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Post by Someone in a tree on Apr 27, 2022 13:13:36 GMT
I don’t really get the complaints about the RSC not putting on Shakespeare when they’ve done that for decades. I would like at least one per season otherwise its just the RC. |
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Post by alexandra on Apr 27, 2022 15:15:17 GMT
What am I missing? They have 2 Shakespeare plays on currently until June (done refreshingly and well). Then they're doing two more until October. Then they're doing two non-Shakespeares until January. What's the problem with that balance? I have no particular axe to grind for them but it seems one or two people have a rigid animus against the RSC for some reason.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 27, 2022 15:27:52 GMT
I am quite happy to be viewed as a long term critic of the Doran-Whyman regime.
They have done long term damage to the RSC.
This winter season announcement just confirms that.
I want the RSC to return to what it is meant to be. A focus on Shakespeare and his contemporaries, championing top quality new writing, a commitment to training the next generation in how to handle the texts and the use of an ensemble.
These have been degraded under Doran.
Putting together a Winter season with no Shakespeare is the wrong call. The Dickens could easily have run in rep with a popular Shakespeare. Particularly when audiences have already seen that production as well as countless others over recent years.
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Post by Jon on Apr 27, 2022 15:38:50 GMT
What am I missing? They have 2 Shakespeare plays on currently until June (done refreshingly and well). Then they're doing two more until October. Then they're doing two non-Shakespeares until January. What's the problem with that balance? I have no particular axe to grind for them but it seems one or two people have a rigid animus against the RSC for some reason.Maybe they should apply for the AD job? |
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Post by lynette on Apr 27, 2022 15:40:45 GMT
They do have a commitment to training the next generation etc etc. There are nine members of the next generation training scheme in the current Henry VI plays. They have young professionals and then the next- next generation in a teenage scheme.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 27, 2022 15:56:36 GMT
Without ensembles, the training isn't leading to the sort of extended real stage experience enjoyed by previous generations
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Post by Jan on Apr 27, 2022 17:07:35 GMT
What am I missing? They have 2 Shakespeare plays on currently until June (done refreshingly and well). Then they're doing two more until October. Then they're doing two non-Shakespeares until January. What's the problem with that balance? I have no particular axe to grind for them but it seems one or two people have a rigid animus against the RSC for some reason. So they're doing 6 plays ? You forgot their Cunard cruise line performances. Here, once again, is their Summer Season (March-October) in 2001 when their ACE grant was the same in real terms as it is now. RST Hamlet Twelfth Night Julius Caesar SWAN King John Love in a Wood (Wycherley) Jubilee (Peter Barnes) THE OTHER PLACE A Russian in the Woods (Peter Whelan) The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Martin McDonagh) The Prisoners Dilemma (David Edgar) ON TOUR The Tempest A Servant of Two Masters (Goldini) BARBICAN The Rivals Tantalus (Peter Hall/John Barton) PIT Richard II Henry IV Pt 1 Henry IV Pt 2 Henry V Back to Methuselah (Shaw) A set of 4 new plays YOUNG VIC The Thoughts of Joan of Arc on the English as She Burns at the Stake (David Farr) Henry VI Part 1 Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Part 3 Richard III ALDWYCH The Secret Garden (musical) PALACE THEATRE Les Miserables |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 27, 2022 17:41:41 GMT
What am I missing? They have 2 Shakespeare plays on currently until June (done refreshingly and well). Then they're doing two more until October. Then they're doing two non-Shakespeares until January. What's the problem with that balance? I have no particular axe to grind for them but it seems one or two people have a rigid animus against the RSC for some reason. So they're doing 6 plays ? You forgot their Cunard cruise line performances. Here, once again, is their Summer Season (March-October) in 2001 when their ACE grant was the same in real terms as it is now. RST Hamlet Twelfth Night Julius Caesar SWAN King John Love in a Wood (Wycherley) Jubilee (Peter Barnes) THE OTHER PLACE A Russian in the Woods (Peter Whelan) The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Martin McDonagh) The Prisoners Dilemma (David Edgar) ON TOUR The Tempest A Servant of Two Masters (Goldini) BARBICAN The Rivals Tantalus (Peter Hall/John Barton) PIT Richard II Henry IV Pt 1 Henry IV Pt 2 Henry V Back to Methuselah (Shaw) A set of 4 new plays YOUNG VIC The Thoughts of Joan of Arc on the English as She Burns at the Stake (David Farr) Henry VI Part 1 Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Part 3 Richard III ALDWYCH The Secret Garden (musical) PALACE THEATRE Les Miserables That is one hell of bit of programming. Ambitious but with enough popular pieces to keep audiences happy. |
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Post by alexandra on Apr 28, 2022 6:07:45 GMT
2001 was a different world. Why not go back to The (non-Shakespeare) Greeks, or Nicholas Nickleby? I’m not arguing against a London base. As you know, I was addressing the suggestion that the RSC was to be criticised for not getting the balance right between Shakespeare and non-Shakespeare. I especially don’t criticise them for putting on a previously successful production over Christmas in these extremely difficult post-pandemic economic times. Why not help by going to see Rebellion and Wars of the Roses, which you clearly haven’t seen? You might enjoy them.
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Post by Phantom of London on Apr 28, 2022 12:44:41 GMT
I think it is hard to level any criticism of the RSC as it is trying to find its feet again after an incredible couple of years. Besides even the new Shakespeare theatre on the outskirts of Liverpool are doing A Christmas Carol.
I love Shakespeare, but it shouldn’t stop an artistic director from going off piste.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 28, 2022 13:32:20 GMT
Other subsidised companies have managed to come back more effectively than the RSC. And indeed did more during the past two years than the RSC even appeared to consider.
There has been a real failure of leadership and it is right to call them out.
The RSC is an immensely privileged organisation. It should be doing better with the vast resources it has.
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Post by Jan on Apr 28, 2022 16:42:19 GMT
2001 was a different world. Why not go back to The (non-Shakespeare) Greeks, or Nicholas Nickleby? I’m not arguing against a London base. As you know, I was addressing the suggestion that the RSC was to be criticised for not getting the balance right between Shakespeare and non-Shakespeare. I especially don’t criticise them for putting on a previously successful production over Christmas in these extremely difficult post-pandemic economic times. Why not help by going to see Rebellion and Wars of the Roses, which you clearly haven’t seen? You might enjoy them. I’ve got the new Jermyn Street programme till end-year in front of me. 13 plays - new and old - plus 15 other one-off events including rehearsed readings. I think I’ll help them instead thanks, on the basis that at least they’re making an effort, with zero ACE subsidy, as they did last year too when the RSC didn’t. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2022 18:17:05 GMT
I would prefer one Shakespeare play running at least in rep at all times at the RSC and I've defended Greg a lot on here. The new AD should plan out when they will be the "top" Shakespeare plays which will draw the crowds in fit in the more niche plays around this then look at other works be it revivals or new works. There is no reason the new AD could not have their 5 year Shakespeare programme mapped out and then add the other works to it. We don't need to know what they are doing each season but they can have a clear plan and the Company works to this.
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Post by Jan on Apr 28, 2022 19:56:14 GMT
They need to open The Other Place with a full season of plays - new or old I don’t care - it is absolutely inexplicable that it is closed.
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Post by kate8 on Apr 29, 2022 7:55:50 GMT
It’s a scandal that the Swan and The Other Place remain closed. Their obligations as a company involve producing a wide range of work, not just one or two plays at a time in one theatre (plus occasionally the Barbican). The public subsidy isn’t meant to just keep closed buildings and staff ticking over.
I can’t understand the reasons for such limited work now, when all other subsidised national arts institutions are more or less fully reopened.
RSC seems lacking in ambition and creativity. They could have reduced costs and risk with small cast plays, get big name ‘associate artists’ to do rehearsed readings of plays, etc. But instead they are a theatre company with no apparent wish to do anything with two of their three theatres.
I can’t understand Billington having Erica Whyman on his list of suggested successors when she’s a party to this inertia and wasting of public money.
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Post by cirque on Apr 29, 2022 10:25:30 GMT
i echo this fully.
If EW remains the company will sink into oblivion within a year.
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353 posts
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Post by cirque on Apr 29, 2022 19:47:05 GMT
RSC website now has 30 page job pack.
Who can fulfil the brief…?
Interesting but also some odd elements.
Worth looking at and playing the game of who fits the bill.
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Post by Jan on Apr 29, 2022 20:51:57 GMT
RSC website now has 30 page job pack. Who can fulfil the brief…? Interesting but also some odd elements. Worth looking at and playing the game of who fits the bill. Nobody if they’re serious about having “a distinctive presence in New York”. Quite significant they mentioned they are open to a partnership/part-time approach to the role - might generate a few more applications, or indicate they’ve already sounded out potential candidates. |
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Post by Jan on Apr 30, 2022 9:17:31 GMT
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5,707 posts
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Post by lynette on Apr 30, 2022 14:20:08 GMT
Looking at the boxes to tick you might start thinking that being a well educated, well fed as a child person isn’t really what they are looking for. 😀 ooops… |
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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 30, 2022 14:56:05 GMT
I'm reading the 30 page .pdf with some bafflement. Much of the information it contains is surely things that anyone qualified to become AD should already be aware of, for instance the theatre set-up at Stratford and their current & recent West End transfers. Also, on the Finance page it has "Fundraising and other grants £4.17m" on the income side and "Fundraising costs and grant expenditure £2.40m" on the expenditure side. If they are indeed spending nearly half the amount raised by fundraising on doing fundraising then it doesn't exactly sound cost-effective!
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Post by Jan on Apr 30, 2022 17:32:17 GMT
Looking at the boxes to tick you might start thinking that being a well educated, well fed as a child person isn’t really what they are looking for. 😀 ooops… At least it should prevent any candidate opposed to “justice” from applying. When have they ever had “a distinctive presence in New York” and why is this prioritised over a distinctive presence in Newcastle which in the distant past they actually had ? |
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Post by samuelwhiskers on May 1, 2022 7:21:29 GMT
Has there been any word on when the Swan will re-open after its refurbishment?
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Post by kate8 on May 1, 2022 7:52:30 GMT
samuelwhiskers in the AD application pack it says the Swan will reopen in March 2023, which is a long wait, but at least it’s a firm date. It’s more ambiguous about The Other Place - reopening 2023, but the wording is unclear about whether the theatre is reopening then, or just the public spaces, cafe, etc.
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Post by kate8 on May 1, 2022 7:54:37 GMT
Btw I think ‘refurbishment’ is overstating it. Aren’t they repairing/replacing the roof? I haven’t read that any interior changes are being made.
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