Category: theatre

“The dress worn by Nurse Poltis in the Pavilion Theatre production of Robin Hood originally had red crosses on the hat and tunic. Unauthorised use of the emblem violates the Geneva Conventions Act 1957.”

In the past month, governments in at least three countries – Belarus, Hungary and Iraq – have made active efforts to censor or suppress performances and companies. At least “there is something faintly optimistic in the idea there are still places that actually find theatre dangerous and subversive enough to think it’s worth banning.”

“Fire-eating is fine. As is walking barefoot up a ladder of swords and swallowing a revolving electric drill. … But a contorted performer smoking a cigarette while firing a bow and arrow with her feet is causing something of a headache for a touring circus company.”

“This is the first time in the 15-year history of the Stage 100 that neither Andrew Lloyd Webber nor Cameron Mackintosh has placed in the top two.”

“The Disney production earned more than £34m in 2010, a greater sum than any other show had over a 12-month period. It broke its own record for a London show, which it set in 2009 by generating £32m in takings.”

“You need to have a plan — maybe a clever plan, maybe a surprising one, but some kind of plan — to survive on Broadway these days when you’re not a big, brand-name musical.”

Batman Live is “a play of sorts, but it’s going to be performed in Britain’s biggest, grandest arenas rather than theatres. There will be acrobatics, pyrotechnics, stuntmen, supervillains and screeching Batmobiles on a 100ft-wide, 60ft-deep performance area. Behind them, a giant video wall will flash panels from comic strips and special effects, and give the appearance of interacting with the live performers on stage.”

“For the week ending Jan. 2, the industry’s total gross–$34.99 million–was up 24% from the same week last season. The one-week figure is almost certainly the largest in history, though the Broadway League, which compiles the data each week, declined to call it the highest because of a 2009 change in its methodology. Attendance also increased over the same week last year, from 250,134 to 272,864.”

“The latest Broadway numbers show “Wicked” isn’t slowing down. It had its best week ever by earning $2,228,235 at the sold-out 1,800-seat Gershwin Theatre for the week ending Sunday.”

“After a 14-month Broadway run, Fela! could return to its origins. Producers for the Tony-winning show… are in talks for a two-year international tour that would stop in the Nigerian capital of Lagos and include the summer festival circuit in Europe.”