GMT
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Post by jek on Sept 12, 2024 14:43:45 GMT
Thank goodness for that. I have a mobility problem, as a result of a car accident, which makes tackling those uneven pavements on that route a real trial. Things like this are such a simple way to make everybody's lives just a little bit better.
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