Category: theatre

“Despite being well-managed, well governed, and – crucially – able to operate without public subsidy,” says the statement, “we will not be able to survive this crisis,” the coronavirus epidemic, without rescue funding from the British government. In fact, it’s the lack of public subsidy that’s the problem: it means the Globe is not eligible for Arts Council England’s emergency support. – The Guardian

At least for magicians. For instance, one new show, “with a stringent ticket allocation — only 25 Zoom logins per performance — felt more like pre-isolation theater than anything I have encountered in the past two months. (As a theater critic in withdrawal, this was unreasonably exciting.) Each ticket includes a ‘mystery box’ (a nod to Tannen’s Mystery Box, but this one comes with an alcohol wipe), which is sent to your home.” – The New York Times

No one – certainly not the federal government – will be saving the arts, it appears. And that’s horrible. Also, it’s time for all kinds of thinking. “How about we make possible something I have dreamt about for a long time: a bread-and-theatre initiative, i.e., deliveries door to door of bread (or other staples) accompanied by a little play offering? … How about phone plays for elderly folks and those without access to art that can stream into their homes?” – American Theatre

Basically, it’s tough to plan for anything. “What does our season look like if we start in January of 202? What if there is no theatre for a full season? … What if the government says theatres, sporting events, cinemas just cannot open until 2022? We need to prepare for the worst-case scenarios.” – CBC

Professional playwrights still need commissions, and honestly, people still need theatre even when we can’t go to the theatre, so: “Theater companies big and small across the country, including Berkeley Repertory Theatre, New York’s Public Theatre and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., have asked dozens of professional playwrights to create short dramas for people to perform at home. The play scripts, part of a new initiative called Play at Home, have been downloaded 20,000 times since the start of April.” – KQED

Jayne Blanchard isn’t into the National Theatre’s (wildly popular) streams. She’s not thrilled with the general flatness of screens compared to, well, face to face. It is, he says, mostly like “looking at the striking stage effects, lighting and choreography and thinking ‘This must be amazing in real life.'” – DC Theatre Scene

With 93 percent of those polled saying they miss live theatre, it’s perhaps a surprise that only 19 percent of those polled said they would buy tickets immediately when theatres and other live performance venues reopen. Or perhaps that’s just grim reality. “Most (74%) cited the buzz of live performance as the thing they missed most, with other popular choices including seeing performers they admired and supporting local venues.” – The Stage (UK)

Laura Collins-Hughes: “As we flock online in these isolated, uncertain days, looking to sate our theater cravings, a lot of us are watching plays we have already seen onstage — familiar comforts that, in digital form, can bring fresh revelation, too.” – The New York Times

“Some tough decisions are going to have to be made. And it’s not going to be small changes, it’s going to be big changes for a time. And that feels incredibly painful if I’m honest.” – BBC