Comments for British Theatre Guide Blog http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info Thoughts and musings on theatre, especially in Britain Wed, 14 May 2008 06:07:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 Comment on Eco-friendly Theatre by ecotheater http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/02/07/eco-friendly-theatre/#comment-719 ecotheater Sun, 20 Apr 2008 01:56:42 +0000 http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/02/07/eco-friendly-theatre/#comment-719 I know this is an old post, but I have to stick my American nose in: "we are just too dependent on fossil fuels so individuals and even the entire theatre industry can only make a tiny impact on reducing CO2 levels." That's nonsense. Is there some sort of mandate of which I am unaware that dictates that we remain dependent on these ecologically destructive habits? I say no, we can make a difference, and we can change the way to produce theater without comprising our art. I know this is an old post, but I have to stick my American nose in: “we are just too dependent on fossil fuels so individuals and even the entire theatre industry can only make a tiny impact on reducing CO2 levels.” That’s nonsense. Is there some sort of mandate of which I am unaware that dictates that we remain dependent on these ecologically destructive habits? I say no, we can make a difference, and we can change the way to produce theater without comprising our art.

]]> Comment on Radio Drama by ahepburn http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2008/03/28/radio-drama/#comment-713 ahepburn Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:05:21 +0000 http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2008/03/28/radio-drama/#comment-713 fyi - Tanik Gupta's Rudolpho's Zest was broadcast Sunday April 6th on Radio3 with the following cast: Rudolpho ...... Ray Panthaki Mel ...... Lyndsey Marshal Susan ...... Adjoa Andoh Sita ...... Manjinder Virk Firoz ...... Paul Bhattacharjee Mahesh ...... Paul Bazely Charles Darwin ...... Geoffrey Whitehead Alice ...... Clare Corbett Ghandi ...... Sam Dastor Nasreen ...... Sakuntala Ramanee Lord Williams ...... Robert Maskell Colonel Fitzherbert ...... Peter Marinker Charles ...... Ben Onwukwe Maid ...... Liz Sutherland Babulal ...... Gagan Sharma Young Rudolpho ...... Alex Miller It was preceded by Frayn's translation of Chekhov's Swan Song with Paul Scofield as the actor and Alec McCowen as the prompter - recorded in 2006 and rebroadcast as a tribute to the late Paul Scofield Also the Saturday play was another excellent piece by Gregory Burke - Shell Shocked with John Buick, Angus McInnes, Paul Young, John Kielty, Richard Greenwood, and Jordan Young; Directed by Gaynor Macfarlane All of these are available on the i-player for 7 days. - A very good weekend for radio drama, especially with the addition of pt 1 of 6 of A Dance to the Music of Time adapted from Anthony Powell's novel as the new Classic Serial on Radio4, and Part one of The Norman Conquests on BBC7. Angus fyi - Tanik Gupta’s Rudolpho’s Zest was broadcast Sunday April 6th on Radio3 with the following cast:
Rudolpho …… Ray Panthaki
Mel …… Lyndsey Marshal
Susan …… Adjoa Andoh
Sita …… Manjinder Virk
Firoz …… Paul Bhattacharjee
Mahesh …… Paul Bazely
Charles Darwin …… Geoffrey Whitehead
Alice …… Clare Corbett
Ghandi …… Sam Dastor
Nasreen …… Sakuntala Ramanee
Lord Williams …… Robert Maskell
Colonel Fitzherbert …… Peter Marinker
Charles …… Ben Onwukwe
Maid …… Liz Sutherland
Babulal …… Gagan Sharma
Young Rudolpho …… Alex Miller
It was preceded by Frayn’s translation of Chekhov’s Swan Song with Paul Scofield as the actor and Alec McCowen as the prompter - recorded in 2006 and rebroadcast as a tribute to the late Paul Scofield

Also the Saturday play was another excellent piece by Gregory Burke - Shell Shocked
with
John Buick, Angus McInnes, Paul Young, John Kielty, Richard Greenwood, and Jordan Young; Directed by Gaynor Macfarlane
All of these are available on the i-player for 7 days. - A very good weekend for radio drama, especially with the addition of pt 1 of 6 of A Dance to the Music of Time adapted from Anthony Powell’s novel as the new Classic Serial on Radio4, and Part one of The Norman Conquests on BBC7.

Angus

]]> Comment on Radio Drama by Mariele http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2008/03/28/radio-drama/#comment-711 Mariele Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:42:56 +0000 http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2008/03/28/radio-drama/#comment-711 Hello there, What an interesting article! I am an avid supporter of all things radio drama, and thought you might be interested in writing about www.wirelesstheatrecompany.co.uk - The Wireless Theatre Company produces a wide range of quality audio plays which are available to download free of charge. The aim is to foster new writing and acting talent, while bringing audio theatre to the ‘ipod’ generation and keeping this fantastic medium alive in an age preoccupied with complex graphics and extreme action. In February, The Wireless Theatre Company secured entertainment legend Nicholas Parsons as patron, recording an inspiring interview with him which is available to download on the site. Last week, the company recorded a new comedy by Stuart Price, starring Prunella Scales, who has continually asserted her support of this exciting venture. If you would be interested in speaking to The Wireless Theatre Company or if you would like any further information about the company we would all be delighted to help spread the word! Video killed the radio star? Not a chance!! Mariele Hello there,

What an interesting article! I am an avid supporter of all things radio drama, and thought you might be interested in writing about www.wirelesstheatrecompany.co.uk - The Wireless Theatre Company produces a wide range of quality audio plays which are available to download free of charge. The aim is to foster new writing and acting talent, while bringing audio theatre to the ‘ipod’ generation and keeping this fantastic medium alive in an age preoccupied with complex graphics and extreme action.

In February, The Wireless Theatre Company secured entertainment legend Nicholas Parsons as patron, recording an inspiring interview with him which is available to download on the site. Last week, the company recorded a new comedy by Stuart Price, starring Prunella Scales, who has continually asserted her support of this exciting venture.

If you would be interested in speaking to The Wireless Theatre Company or if you would like any further information about the company we would all be delighted to help spread the word!

Video killed the radio star? Not a chance!!

Mariele

]]> Comment on Radio Drama by Lukasz Borowiec http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2008/03/28/radio-drama/#comment-710 Lukasz Borowiec Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:24:24 +0000 http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2008/03/28/radio-drama/#comment-710 I would personally be delighted if there was a place devoted to radio drama on the site. I'm a keen listener of BBC Radio Drama and I really miss some more information on the beautiful art of audio theatre. I'd like to add that I'm a PhD student of English from Poland where radio drama has a long tradition, although recently its popularity has been, unfortunately, declining quite rapidly. I don't know if this is the right place to write it, but I would be very much interested in helping to develop the part of the site concerned with radio drama, if, of course, there is such a possibility. I would personally be delighted if there was a place devoted to radio drama on the site. I’m a keen listener of BBC Radio Drama and I really miss some more information on the beautiful art of audio theatre. I’d like to add that I’m a PhD student of English from Poland where radio drama has a long tradition, although recently its popularity has been, unfortunately, declining quite rapidly. I don’t know if this is the right place to write it, but I would be very much interested in helping to develop the part of the site concerned with radio drama, if, of course, there is such a possibility.

]]> Comment on Radio Drama by ahepburn http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2008/03/28/radio-drama/#comment-709 ahepburn Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:54:06 +0000 http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2008/03/28/radio-drama/#comment-709 As a training ground for writers, Radio is a gold mine. I listen (and record) all the afternoon theatres, Saturday plays, Friday plays and Radio 3 drama. Radio 3 especially with the main play weekly (many times recordings of the latest work on the west end stage - eg Rock and Roll, Black Watch etc) not to mention "the Wire' which monthly plays new and sometimes very experimental work are well worth keeping an ear on. Stoppard's last birthday was celebrated with a collection of his best work (including a new version of R&G), the late Peter Tinniswood has written wonderful dramas for many of the country's leading actors, and my own favourite - David Pownell - writes more for radio than for theatre. Of course, some of the output is light but there is much of the more meaty variety to listen to. The Schiller "Mary Stuart" that started life in Sheffield (I believe) and then moved to London was broadcast just about the time of its move. "Gagarin Way" was one play I first heard on the radio and then managed to catch on the last performance of its London run. So I agree that reviews and/or notifications of new radio drama would be a very worthwhile addition to the site. Angus Hepburn As a training ground for writers, Radio is a gold mine. I listen (and record) all the afternoon theatres, Saturday plays, Friday plays and Radio 3 drama. Radio 3 especially with the main play weekly (many times recordings of the latest work on the west end stage - eg Rock and Roll, Black Watch etc) not to mention “the Wire’ which monthly plays new and sometimes very experimental work are well worth keeping an ear on. Stoppard’s last birthday was celebrated with a collection of his best work (including a new version of R&G), the late Peter Tinniswood has written wonderful dramas for many of the country’s leading actors, and my own favourite - David Pownell - writes more for radio than for theatre.
Of course, some of the output is light but there is much of the more meaty variety to listen to. The Schiller “Mary Stuart” that started life in Sheffield (I believe) and then moved to London was broadcast just about the time of its move. “Gagarin Way” was one play I first heard on the radio and then managed to catch on the last performance of its London run.
So I agree that reviews and/or notifications of new radio drama would be a very worthwhile addition to the site.
Angus Hepburn

]]> Comment on The BTG at the Turn of the Year by Philip Fisher http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/12/30/the-btg-at-the-turn-of-the-year/#comment-627 Philip Fisher Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:00:56 +0000 http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/12/30/the-btg-at-the-turn-of-the-year/#comment-627 Hi Elaine If you look at my first review of the year page, you will find a list of London bests. Also my comment that I wasn't convinced that anyone ever looked at them! Happy New Year Philip Hi Elaine

If you look at my first review of the year page, you will find a list of London bests.

Also my comment that I wasn’t convinced that anyone ever looked at them!

Happy New Year

Philip

]]> Comment on The BTG at the Turn of the Year by peter http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/12/30/the-btg-at-the-turn-of-the-year/#comment-626 peter Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:49:20 +0000 http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/12/30/the-btg-at-the-turn-of-the-year/#comment-626 Thanks Elaine! School was a long time ago! Thanks, too, for responding to so quickly: it enabled me to spot that I had made a mistake (now corrected) in the original post. I said we have over 3,300 pages online. It should have read 9,300! Peter Thanks Elaine! School was a long time ago!

Thanks, too, for responding to so quickly: it enabled me to spot that I had made a mistake (now corrected) in the original post. I said we have over 3,300 pages online. It should have read 9,300!

Peter

]]> Comment on The BTG at the Turn of the Year by misticaber http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/12/30/the-btg-at-the-turn-of-the-year/#comment-625 misticaber Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:41:19 +0000 http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/12/30/the-btg-at-the-turn-of-the-year/#comment-625 A Happy New Year to you all and especially to you Peter. As we attended the same Primary and Secondary school I suppose we have known each other for a very long time. Just another Thank You for the BTG weekly email. I really look forward to it. See you around next time our theatre visits coincide. How about a " Best Play " etc from all of you. Mine would be Pitmen Painters on stage and Radio 3. Cheers Elaine A Happy New Year to you all and especially to you Peter. As we attended the same Primary and Secondary school I suppose we have known each other for a very long time. Just another Thank You for the BTG weekly email. I really look forward to it. See you around next time our theatre visits coincide. How about a ” Best Play ” etc from all of you. Mine would be Pitmen Painters on stage and Radio 3.
Cheers
Elaine

]]> Comment on Been Surfing Recently? by LouieThePrawn http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/08/01/been-surfing-recently/#comment-454 LouieThePrawn Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:14:27 +0000 http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/08/01/been-surfing-recently/#comment-454 Personally, I’d like to see more theatre ON the internet, not just talk about it. This is exactly what we’ve been experimenting with on our website: www.underwing.tv. I’m glad to share in a theatrical experience regardless of the medium. The trick is to try to incorporate the internet’s strengths with effective storytelling, which necessitates embracing spatial elements as well as linear ones. Personally, I’d like to see more theatre ON the internet, not just talk about it.
This is exactly what we’ve been experimenting with on our website: www.underwing.tv.

I’m glad to share in a theatrical experience regardless of the medium. The trick is to try to incorporate the internet’s strengths with effective storytelling, which necessitates embracing spatial elements as well as linear ones.

]]> Comment on The NTS Moves On by view from the stalls http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/07/19/the-nts-moves-on/#comment-431 view from the stalls Sat, 21 Jul 2007 14:05:40 +0000 http://blog.britishtheatreguide.info/2007/07/19/the-nts-moves-on/#comment-431 The NTS has had some great successes and I've been lucky enough to see several of them including "Roam", "Mary Stuart", "Black Watch", "Dissocia" and "Aalst" (although I was less taken by it than you were), but it hasn't been all good news. I enjoyed their production of "Futurology:A Global Revue" but the marketing for it was very poor and didn't remotely suffice in overcoming the reluctance of theatregoers to see a show in conference venues such as Glasgow's SECC. As a result I understand tickets were hard to shift and matinees were cancelled, but it certainly wasn't due to the quality of the show. Similar poor marketing of "Dissocia" meant that I didn't bother to see it in Glasgow and it was only after the 'fuss' it created in London that I made the effort to see what it was all about when the production came to Edinburgh. In similar fashion I have concerns about the upcoming "Half Life" which appears to require me to traipse around the hillside around Oban for hours to see a number of short performances in the day and a longer evening show. I hope there will be a concerted effort to explain how this effort will be rewarded as at the moment I'm thoroughly unconvinced (especially given the possible need for an overnight stay locally.) I have also been disappointed to see that the NTS Young Company does not yet appear to have been reconstituted for it's second year and although I have been told it will return in a different form there is little sign of it at the moment. I saw two of last year's Young Co productions and "The Recovery Position" is one of the strongest shows I have seen this year. Hopefully the NTS will find a way to continue to mentor future talent. But yes, overall the NTS has been a resounding success, but it has also greatly raised expectations for future productions and I only hope it can live up to them. <a href="http://www.viewfromthestalls.co.uk" rel="nofollow">View From The Stalls</a> The NTS has had some great successes and I’ve been lucky enough to see several of them including “Roam”, “Mary Stuart”, “Black Watch”, “Dissocia” and “Aalst” (although I was less taken by it than you were), but it hasn’t been all good news. I enjoyed their production of “Futurology:A Global Revue” but the marketing for it was very poor and didn’t remotely suffice in overcoming the reluctance of theatregoers to see a show in conference venues such as Glasgow’s SECC. As a result I understand tickets were hard to shift and matinees were cancelled, but it certainly wasn’t due to the quality of the show.

Similar poor marketing of “Dissocia” meant that I didn’t bother to see it in Glasgow and it was only after the ‘fuss’ it created in London that I made the effort to see what it was all about when the production came to Edinburgh.

In similar fashion I have concerns about the upcoming “Half Life” which appears to require me to traipse around the hillside around Oban for hours to see a number of short performances in the day and a longer evening show. I hope there will be a concerted effort to explain how this effort will be rewarded as at the moment I’m thoroughly unconvinced (especially given the possible need for an overnight stay locally.)

I have also been disappointed to see that the NTS Young Company does not yet appear to have been reconstituted for it’s second year and although I have been told it will return in a different form there is little sign of it at the moment. I saw two of last year’s Young Co productions and “The Recovery Position” is one of the strongest shows I have seen this year. Hopefully the NTS will find a way to continue to mentor future talent.

But yes, overall the NTS has been a resounding success, but it has also greatly raised expectations for future productions and I only hope it can live up to them.

View From The Stalls

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