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Post by teamyali on Jun 12, 2023 12:30:08 GMT
Both Marianne and Dominic now lead their own production companies - Dominic started his around the start of the pandemic (The Normal Heart was Fictionhouse’s first production (co-produced with NT), and currently Rock Follies at the Chichester is also a Fictionhouse prod). Marianne is about to start her feature film directorial debut.
Would leading a commercial production company be a conflict of interest as an artistic director of the National? I see most of the notable West End directors are venturing on their own (Dom, Marianne, Grandage, Jeremy Herrin, Jamie Lloyd).
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Post by couldileaveyou on Jun 12, 2023 14:23:23 GMT
No chance of Marianne Elliott going for it? Or Dominic Cooke? They are the directors whose next production I'm most looking forward to these days. I was thinking of Marianne Elliott too, especially since no woman has directed the NT before. She can attract big names and gave the NT some of its biggest hits in the past 15 years or so. But I guess it'd get in the way with her freelance career and producing company |
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Post by Dave B on Jun 12, 2023 15:13:08 GMT
Lynette Linton?
Bush Theatre has done really well under her. She has done great and very well received work in West End, Globe and NT. I think she'd be just fab.
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Post by londonpostie on Jun 12, 2023 17:01:07 GMT
Can you imagine the internet furore if Clint Dyer - with some directorial but no AD experience - doesn't now get it: can we really see a white person - male or female - being brought in above a black Deputy AD?
The Gov would have to set up a helpline for distraught white, middle-class, managerial / professional liberals.
Rubasingham, Dyer or, outside bet, Nadia Fall. Not all of whom fill me with joy. |
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Post by Jon on Jun 12, 2023 18:11:01 GMT
Do you need AD experience to run the National? Hytner didn't and neither did Norris, it's unlikely but it'd be good to see an AD who is a producer rather than a director.
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Post by theoracle on Jun 12, 2023 22:09:50 GMT
I agree above that the next AD should be a woman and ideally a woman under 50 to show progressiveness of the NT. my first choice would be Lyndsey Turner but am also keen on Polly Findlay. I also
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Post by Jan on Jun 13, 2023 6:56:23 GMT
Do you need AD experience to run the National? Hytner didn't and neither did Norris, it's unlikely but it'd be good to see an AD who is a producer rather than a director. The most successful, artistically and commercially (transfers etc.), NT ADs - Peter Hall and Hytner - were both very good directors themselves and brilliant producers. I think for the NT that's essential. For a smaller theatre you can get by with someone who is just a director, or more uncommonly just a producer (eg. David Lan at the Young Vic). Hytner said something interesting which is that during his time he programmed several plays that he personally hated - to fill the NT you need to programme a wide range of stuff some of which is purely populist/entertaining even if it's not to your personal taste. The mistake Norris made was to programme as if it was a politically committed humourless fringe theatre although under economic pressure from Covid he's improved a bit more recently - I expect they'll make exactly the same mistake again in their next appointment. I think Rupert Goold would be the best candidate (from the very short list of directors who might actually want it) but he has no chance at all of getting it so I imagine he won't apply - a problem is that all those candidates who could programme with an eye to commercial hits (Grandage, Elliott, Jamie Lloyd etc.) are already firmly in the commercial sector. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jun 13, 2023 10:03:47 GMT
Given how the job is much more than just directing plays, it needs to go to someone who has run a theatre building before. Someone who looks beyond the rehearsal room and the auditorium. Someone who balances creative risk with audience retention and building. Someone who can nurture new talent and attract existing big hitters. Someone who values our shared theatrical heritage as well as being able to identify new writing with real quality. Someone who is a passionate advocate for quality theatre and not someone who wants to use the NT to push other agendas.
And very importantly, someone who will not use the job to give work to their partner. The culture of nepotism has to end.
It is, in essence, almost an impossible task for one person to undertake.
I absolutely understand the desire to see a major national company helmed by a woman. It is long overdue. But if the best candidate was a man, I could live with that. It is the quality of the vision that is most important.
Maybe a joint appointment is the right way forward. As long as one of them isn't the outgoing acting AD of the RSC...
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 13, 2023 10:15:14 GMT
Good point Jan I suspect ballet companies are sick of Nutcracker's and Carmen but it's bums on seats and not issues that the AD wants to rally against |
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Post by Jan on Jun 13, 2023 11:29:50 GMT
Good point Jan I suspect ballet companies are sick of Nutcracker's and Carmen but it's bums on seats and not issues that the AD wants to rally against Norris is not entirely to blame, the NT board updated their requirements to include one that says plays staged should be “relevant”. If you look historically at their hits a lot of them have been “irrelevant”, One Man Two Guvnors for example. |
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Post by n1david on Jun 13, 2023 12:37:11 GMT
One Man Two Guvnors for example. Oh I dunno, the need for a portfolio career, multiple jobs in order to be able to feed oneself seems quite appropriate for the current age... |
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Post by max on Jun 13, 2023 18:21:03 GMT
What about Tom Morris? He had a long and largely successful stint at Bristol Old Vic, and is about to be represented in the West End again (first time since 'The Grinning Man') with 'Dr Semmelweis'. That play shows that people like Mark Rylance want to work with him - and attracting top actors has been some people's concern for the National Theatre, suggesting it's lost some pulling power.
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Post by nottobe on Jun 13, 2023 19:07:25 GMT
I'd like to see a producer as the next AD. I'm not sure who but I think it would be a wise choice. I feel certain too that it will be a female AD.
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Post by Jon on Jun 13, 2023 19:07:40 GMT
What about Tom Morris? He had a long and largely successful stint at Bristol Old Vic, and is about to be represented in the West End again (first time since 'The Grinning Man') with 'Dr Semmelweis'. That play shows that people like Mark Rylance want to work with him - and attracting top actors has been some people's concern for the National Theatre, suggesting it's lost some pulling power. I'm not sure if the National has lost its pulling power. Sam Mendes has directed a number of plays there for example such as The Motive and The Cue. There's no shortage of actors who want to work at the National. |
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Post by cirque on Jun 13, 2023 19:16:49 GMT
Tom Morris is perfect for the role in every way
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Post by Jan on Jun 13, 2023 19:27:28 GMT
Tom Morris is perfect for the role in every way Except he’s a middle-aged white male. Rupert Goold too. I mean even the Orange Tree were a bit defensive about appointing Tom Littler who was also perfect for the role and they didn’t have to justify the appointment to ACE. |
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Post by bordeaux on Jun 14, 2023 13:08:14 GMT
I'm no great fan of Rufus Norris but if the advance word anything to go by, then with Dear England the NT has a third outstanding new play on its hands in one year, after Phaedra and The Motive and the Cue, an impressive feat.
To put that in context: the NT hasn't won an Olivier for best new play since Curious Incident in 2013. Looking back I see that in 2004 it had three nominees for best play: The Pillowman, Democracy and Elmina's Kitchen. 2002 they had Jitney (bought in), Humble Boy and Vincent in Brixton (and I thought the last two were overrated). 1998 they had The Invention of Love (Stoppard), Closer (Marber) and Amy's View (Hare). 1991 had Dancing at Lughnasa (bought in), White Chameleon (Christopher Hampton, very disappointing) and Trackers of Oxyrhynchus (Tony Harrison, arguably not new!). So, this year is a very strong year for writing from the NT.
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Post by zahidf on Jun 14, 2023 14:36:21 GMT
I'm no great fan of Rufus Norris but if the advance word anything to go by, then with Dear England the NT has a third outstanding new play on its hands in one year, after Phaedra and The Motive and the Cue, an impressive feat. To put that in context: the NT hasn't won an Olivier for best new play since Curious Incident in 2013. Looking back I see that in 2004 it had three nominees for best play: The Pillowman, Democracy and Elmina's Kitchen. 2002 they had Jitney (bought in), Humble Boy and Vincent in Brixton (and I thought the last two were overrated). 1998 they had The Invention of Love (Stoppard), Closer (Marber) and Amy's View (Hare). 1991 had Dancing at Lughnasa (bought in), White Chameleon (Christopher Hampton, very disappointing) and Trackers of Oxyrhynchus (Tony Harrison, arguably not new!). So, this year is a very strong year for writing from the NT. Id say this year, Hex aside, has been very strong at the national. |
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Post by bordeaux on Jun 14, 2023 16:59:18 GMT
Can you imagine the internet furore if Clint Dyer - with some directorial but no AD experience - doesn't now get it: can we really see a white person - male or female - being brought in above a black Deputy AD?
The Gov would have to set up a helpline for distraught white, middle-class, managerial / professional liberals.
Rubasingham, Dyer or, outside bet, Nadia Fall. Not all of whom fill me with joy. But Clint Dyer has hardly directed anything of note, it appears to me; just an Othello at the NT and a Roy Williams play. It's surprising to me that he is Deputy AD at all with that track record. To be AD you need lots of experience in directing the canon at a high level, plus new plays, with a bit of showmanship (an ability to direct the occasional hit that will transfer). |
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Post by Jon on Jun 14, 2023 17:16:35 GMT
Can you imagine the internet furore if Clint Dyer - with some directorial but no AD experience - doesn't now get it: can we really see a white person - male or female - being brought in above a black Deputy AD?
The Gov would have to set up a helpline for distraught white, middle-class, managerial / professional liberals.
Rubasingham, Dyer or, outside bet, Nadia Fall. Not all of whom fill me with joy. But Clint Dyer has hardly directed anything of note, it appears to me; just an Othello at the NT and a Roy Williams play. It's surprising to me that he is Deputy AD at all with that track record. To be AD you need lots of experience in directing the canon at a high level, plus new plays, with a bit of showmanship (an ability to direct the occasional hit that will transfer). Is it necessary to have directed Shakespeare to be considered for the AD job National? To me, an Artistic Director of a theatre company doesn't necessarily have to be a director, that's the case in New York where Andre Bishop is the AD of Lincoln Center Theatre and is more of a producer, likewise the late Todd Haimes at Roundabout and in the UK we have the likes of David Babani and Paul Taylor Mills. |
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Post by londonpostie on Jun 14, 2023 17:27:02 GMT
You might say that I couldn't possibly comment, though the great man himself has plenty to say (in this clip and elsewhere) >> |
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Post by zahidf on Jun 15, 2023 9:29:59 GMT
Rufus Stepping down Spring 2025. New person in place end of the year
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Post by zahidf on Jun 15, 2023 9:31:32 GMT
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Post by londonpostie on Jun 15, 2023 9:53:31 GMT
I bet he was in his element revealing that lot.
Oyelowo is some film actor so very keen to see any stage work he does.
Michael Sheen going the full Welshie again .. tbh, I do hope he does Bevin justice and reigns it in here and there (a personal hero of moi)
Found Alexander Zeldin's work in the Dorfman pretty absorbing - particularly strong on dialogue.
Frecknal debuts in the Lyttleton .. almost inevitably, I guess.
Plus Harriet Walter - lovely, and Lindsay Duncan returns for the conservative commuter belt-ers.
New work, revivals, old faithfuls, and new stars, writing, directors ... he's covered a lot of bases, that's for sure. But who's going to be unhappy on social media ..
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Post by Dave B on Jun 15, 2023 9:59:37 GMT
Here's my quick ref for shows and dates. Lots to fill in. | Closing Time | National Theatre (Dorfman) | Sept 2023 | | The Confessions | National Theatre (Lyttelton) | Thursday, 19 October 2023 | | Infinite Life | National Theatre (Dorfman) | Nov 2023 | | Motive and the Cue | Noël Coward | Saturday, 9 December 2023 | | Kin | National Theatre (Lyttelton) | Jan 2024 | | Till the Stars Come Down | National Theatre (Dorfman) | Jan 2024 | | Dear Octopus | National Theatre (Lyttelton)
| Feb 2024 | | Nye | National Theatre (Olivier) | Feb 2024 | | Underdog: The Other Other Brontë | National Theatre (Dorfman) | Mar 2024 | | London Tide | National Theatre (Lyttelton) | Apr 2024 | | The Hot Wing King | National Theatre (Dorfman) | July 2024 | | Coriolanus | National Theatre (Olivier) | 2024 |
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Post by bordeaux on Jun 15, 2023 9:59:48 GMT
That is pretty damn impressive, I have to say. Sarah Frecknall, Michael Sheen, David Oyelowo, a relatively rarely performed Shakespeare, Lorca, Lindsey Duncan in an intriguing rediscovery, Harriet Walter, some possibly great new plays....including a Pulitzer winner
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Post by zahidf on Jun 15, 2023 10:04:37 GMT
looks like a super strong line up tbh
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Post by Steve on Jun 15, 2023 10:25:26 GMT
All that, and Alexander Zeldin!  |
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Post by mrnutz on Jun 15, 2023 10:43:44 GMT
After a dire few years the NT are absolutely smashing it at the moment.
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Post by Jon on Jun 15, 2023 11:00:39 GMT
I was surprised to learn that Dear Octopus hasn't been revived in 57 years.
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