1,110 posts
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Post by alicechallice on Sept 20, 2022 23:59:05 GMT
The death of the RSC has been greatly exaggerated. Chichester and Theatr Clwyd will need new ADs although I assume in the case of Chichester, the 2023 season probably is already in the planning so whoever takes over won't be able to make their mark until late 2023 or 2024. DE leaves Chichester end of April so full 2023 season will be announced while he’s still in post. New AD will be announced early 2023. |
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Post by Jan on Sept 21, 2022 6:17:48 GMT
Do we think Erica Whyman applied for the role? I don't know but I'd guess yes - I see she is leaving to become a freelance, I think given her agenda and how very few plays she has directed in her decade at the RSC a move to freelance doesn't look at all an obvious move. I'd guess she'll pitch up at some other subsidised venue in due course. I've never seen anything directed by the two new ADs (I've seen DE as an actor a lot) so they are a complete blank page for me, no opinions positive or negative yet. The RSC have never had joint ADs before except nominally, when it was Nunn/Hands that was really just to cover the fact Nunn was off directing musicals the entire time. |
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Post by Jan on Sept 21, 2022 6:25:45 GMT
The death of the RSC has been greatly exaggerated. At this point I think their biggest risk switches from being artistic to being financial. |
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Post by kate8 on Sept 21, 2022 6:58:02 GMT
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Post by cavocado on Sept 21, 2022 7:38:03 GMT
Tamara Harvey's CV. I've actually seen a few of these and liked them, just hadn't remembered her as director: cdn.casarotto.co.uk/uploads/files/cvs/Tamara-Harvey-CV-with-header.pdf?v=1581953234. I think I've only seen Our Generation directed by Daniel Evans. Could be a good pairing - she's a more experienced director, he has a lot of Shakespeare experience as an actor, especially with the RSC in more prosperous and successful days. Both have experience of running prominent regional theatres which rely on drawing visitors from out of town. I wonder how the appointment process worked - did they apply as a pair, or were the board looking for two candidates? This time next year I'm hoping I'll be able to visit Stratford for a couple of days and see at least 3 plays in 3 theatres... |
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395 posts
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Post by lichtie on Sept 21, 2022 7:42:31 GMT
They applied as a pair, and would only take it as such, if the press coverage is to be believed.
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Post by Jan on Sept 21, 2022 7:44:51 GMT
I wonder how the appointment process worked - did they apply as a pair, or were the board looking for two candidates? It says they applied as a pair - doesn't mean the recruitment people didn't encourage them in this prior to their application, actually the wording of the job advert mentioned this as an option. |
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Post by Jan on Sept 21, 2022 7:50:54 GMT
Interesting. In articles like this for the last 20 years he's put establishing a permanent London base at the top of his priority list (partly as a means to attract top talent), now it's not mentioned at all, I suspect he's been told it's not happening. |
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173 posts
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Post by paplazaroo on Sept 21, 2022 8:00:16 GMT
I think it's a really smart appointment, I can see them getting the balance between Shakespeare with big names, Shakespeare for the diehards and big musicals to bank roll the whole ship just right. My big hope is that by freeing up two of the big jobs in theatre then it'll have a penny-fall shake up effect on the whole subsidised scene.
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353 posts
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Post by cirque on Sept 21, 2022 8:09:47 GMT
I will wait and hope....maybe a blockbuster Kiss Me Kate starting in Stratford etc....RSC needs commercial success and a massive rebuild.Hope TOP will open year round and Swan get classics back in rediscovery mode.Not radical but a real challenge to take on and I can draw a line under the decline years.Relieved EW did not get it as I had thought-must be massive blow for her.Now onwards,upwards and an RSC to hopefully reawaken.Please scrap community label-it stinks.
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Post by cavocado on Sept 21, 2022 8:27:19 GMT
Interesting. In articles like this for the last 20 years he's put establishing a permanent London base at the top of his priority list (partly as a means to attract top talent), now it's not mentioned at all, I suspect he's been told it's not happening. I'd like to see a London base again, but there's a huge and urgent job to do in Stratford, fully re-opening and turning around the RSC's reputation. Hopefully there will be more frequent transfers, but surely a permanent base needs consistent quality first, and also excitement among theatergoers about the company and its output? It's a shame Arthur Hughes' Richard III didn't get to London, but All's Well doesn't deserve a transfer, and Comedy of Errors sold badly at the Barbican. |
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Post by Jan on Sept 21, 2022 8:53:29 GMT
Interesting. In articles like this for the last 20 years he's put establishing a permanent London base at the top of his priority list (partly as a means to attract top talent), now it's not mentioned at all, I suspect he's been told it's not happening. I'd like to see a London base again, but there's a huge and urgent job to do in Stratford I agree. In any event the environment has changed recently, the government are pushing their levelling up agenda through bodies like ACE and a new permanent London base would simply not be supported by them. However, it's simply a fact that star actors won't go to the RSC without a London transfer - Arthur Hughes took on R-III without one but I suspect David Tennant might not have. |
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1,504 posts
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Post by foxa on Sept 21, 2022 9:28:25 GMT
I came on to say well done to those of you who got this as I had absolutely no idea. I felt smug having read it here first. I have generally positive feelings towards both these directors and my impression is that Chichester handled the pandemic and emerging from it as well or better than anywhere. Fingers crossed it works!
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Post by cavocado on Sept 21, 2022 10:35:07 GMT
I'd like to see a London base again, but there's a huge and urgent job to do in Stratford I agree. In any event the environment has changed recently, the government are pushing their levelling up agenda through bodies like ACE and a new permanent London base would simply not be supported by them. However, it's simply a fact that star actors won't go to the RSC without a London transfer - Arthur Hughes took on R-III without one but I suspect David Tennant might not have. Maybe not star film/tv names, but I would like to see some very experienced ex-RSC actors brought in to give greater depth to the company. Someone like Niamh Cusack springs to mind - she is about to play Gertrude at Bristol Old Vic, with Finbar Lynch as Claudius. It would be great to see a few senior actors of that calibre in the RSC company each season. Reinstating something like the annual Newcastle residency, or similar long term link with another city, would help meet the levelling up requirement? |
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5,707 posts
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Post by lynette on Sept 21, 2022 20:23:44 GMT
Well, everyone seems pretty chuffed with no groans of disappointment so bodes well for RSC. The new guys wont really get going for a bit ( what I mean is we wont see the product for a while) but I do hope they are full of ideas and champion our Willie as never before.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Sept 21, 2022 20:29:33 GMT
It is a real chance for a reset. After a decade of mediocrity and box ticking, we need a return to great theatre making. Get the quality right and audiences will return.
Find a new show that will transfer and bring financial returns for at least a decade and that will really help.
Shame we have to put up with effectively 18 months of Whyman programming first.
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353 posts
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Post by cirque on Sept 23, 2022 6:41:31 GMT
RSC logo restored.
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