During a conference on “Bürgerböhne” – or participatory theatre for citizens – “it became clear to me that not all countries—or even communities—have the same ideas about how participatory theatre projects work or ‘should’ work, and, on top of this, what the role of the artist, within these communities, is.” What’s the same, and what changes in different theatres across the world? – Howlround
Category: theatre
What Is Community Theatre For?
Jocelyn Allgood, who participates in several community theatres near her in Texas, says that “it’s our small contribution to humanity — to ease the burden of life, to make you laugh, to stir that emotion burning inside of you — be it jeers for the villains, tears or cheers for the heroes and (we hope) applause for the cast.” – Dallas Morning News
Should Theatre Critics Also Be Artists? Does It Make Them Better?
“Why should we take seriously the words of someone who doesn’t understand the great amount of work involved in creating a performance? A critic’s opinion is unreliable if it’s based only on a writer’s personal preference. Personal preference tells the reader what the writer enjoys, it doesn’t tell the reader why the writer enjoyed it.” – Howlround
The Rent Is Too Damn High, Say Edinburgh Fringe Performers
“Changes to rental rules in Scotland and an increasing lack of affordable accommodation are threatening to turn the fringe into ‘a glorified industry showcase’, according to artists.” – The Guardian
Welsh Community Theatre Settles Aggressive Copyright Claim With 20th Century Fox
The theatre had produced an adaptation of “The Greatest Showman” and the company claimed damages of £200,000. Across seven performances, the show made approximately £40,000 in ticket sales. – The Stage
Two 23-Year-Olds Got Their Musical Produced On Broadway, And It Closed After Opening Night. Here’s Why It Wasn’t Really A Flop.
Nick Blaemire and James Gardiner’s Glory Days was a promising little show when it finished a successful run at metro DC’s (small) Signature Theatre, but the transfer to the Great White Way just didn’t work. Here’s the story of how the show’s creators handled its rise, fall, and surprising afterlife. – Topic
Exploding Rents, Exploited Workers, Exasperated Locals — The Edinburgh Fringe Can’t Go On Like This
“Perhaps not, but where does the responsibility for change lie? Lyn Gardner speaks to theatremakers and festival organisers.” – The Stage
New Professional Company Will Tour Shakespeare Around Asia
Says producer Jamie Hendry, founder of the New English Shakespeare Company, “There’s an appetite for this. Audiences are being developed in a lot of cities around the world. We are focusing on the Middle East, Asia and South East Asia, and they are all beginning to become accustomed to NT Live and the big musicals. So to be able to provide some drama and something they would not receive otherwise is a fantastic challenge.” – The Stage
Thanks To Climate Change, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival Considers Changes To Its Outdoor Theatre
Before a grassfire up the Rogue Valley shut down this weekend’s outdoor performances – and moved them inside to a local high school auditorium, as planned in case of smoke – the Oregon Shakespeare Festival held a town hall to announce that it was considering changes to its big outdoor theatre. “Ideas include a retractable roof and a redesign of the seating to encircle the stage so theater-goers are closer to the actors.” – Medford Mail-Tribune (Oregon)
Two Big London Drama Schools Are Leaving The Arts Consortium One Of Them Founded
Both the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art are ducking out of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. Why? They both say that becoming independent institutions will help them because “higher education policy has changed significantly” since RADA helped found the Conservatoire. – The Stage (UK)