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Post by david on Sept 11, 2022 16:11:25 GMT
The new Shakespeare North Playhouse are currently running tours so I bobbed down this afternoon to have a look around. All photos posted have been allowed with the kind permission of the theatre. Myself and 3 others had a good hour in the company of the FOH manager having a look around the building. My overall impression of the new theatre is really positive. It’s fully accessible with both stairs and lifts and with 2 performance spaces (the main cockpit indoor stage and an outside stage area named the Sir Ken Dodd garden). The theatre is aiming to be both a theatre and a community hub in the heart of Prescot town centre. There are plans for outreach work with the community and business who can use the building for events. The design of the building itself whilst modern in design has some nice features in its construction as a reminder of the history of the original theatre back in the 1590s. In the main large foyer which houses both the box office and gift shop along with a cafe and bar area, there are design features in the wall representing the old wooden Elizabethan wooden construction (wooden panelling was pushed into the wet concrete and then removed to give the effect -  There is also an opportunity to have a sit in a piece of 1600s seat in the exhibition gallery if you want. The main cockpit theatre looks really good.  The stage can be either in the round or thrust. The FOH manager said there are plans to have shows with both configurations in any given year. Having a look around the auditorium, there only a few seats at the back which could be considered RV. In all, a full theatre of 440, the majority should be clear views. I tried the benching and despite no back rests was comfy enough to sit on. Another interesting point raised on the tour was that the theatre was also licensed to hold shows by candlelight rather than traditional lighting. There doesn’t appear to be any space for an musicians and when I asked I didn’t get the impression that the design was built for those kind of shows. The nice thing about todays visit is that new building smell you get walking into the theatre. The fresh oak construction which was built using traditional Elizabethan construction techniques. Unfortunately we didn’t an opportunity to visit the gallery seating. Overall, the new theatre certainly looks great and a much welcomed addition for local theatre here in Merseyside and I’ll definitely be booking for some of the shows programmed. |
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Post by orchidman on Sept 12, 2022 21:11:48 GMT
Levelling up the theatre won't work any better than levelling up as a wider policy. In the past 100 years the most able people in the country have moved to the big cities (i.e. mainly London) because of the great opportunities for social mobility created in the 20th century.
There has been a brain drain from the towns and the most able people don't want to live there anymore, if they ever did. Look at the schedules for provincial theatre to see what the people who live there actually want to see. It isn't Shakespeare, Ibsen or Stoppard. Even a city as big as Birmingham struggles to sell tickets for serious plays. The audience would rather stay at home and watch the latest Netflix pablum.
It's a much better investment to invest in the places that are already successful to keep them successful than to try to buck the market. It won't work and a lot of money will be blown in denial of the realities.
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Post by inthenose on Sept 12, 2022 21:19:19 GMT
Levelling up the theatre won't work any better than levelling up as a wider policy. In the past 100 years the most able people in the country have moved to the big cities (i.e. mainly London) because of the great opportunities for social mobility created in the 20th century. There has been a brain drain from the towns and the most able people don't want to live there anymore, if they ever did. Look at the schedules for provincial theatre to see what the people who live there actually want to see. It isn't Shakespeare, Ibsen or Stoppard. Even a city as big as Birmingham struggles to sell tickets for serious plays. The audience would rather stay at home and watch the latest Netflix pablum. It's a much better investment to invest in the places that are already successful to keep them successful than to try to buck the market. It won't work and a lot of money will be blown in denial of the realities. Some regional repertory houses offer consistently superb seasons of varied theatre. The musical/panto will do the best business - it always does - but when I lived in the north for a number of years I went regularly to many excellent producing houses. The Hull Truck, Bolton Octagon, Sheffield Theatres (under Grandage) as three examples, all ranged from passable straight theatre to absolutely world class, particularly in the latter’s case. If I still lived up there I’ll bet there are many venues producing outstanding theatre. The point of levelling up theatre as a concept should be about the opportunity of theatre, free kids tickets, engaging with communities - not writing off much of the populace as plebeians gormlessly consuming their bread and circuses. |
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Post by jojo on Sept 13, 2022 7:39:31 GMT
Levelling up the theatre won't work any better than levelling up as a wider policy. In the past 100 years the most able people in the country have moved to the big cities (i.e. mainly London) because of the great opportunities for social mobility created in the 20th century. There has been a brain drain from the towns and the most able people don't want to live there anymore, if they ever did. Look at the schedules for provincial theatre to see what the people who live there actually want to see. It isn't Shakespeare, Ibsen or Stoppard. Even a city as big as Birmingham struggles to sell tickets for serious plays. The audience would rather stay at home and watch the latest Netflix pablum. It's a much better investment to invest in the places that are already successful to keep them successful than to try to buck the market. It won't work and a lot of money will be blown in denial of the realities. I take the point that people who are able to travel and want to take advantage of opportunities will travel, but the ability to travel is not just about talent, but also financial security and so on. It might be fair to say that the schedules for regional theatre is more focused on populist material (like London), but it's pure snobbery to assume that no-one outside of London is interested in more serious material. It's a numbers game and not just the number of people who live there, and it becomes something of a self-fulfilling prophecy whereby many of those who are interested in more niche plays are generally used to travelling to London to see them. |
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 13, 2022 7:41:03 GMT
I had no idea that people in London look down on me because I choose to live in the provinces and think Shakespeare is boring. Must be why they won't talk to me on the Tube!
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Post by jaggy on Nov 4, 2022 11:24:41 GMT
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Nov 4, 2022 12:09:00 GMT
Headlong and Paines Plough have had to relocate to continue to receive funding.
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Post by maggiem on Nov 4, 2022 12:40:22 GMT
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5,159 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Nov 4, 2022 12:43:22 GMT
As I briefly posted elsewhere, before the discussion moved to this thread, sometimes the 'official' name is different to the name above the door.
Can someone with access to a 'proper' computer look if Alternative Theatre Company is on the list. If it is, that's the Bush.
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Post by steve10086 on Nov 4, 2022 12:50:42 GMT
As I briefly posted elsewhere, before the discussion moved to this thread, sometimes the 'official' name is different to the name above the door. Can someone with access to a 'proper' computer look if Alternative Theatre Company is on the list. If it is, that's the Bush. Yes, Bush is on the list at £656k per year |
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Post by Jon on Nov 4, 2022 13:37:46 GMT
Hampstead and ENO losing funding TBH wasn't a shock but Donmar is a little more surprising.
I would say losing NPO status and funding does not mean they'll close up shop, you only have to look at the Orange Tree to see how an organisation can thrive without ACE. I assume the Donmar and Hampstead will get support to transition to a new funding model.
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1,485 posts
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Post by mkb on Nov 4, 2022 14:13:09 GMT
I love Blackpool and its Illuminations, but by what measure are these arts-funding worthy? Given that this light show has managed its finances for nearly 150 years and this is the first time it has had this funding, what has changed?
Seems like an entirely political decision to reward their newly-Tory voters.
I live in a similar former Labour, now Tory, area. Perhaps I should have submitted an application for my Xmas decorations?
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Post by Jon on Nov 4, 2022 14:29:02 GMT
I love Blackpool and its Illuminations, but by what measure are these arts-funding worthy? Given that this light show has managed its finances for nearly 150 years and this is the first time it has had this funding, what has changed? Seems like an entirely political decision to reward their newly-Tory voters. I live in a similar former Labour, now Tory, area. Perhaps I should have submitted an application for my Xmas decorations? It's possible that the illuminations are in need of repair and refurbishing and thus ACE funding was partly needed. |
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Post by TallPaul on Nov 4, 2022 15:06:18 GMT
Re Blackpool:
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Post by Jan on Nov 4, 2022 15:17:51 GMT
Sadiq Khan: “A strong London equals a strong UK that’s why I am urging the government to think again and reconsider the consequences of these detrimental cuts.”
Ha ha. Not just England but the entire UK benefits from funding London preferentially ! Actually even in this new funding round about a third of the total spend is in London.
Does anyone know by how much the total ACE budget has been increased in this round ? Norris says it has but I can’t see the exact figures.
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7,189 posts
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Post by Jon on Nov 4, 2022 15:26:24 GMT
Sadiq Khan: “A strong London equals a strong UK that’s why I am urging the government to think again and reconsider the consequences of these detrimental cuts.” Ha ha. Not just England but the entire UK benefits from funding London preferentially ! Actually even in this new funding round about a third of the total spend is in London. Does anyone know by how much the total ACE budget has been increased in this round ? Norris says it has but I can’t see the exact figures. I swear Sadiq Khan used that phrase during the whole TfL funding situation. I say this as someone who likes him generally but he doesn't engage brain before speaking sometimes. |
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Post by n1david on Nov 4, 2022 15:49:27 GMT
Does anyone know by how much the total ACE budget has been increased in this round ? Norris says it has but I can’t see the exact figures. According to the spreadsheet, total spend went from £377m to £446m Spend in London went from £146.7m to £152m, a reduction from 39% to 34% of total spend. Spending on Theatre (across the UK) increased from £97.6m to £111.9m, although that's a slight reduction in % share. Note: my first version of this post got the numbers wrong - apologies if you saw that one! |
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Post by Jan on Nov 4, 2022 15:56:23 GMT
So total spend up 18% based on those figures.
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Post by cavocado on Nov 4, 2022 16:08:21 GMT
Sadiq Khan: “A strong London equals a strong UK that’s why I am urging the government to think again and reconsider the consequences of these detrimental cuts.” Ha ha. Not just England but the entire UK benefits from funding London preferentially ! Actually even in this new funding round about a third of the total spend is in London. Does anyone know by how much the total ACE budget has been increased in this round ? Norris says it has but I can’t see the exact figures. Is a third of the budget spent on London unreasonable? 9 million population plus another million or so commuters every day, plus (pre-Covid figures) 40+ million tourists a year, 280 million day trippers. Sadiq Khan is right about London's economy being good for the UK, isn't he? The arts generates a lot of tax revenue and attracts tourists. I'm not suggesting that regional arts organisations don't deserve more funding, and I do think being able to experience high quality arts/culture on your doorstep is important, but I'm sceptical about the decision-making process here, and particularly the amount of thought that's been given to long term protection of our cultural heritage. |
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Post by Jon on Nov 4, 2022 16:16:10 GMT
Is a third of the budget spent on London unreasonable? 9 million population plus another million or so commuters every day, plus (pre-Covid figures) 40+ million tourists a year, 280 million day trippers. Sadiq Khan is right about London's economy being good for the UK, isn't he? The arts generates a lot of tax revenue and attracts tourists. I'm not suggesting that regional arts organisations don't deserve more funding, and I do think being able to experience high quality arts/culture on your doorstep is important, but I'm sceptical about the decision-making process here, and particularly the amount of thought that's been given to long term protection of our cultural heritage. But are London based organisations likely to go bust due to the removal or reduction of NPO funding? The Bush got a funding increase so it's not like ACE targeted all London theatres for reduction and removals |
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Post by crowblack on Nov 4, 2022 16:48:59 GMT
Is a third of the budget spent on London unreasonable? 9 million population plus another million or so commuters every day, plus (pre-Covid figures) 40+ million tourists a year, 280 million day trippers. Sadiq Khan is right about London's economy being good for the UK, isn't he? The arts generates a lot of tax revenue and attracts tourists. But the Arts, being centralised in an increasingly expensive capital city, are becoming the preserve of the wealthy or already London-based. When I lived in London in a zone 2 houseshare with actors 20 years ago, all of us from outside London, our rents were £40pw. Now the equivalent in that street is hundreds. It's very difficult to get a toehold in the arts now if you're not from London or have another income source like family. If we want a diverse arts scene with new and varied voices and performers 'going forward' for the future we've got to reach and support talent nationally not just that lucky enough to be based in London. As for tourism, I posted a few weeks ago that London venues really should be lobbying about the state of our transport system - stupidly expensive and totally unreliable. |
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Post by Jan on Nov 4, 2022 17:04:38 GMT
Sadiq Khan: “A strong London equals a strong UK that’s why I am urging the government to think again and reconsider the consequences of these detrimental cuts.” Ha ha. Not just England but the entire UK benefits from funding London preferentially ! Actually even in this new funding round about a third of the total spend is in London. Does anyone know by how much the total ACE budget has been increased in this round ? Norris says it has but I can’t see the exact figures. Is a third of the budget spent on London unreasonable? 9 million population plus another million or so commuters every day, plus (pre-Covid figures) 40+ million tourists a year, 280 million day trippers. Sadiq Khan is right about London's economy being good for the UK, isn't he? The arts generates a lot of tax revenue and attracts tourists. I'm not suggesting that regional arts organisations don't deserve more funding, and I do think being able to experience high quality arts/culture on your doorstep is important, but I'm sceptical about the decision-making process here, and particularly the amount of thought that's been given to long term protection of our cultural heritage. I doubt the SNP would agree with him about subsidies in London being good for the whole UK. I wonder if Andy Burnham would ? Not surprised they’ve defunded the Gate - they’re not doing any productions and have some half-baked relocation plans. Another theatre that does very well without ACE funding but with the same sort of programming is the Coronet. And Jermyn Street. And the Old Vic. The Bridge. It’s not the end of the world. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 4, 2022 17:10:58 GMT
Anyone else baffled at a football museum getting an Arts Council grant? Given the colossal sums of money football clubs spend on players, surely a football museum could be run with backing from one or more clubs rather than from the Arts Council?
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Post by Jon on Nov 4, 2022 17:46:11 GMT
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Post by londonpostie on Nov 4, 2022 17:52:39 GMT
I'm hugely sympathetic to the levelling up agenda in general but I do think this is a slightly different beast.
I was at The Park theatre last week and even at Finsbury Park one of the sides of the Stalls was mostly taken up by a group of retired visitors from the USA, on their annual visit to see London theatre. Tammy Faye at The Almedia was also popular with US visitors. You can barely move at the ROH without hearing, presumably, Russian. These folks aren't sitting in the amphitheatre. And that's in October.
There must be data somewhere on the economic extent of overseas income but it's difficult to overstate the numbers.
Tend to think of ACE as an investment, with clear ROI. But that only works in London.
Would love to see a formula that sent ROI to the north as a means of supporting levelling up, though I'm reminded one of Truss's lunatic plans was to cancel VAT for tourists, as if they need encouraging (sterling = euro 1.17, USD 1.15)
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