From the horses mouth: Jeremy Hunt speaks

First things first Will Gompertz is becoming one of my favourite writers on the arts sector and today I read an article linked to something very close to my heart. The Budget cuts and Election are causing troubles for the arts sector and I have covered the story since the beginning of the year and you can read those articles here and here. However the latest talk from the Coalition government has come out on newsnight where Culture Minister Jeremy Hunt claimed he could easily cut £66 million of the spending easily. I could rant and rave about the injustice and insanity of this claim plus the hypocrisy of The Liberal Democrats who normally support the arts not fighting against this change but I am going to let the article by Gompertz do the talking for me. I suggest you sign up to the feed for his blogs because they are fascinating.

Here is the link to his latest blog: CLICK HERE

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Just a Small One: Teatro Della Concordia

The Teatro della Concordia in Monte Castello di Vibio lays claim to being the smallest theatre in the world but is no such thing with seats for up to 99 (87 according to some sources). Apparently built in approximately 1808 whilst it isn’t the smallest theatre it is one of the prettiest examples of a tiny theatre. As you can see from the picture this venue is almost like a childs version of one of the many grand opera houses dotted around Italy. It still have Opera’s and orchestra’s performing in this limited space to this day. So if you ever find yourself having a holiday in Umbria or Todi then this may be one of the sights you will want to see… I know I would.

Improv Video of the Day

Broadway is Bankable despite Old Fashioned Prejudice still popping up

In a Week when the final part of the true Golden Era of Broadway came to a close with the sad death of the last Zeigfield Folly, she passed away at the age of 106, two stories were released which gave a fascinating look at both the success and dark side of Broadway. The first which caught my eye was the news that during the 2009-2010 season Broadway has generated nearly $10 billion worth of revenue for New York city. According to the Broadway League this has included the support and creation of over 84000 jobs and generated nearly $500 million in New York taxes which really makes me smile and goes to prove a very big point on the arts. A good arts sector, not just theatre but all types of arts, can increase an economy and here in the UK the arts sector in London I am sure does produce a vast amount of revenue and taxes just like on Broadway it is just that it is harder to find the results. (When I say harder that is due to the fact that getting all those reports is simple if you are willing to fork out £50 for The West End Theatre Report which can be viewed here)

Of course the $10 Billion isn't just on money spent going to shows, watching the plays, buying the intermission drinks and programmes etc. This is money that goes into Hotels and Restaurants proving that the Theatres and the Great White Way actually generate more business for New York City. When the figures are analysed it turns out that 96% of the money spent on Broadway is from people outside the city which also proves that despite the Global Recession the tourist industry is still strong within America and that people around the World are still choosing to experience what Broadway has to offer. This does give me hope that The West End is doing the same over here in the UK and Europe but until I get to see any figures (I am still searching for alternatives to the official book of reports) I won't be able to go much further. Of course an economical contribution of $10 Billion may not be a figure we will be heading towards in the UK but it will still most likely be a substantial amount of money.

Now whilst this is brilliant news after all in todays economic market a product or industry that provides that amount of money to just one major city is a great boon, however it seems that America and its conservative values and opinions are starting once again to rear their ugly head within the industry.

Last week an American critic criticised the homosexual actor Sean Hayes, famous for his portrayal of the ultra camp and gay Jack in Will & Grace, couldn't 'Cut it' playing a straight man. Now Hayes is currently playing the role of Chuck Baxter the eternal bachelor from the Billy Wilder film 'The Apartment' which is what 'Promises Promises' the play in which Hayes is performing is adapted from. GLAAD have obviously become very angry about the situation and demanded an apology however there are still some question as to how good Hayes is and whether or not he can pull off a straight character. Of course he can be a straight character, if Eric McCormack can play a gay character in the same show that shot Hayes to fame then why shouldn't Hayes play a straight man? Reviews for the show are not great that is true but it seems to be that the general consensus is A) The show is very dated and that is the reason it hasn't been revived for 40+ years B) Sean Hayes performance is brilliant and nothing like the OTT camp act that he has been stuck doing for years. The fact is that despite the changes in our western society regarding the attitudes towards homosexuality there is still, despite our industry being filled with people from all racial, economic and sexual backgrounds, this pervading belief that homosexuals either have an agenda or cannot play certain types of character is wrong and has no place in the 21st century. It is just a sad indictment of how little progress some people have made over the past 50 years.

To see what GLAAD have to say about the article please click here.

To see the other two articles then please click here and here.

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Just a Quick One: 2 BBC Articles that caught my eye

Just a quick mention of two really good articles I read today on the BBC website that I felt I should share with you. The first is the BBCs Arts Editor Will Gompertz commentary on the closing of Enron on Broadway, a sad day indeed for British straight plays going to the USA, and the differences between New York and the West End and how they work together. So please follow this link.

The other is an article on how the media portrays the exit of Politicians from public office referencing last weeks resignation by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Simon Schama writes about how Shakespeare would enjoy writing scenes like those witnessed in the News last week and how through the years different satirists have also commented on the Media frenzy. You can read this article here.

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Serious Play: Modern Clown Performance by Dr Louise Peacock

Serious Play: Modern Clown Performance by Dr Louise Peacock

Released on the 19.05.2010

Louise Peacock a Professor of Drama at the University of Hull is releasing her first book on the place of clowning in todays theatre and how it has evolved over the past 50 years. As someone who finds the work of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton so enthralling and acknowledging how much the work they created, as well as other early 20th Century clowns, have effected the physical theatre of the 21st Century I believe this book is well overdue. Peacock has spent many years researching her subject in much depth and has had several academic papers printed on the subject so this is truly a passion project. Dr Peacock is also involved in the 'Journal of Comedy Studies' which was launched this year. My prediction is that this book will be one to pick up if clowning is something you add to your own performing style or is something you have always wanted to learn more about.

It is released on Wednesday the 19th of May 2010 and the RRP is £20.50 although if you go to this page, you can get the brand new book for the bargain price of £11.49

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The Worlds Most Dangerous Improv Game

I am a big fan of Improvisation both in comedy and theatre and two of my favourite performers are Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood who both rose to fame through their involvement with Whose Line Is It Anyway? This here is perhaps the oddest game I have ever seen played and I do not truly understand why they would do this but this is a good example of taking something to the extreme.

So please enjoy but do not try this at home!

Les Mis 25th Anniversary

The 25th anniversary of Les Miserables is bearing down on the West End quite quickly now and plans for how this great milestone will be marked have still not been made public. For the 10th anniversary who can forget the concert performance at the Royal Albert Hall that became the definitive soundtrack of the show. This years plans seem sure to blow that concert out of the water, initial plans way back in 1995 included a Wembley Stadium show although I do not think something like that would be possible. The current national tour is ending in late October back at the Barbican where the show originated 25 years ago. The tickets though for the last two shows have been suspended as have those dates at the West Ends performances. This has of course led to wide speculation that a big gala event is being planned. Add in the rumours from last week regarding Susan Boyle playing Fantine, although her camp says nothing has been proposed, and it seems there will be some sort of star studded celebration. Whether that means we will see Colm Wilkinson and Philip Quast again is yet to be seen, I can imagine them grabbing Michael Ball to play Jean Valjean though. Still I will keep on watching this space, there isn't a musical I love more than Les Mis so I hope we get a televised event.

Theatre on the TV and Radio 17.05.2010

Five USA 12:00 Whose Line Is It Anyway.

Five 13:00 Barnum. TV Movie about the great American Impresario.

BBC 2 21:00 Royal Wedding by playwright Abi Morgan

BBC 1 22:35 Graham Norton with guest Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber

Five 23:00 Justin Lee Collins: Good Times. Jersey Boys Cast Performing

Radio 4 14:15 The End of The World (Afternoon Play)

Radio 4 19:15 Front Row, Nigel Harman and John Light on swapping roles on

Stage.

Not Just a Small One: Theatre for One

Theatre for One is a very exciting concept currently playing New York’s Times Square. Devised and created by acclaimed Set designer Christine Jones, other work includes ‘Spring Awakening’ at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, the initial idea for this unique travelling theatre space apparently came from seeing some intimate magic at a wedding. The idea is to provide a fantastically intimate experience between one audience member and one performer to allow a more distilled and intense theatrical event.

Of course a Theatre for One is not a new idea really; however this is perhaps the first time it has been treated with such a serious note. Here in the UK for nearly 40 years there has or had been a ‘Theatre for One’ in the ‘Smallest Theatre in The World’ which started out as a joke between actors starting out in the 70s. Names bandied around as those who came up with the concept and joke include Marcel Steiner, Jim Cartwright and Bob Hoskins. Steiner eventually purchased a motorbike with an oversized sidecar which it was suggested should be made into a mini theatre. Being a bodger Steiner duly did his duty to the world of theatre and created… this.

 

Without a doubt this theatre is meant in the spirit of fun and comedy. It is a completely eccentric quite British idea. A very successful one, it is perhaps the only theatre to have ever had constant 100% Audience attendance for every performance. However it is just in many ways a joke and a sideshow attraction, what the New York project has going for it in a different way is that it is in many ways an evolutionary experiment. Having gone through several working prototypes and program developments with various experimental theatre groups in New York this isn’t just a joke for the public to join in on, the people involved in this project are seriously studying the effectiveness of this form of the theatre. The costs and dedication involved have been quite high and I think this is a fascinating project which I wish them all the best with. I have only truly scratched the surface in this article about the project but you can read more on the official website here. I hope that after the Times Square shows that they seriously consider touring it to the UK, highly doubtful I know but still, I think a box theatre in the middle of Leicester Square or even perhaps Covent Garden would be a true theatrical event that few could afford to miss.

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