Losing the National Theatre habit

The thing is I watch far more films than anything else. I'm more than happy to see a fantastic performance from Olivia Coleman in The Lost Daughter on Netflix. I'm overjoyed when a theatre actor becomes widely beloved and respected. However, I worry about theatre, its relevancy, the lack of interest in theatre from my generation and the generation after me, etc. I think it all influences each other. A great big circle or spider web of causes and effects.  

Ofc it isn't going to become extinct! I know and believe theatre will survive whatever. My point being, I find there to be a lack of interest in theatre from my generation (more so plays than musicals) and certain big names would attract a younger audience who then may go on to explore the works of that playwright or decided to see more shows. I think of when they hired Sean Combs for A Raisin in the Sun all those years ago. The actors gushed about how a whole new audience were introduced to theatre and Lorraine Hansberry because of the casting. The point is big names attract big crowds from all demographics which is beneficial to the theatres and theatre as a whole. 

Theatre has always been the hardest work for the smallest pay. But then again you have the instant gratification of a large audience, which in itself is aphrodisiac that is lacking in tv and film.

A related problem Norris doesn’t mention is that famous TV/film actors can choose the theatre parts they want to play whether they’re suitable for them or not. Most recently I thought Saoirse Ronan was miscast in Macbeth although that isn’t the most egregious example of it I’ve seen.

Discussing this with my theatre buddy at the weekend, we couldn’t help but note that other theatres appear to have attracted name talent - Kit Harrington, Eddie Redmayne, Paul Bettany, Taron Egerton, Amy Adams, Ruth Wilson, Emilia Clarke, James McAvoy, Ralph Fiennes….

Indeed it isn't the lure of telly that is holding the National back, it is the work it has been producing.

Sure there have been a few hits since Norris took over. But there have been a significant number of high profile flops.

It is not seen as the top quality gig it has been in the past.

Would you risk your reputation on being cast in another Hex or Macbeth?

Or would you rather wait a few years in the hope that a new AD will set it on a better path?

Bertie Carvel in Damned By Despair for example. Straight from his Matilda fame into that monstrous turkey - he seemed embarrassed to take a bow at the end. He appears elsewhere now, Rupert Goold is not only a better director than Norris but a better producer also. 

In football, clubs like Southampton do very well out of training up players in their Academy and selling the best on to big clubs. There's no reason the NT and the BBC can't be like that, nurturing and training the next generation and allowing the high-flyers to depart when they become too expensive to keep. It's not like there is any shortage of potential talent.

One thing I have also noticed just now is that they don't seem to have shows running in repertory any more. Would be a shame if they scrap doing this as it was one of the standouts of the NT.
Maybe this could be why they are struggling to get stars, I remember Olivia Coleman did mosquitoes as it wasn't 8 shows a week so she could be with her family more.

they meant with the actors… 🙂

There is the theory that everyone thinks the best decade for music is the one they grew up with. Nostalgia does play a big role in how we related to certain things, and theatre is not exempt. But they had a decent chat about theatre on Graham Norton's tv show a few weeks ago, so I stay optimistic.

However, there's no denying that the tv and film landscape has changed, and the money for quality tv is considerable in what remains an uncertain profession for most actors. The chance at a well paying stint on tv is going to be attractive for actors at all levels, moreso if it's going to raise their profile.

It still seems to be desirable and sense of pride for top British film and tv actors to do theatre. British film actors have always been less snobby than the Americans about doing tv, but tv has become more prestigious, and some of that prestige tv requires a bigger commitment than doing the odd mini-series for the BBC.

Scheduling is perhaps the real issue, complicated by COVID. The really big stars with the bigger bank balances can afford to block off time in their calendars for theatre with enough wriggle room to satisfy contracts, but it's harder for jobbing actors or their agents to risk the hit.  Perhaps tv and theatres companies need to learn to work together to make it easier for actors to do both.  Scheduling too. I can't blame parents of school aged children who don't need to work 6 evenings a week not wanting to work 6 evenings a week too often.

If you're thinking about regaining the NT habit....

Today is Amex booking day for Summer 2022 and, for the first time, you're allowed to pay with credit vouchers. (Amex card used to be mandatory.) Even more remarkably, all your credit vouchers have been consolidated and actually appear now on your account - the total value appears on the payment page. Another first as far as I'm aware.

NT productions might not improve but using NT credit vouchers is undeniably better.