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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2017 15:25:16 GMT
The Bridge Theatre said they were aiming to do four productions a year. This was Kevin Spacey's model at the Old Vic and I think it makes the place more of an event and less of a habit, even if you see most shows. Factors like bars are more important at venues that you might go to much more frequently, perhaps? The Arcola has loads of different shows, and you feel you can drop in just for the bar as well.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2017 16:07:31 GMT
Yuck a doddle!
You're opening the biggest theatre to open in London for years. You say it's going to be mainly new work. The first production to get outted? A f***ing Shakespeare! They run out of new work already?! What are they thinking (prob that Dame Alan can't write EVERY play and are sh*tting themselves they have a 28,000 seater theatre to fill with Ravenhill's latest)
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Post by Cheryl on Feb 10, 2017 16:18:32 GMT
I am genuinely excited about this new venture and Nicholas Hytner's involvement. It won't have the same problems with sound that made Shakespeare at the Round House such an ordeal and there are plenty of people in the City who would like to go the theatre after work but can't face a trek to the West End after a long day with an early start. Julius Caesar with Ben Wishaw is a smart move.
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 10, 2017 17:24:00 GMT
You need more than Friends, Romans and Countrymen to lend you their ears. I agree a 900 seat theatre in a non-tourist obscure location will be a very hard sell. Remind me, what makes the location of the Bridge Theatre non-touristy and obscure? The fact it's next to Tower Bridge? The way it's opposite the Tower of London? It being a short walk from London Bridge station (and the Shard and HMS Belfast and Hays Galleria)? I feel like I've missed something here. By the fact it isn't in the West End and when tourists go to the Tower Bridge area for the tourist attractions they aren't looking at that point to see a show. Whatever the artistic programming is, also isn't likely to be tourist friendly. Also the South Bank, which I also include the Southwark Playhouse for me is marvellous. that is where I spend the most of my theatre going and is far more rewarding than a bloated West End. |
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Post by Jan on Feb 10, 2017 17:45:47 GMT
Just incidentally, what has Hytner been up to ? Has he directed anything since he left NT ? He needs to stay visible, his personal drawing power is on the wane already, just like Grandage who was the top must-see director in London at one point but is way down the pecking order now.
I'm sort of reminded of Peter Hall's failed post-NT attempt to run the Old Vic, despite staging apparently attractive productions (eg. King Lear with Alan Howard) it bombed.
I go to the South Bank quite a lot, NT, Young Vic, Southwark Playhouse, Union Theatre, Menier, Old Vic - this new place is quite a bit further from civilization than those.
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Post by Jon on Feb 10, 2017 18:19:39 GMT
Just incidentally, what has Hytner been up to ? Has he directed anything since he left NT ? He needs to stay visible, his personal drawing power is on the wane already, just like Grandage who was the top must-see director in London at one point but is way down the pecking order now. I'm sort of reminded of Peter Hall's failed post-NT attempt to run the Old Vic, despite staging apparently attractive productions (eg. King Lear with Alan Howard) it bombed. I go to the South Bank quite a lot, NT, Young Vic, Southwark Playhouse, Union Theatre, Menier, Old Vic - this new place is quite a bit further from civilization than those. I imagine Hytner has been busy planning this new venture, these things take time and money plus taking some much needed time off. Grandage has been busy with the Michael Grandage Company and they've produced a number of shows including The Dazzle and 30 Million Minutes, the latter was successful and he directed his first film, Genius. He's doing Frozen on Broadway which if successful will set him for life. |
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Post by Jon on Feb 10, 2017 18:32:38 GMT
Did Peter Hall ever work in the commercial sector before or during his time at the NT aside from transfers? I think many of the ADs and directors who run places like the National, Donmar etc have worked in the commercial sector so have a understanding how different it is to the subsidied theatre.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2017 18:44:41 GMT
You say it's going to be mainly new work. The first production to get outted? A f***ing Shakespeare! They run out of new work already?! Julius Caesar is the second show. |
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Post by martin1965 on Feb 10, 2017 18:44:42 GMT
The Peter Hall Company had a residency at the Old Vic in 1997. They did classics like Lear, Seagull, Godot and then new plays on i think sundays and mondays.
Hytner has a book our in the spring about life at the NT.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2017 18:49:28 GMT
I remember his company at the Playhouse, but not the Old Vic? Yes, he was AD at the Old Vic for a year or two. Dominic Dromgoole was his new plays associate director, with several premieres having six performances each, all on Sundays as far as I recall. The Peter Hall productions were standard repertory fare and had fairly limited budgets. They included Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Waiting for Godot. |
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Post by martin1965 on Feb 10, 2017 19:33:02 GMT
I remember his company at the Playhouse, but not the Old Vic? Yes, he was AD at the Old Vic for a year or two. Dominic Dromgoole was his new plays associate director, with several premieres having six performances each, all on Sundays as far as I recall. The Peter Hall productions were standard repertory fare and had fairly limited budgets. They included Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Waiting for Godot. He didnt do R&G |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2017 21:18:45 GMT
You say it's going to be mainly new work. The first production to get outted? A f***ing Shakespeare! They run out of new work already?! Julius Caesar is the second show. Yes, I said first show 'outted' not first show they r doin. Get with the Picture, blind boy |
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Post by bordeaux on Feb 12, 2017 21:42:42 GMT
Just incidentally, what has Hytner been up to ? Has he directed anything since he left NT ? He needs to stay visible, his personal drawing power is on the wane already, just like Grandage who was the top must-see director in London at one point but is way down the pecking order now. I'm sort of reminded of Peter Hall's failed post-NT attempt to run the Old Vic, despite staging apparently attractive productions (eg. King Lear with Alan Howard) it bombed. I go to the South Bank quite a lot, NT, Young Vic, Southwark Playhouse, Union Theatre, Menier, Old Vic - this new place is quite a bit further from civilization than those. Hytner is still a big name and the difficulties the new regime at the NT has had settling in won't have done his reputation any harm at all. The book will help too. Grandage has directed opera at the Met in NY and at Glyndebourne, and produced and directed stuff in a five-play season in the West End relatively recently, though none of it appealed to me. I hear a new one is being planned.
Peter Hall found it difficult to fill the Old Vic, though they did some very good productions and some fairly worthy ones, though he was by no means unique in the difficulties he had. Didn't he take it over from Jonathan Miller whose programme was even more high-toned (Bussy d'Ambois, Corneille and Isaac Babel stick in the memory)?
I hope Hytner's new venture goes well - it's certainly easier to get to than the Almeida (though bigger, I grant you). But he must have a great contacts list, I'd love to see him directing again, though there aren't lots of great new plays for big-name actors that can fill 800-seat theatres for a couple of months.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 22:06:04 GMT
Just incidentally, what has Hytner been up to ? Has he directed anything since he left NT ? He needs to stay visible, his personal drawing power is on the wane already, just like Grandage who was the top must-see director in London at one point but is way down the pecking order now. I'm sort of reminded of Peter Hall's failed post-NT attempt to run the Old Vic, despite staging apparently attractive productions (eg. King Lear with Alan Howard) it bombed. I go to the South Bank quite a lot, NT, Young Vic, Southwark Playhouse, Union Theatre, Menier, Old Vic - this new place is quite a bit further from civilization than those. Hytner is still a big name and the difficulties the new regime at the NT has had settling in won't have done his reputation any harm at all. The book will help too. Grandage has directed opera at the Met in NY and at Glyndebourne, and produced and directed stuff in a five-play season in the West End relatively recently, though none of it appealed to me. I hear a new one is being planned.
Peter Hall found it difficult to fill the Old Vic, though they did some very good productions and some fairly worthy ones, though he was by no means unique in the difficulties he had. Didn't he take it over from Jonathan Miller whose programme was even more high-toned (Bussy d'Ambois, Corneille and Isaac Babel stick in the memory)?
I hope Hytner's new venture goes well - it's certainly easier to get to than the Almeida (though bigger, I grant you). But he must have a great contacts list, I'd love to see him directing again, though there aren't lots of great new plays for big-name actors that can fill 800-seat theatres for a couple of months.
Difficulties Sold out productions of Amadeus Love Hedda Gabler The Red Barn Angels in America Ma Rainey Les Blancs The Flick The Deep Blue Sea Cleansed The diversity of directors is greater now than ever Hytner managed Yael Farber finally acknowledged in the way she should have been years ago Van Hove given a stage Follies and Pinocchio to come Stalls topping £60 plus Bet the NT are crying |
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Post by bordeaux on Feb 12, 2017 22:12:53 GMT
I was referring to the first 15 months, which were tricky. I am delighted that he's hit his stride and there has been a lot of success since last autumn and the future programme looks good.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 22:14:27 GMT
I was referring to the first 15 months, which were tricky. I am delighted that he's hit his stride and there has been a lot of success since last autumn and the future programme looks good. Those15 months Were in fact programmed up to 2 years in advance Make of that what you will! |
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Post by bordeaux on Feb 12, 2017 22:33:08 GMT
I was referring to the first 15 months, which were tricky. I am delighted that he's hit his stride and there has been a lot of success since last autumn and the future programme looks good. Those15 months Were in fact programmed up to 2 years in advance Make of that what you will! But it was Norris' programme: Everyman, the Damon Albarn thing, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, etc. There was a sense until the autumn that he hadn't quite hit his stride. Unexciting revivals of Waste, The Beaux' Stratagem etc. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 22:40:16 GMT
Those15 months Were in fact programmed up to 2 years in advance Make of that what you will! But it was Norris' programme: Everyman, the Damon Albarn thing, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, etc. There was a sense until the autumn that he hadn't quite hit his stride. Unexciting revivals of Waste, The Beaux' Stratagem etc. Beaux and waste Awful |
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Post by RedRose on Mar 5, 2017 22:14:46 GMT
David Morrissey confirmed on his radio show that he will be Marc Anton in this production.
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Post by bordeaux on Mar 5, 2017 22:37:44 GMT
David Morrissey confirmed on his radio show that he will be Marc Anton in this production. Looking better all the time! Come on, SRB, you know you want that title role... |
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Post by nash16 on Mar 6, 2017 0:48:21 GMT
SRB must be praising the heavens that Hytner is finally opening his theatre. Without him, who employs SRB any more, save a random RSC outing? Bring on the SRB fest.
What "major" roles do we think Hytner will be giving to SRB in his first few seasons?
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Post by bordeaux on Mar 6, 2017 8:16:31 GMT
SRB must be praising the heavens that Hytner is finally opening his theatre. Without him, who employs SRB any more, save a random RSC outing? Bring on the SRB fest. What "major" roles do we think Hytner will be giving to SRB in his first few seasons? Of course it's supposed to be new writing mostly so there won't be many classic roles, but the first ones that occur to me are Cymbeline, John Gabriel Borkman, Jacques. He was in the last Michael Grandage season too of course. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2017 9:17:24 GMT
It's a strange thing with SRB - he sells out the biggest subsidised venue but any time he's in the commercial theatre it papers like mad. I don't quite get why the NT crowd won't follow him across the river, but that seems to be how it goes. If I were Hytner/Starr I'm not sure he'd be top of my list unfortunately. John Gabriel Borkman is a brilliant idea though.
As previous mentioned, I follow him everywhere...!
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Post by martin1965 on Mar 6, 2017 9:36:07 GMT
Im a huge fan of SRB ever since i saw him in the Swan in 1988. But have to agree outside stratford and the south bank he is not bankable.
As Hytner states he will concentrate on new plays, he will need "names" in the commercial sense. Borkman would be amazing but not at this venue.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2017 9:50:51 GMT
The Bridge Theatre is on the South Bank so he'll be dandy there with Sir Nick.
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