RSC Whither ?

confirmed...closure until 21.

Even without including furlough payments for 90% of its staff, the RSC receives just under £15 million a year from the taxpayer, via ACE.

All we have received in return this summer are two 45 minute pop-up performances, three days a week!

Don’t forget Dorans interviews with the rsc’s previous top performers that only subscribers and members could watch

The RSC have continued their Education for Schools including Q&A with RSC actors, took part in the (free) on-line Midsummer Festival celebrating arts & culture across the West Midlands. Created an online resource for freelancers. Took part in Shakespeare Nation with The Grand Theatre, Blackpool and currently preparing for Coventry City of Culture in May 2021.

Copied from RSC website

“Despite our theatres being temporarily closed, our acting company continue to work on events and activity, including our programme of outdoor Shakespeare in Stratford. We will look at what other events, and online activity we can continue to provide for our audiences in the autumn and winter.

The ability to stage the productions is dependent on government advice on social distancing and whether it is financially viable to open our theatres and perform to audiences.”

I wonder if because their core audience tends to be older, the RSC are afraid to stage a play in case unable to sell enough tickets? What play would appeal to all ages? Can people afford the theatre?

I must admit I am not sure about sitting inside for a lengthy play. A short play with no interval would appeal.

Those were large casts though so not something likely to be happening soon... I would have thought if the RSC wanted to do something live other than stand around in the garden in the rain, they would use the Other Place since it's far more adaptable than the main theatres. It probably matches the footfall they can expect to get for a smaller production anyway.

Well they are continuing the outdoor stuff this month, when it was originally supposed to have stopped in August. I think the main reason they've kept those casts is that those are the shows that they still plan to reopen with. But there must come a point at which the investment they've made so far in rehearsal and prep gives way to the financial black hole they will face if they do nothing. Presumably they're getting paid for putting out more of their old shows on Britbox, but it can't really be that much.

Of course if you did the Greeks traditionally, everyone would be wearing masks. There's some of the Strindbergs (Miss Julie, Dance of Death I and II). Plus of course you can do Shakespeare with a much smaller cast than the RSC normally do (eg the 2-person Two Gentlemen of Verona that did the rounds a few years ago). I get the impression that because the RSC can't do what they'd normally do, they are choosing to do nothing.

Xanderl, the same thought came to me. The best is the enemy of the good. Funny how the little theatres know this but both the RSC and the NT do not. 

There was a piece in The Times on Friday that revealed RSC will become a hybrid company in future with less emphasis on live building shows.The plan seems to be to become a digital house for VR work and streaming. The feature was based on Sarah Ells speech last week.If this s sonthen it explains why they are simply doing nothing right now. Surprised that such a huge change in RSC future was not made public by board and Artistic Director. When I read the piece ‘exit stage left’ I felt bitterly disappointed for audiences who love live theatre so hope it’s not true.

I wonder if they'll try and get The Mirror and the Light up and running for next December? Ben Miles mentioned in an interview, he's working on the adaptation with Hilary Mantel and coupled with a revival of Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies would be a much needed banker.