RSC Music

[cirque]

In todays Observer Greg Doran emphasises that RSC will now place musicians on stage-where they can be appreciated and the music live experience better support the work.It reads like GD has just realised this and changing policy.

Which,of course,is a little late. Peter Hall/Raymond Leppard then Guy Woolfenden/Michael Tubbs placed musicians on stage for most RSC shows throught the history of company....still mostly on stage.Not so much in costume these days but certainly present.It was always a feature to see and enjoy RSC live music.

There seems to be a trend of RSC statements suggesting they have broken the mould of today....lets think

2019/20 company  Diversity....yes,Michelle Terry has completed first season with Shakespeares Globe introducing her diverse ensemble.

Globe-musicians always visible and a feature of work regardless of period setting etc.

Gender blind casting ...again its not new 

Permanent set design for season......Nunn installed one in 1977,I think it was.This one is almost a copy.

I do wish RSC would stop being arrogant and suggesting their ground breaking when,to my mind,many before have made the decisions.

[Someone in a tree]

I’m all for giving musicians a more central role. Although at the RSC (and the NT but they don’t really use live musicians for plays anymore do they?) the musicians seem to be used to cover a set change / someone carrying a chair on

[David J]

I've received a subscriber newsletter yesterday where Greg states: "We are making some exciting changes to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre auditorium specifically for this season by extending the audience further round the stage at the Circle levels than ever before, creating new perspectives on the action, truly exploiting the unique qualities of our thrust stage."

So basically you're not using the musicians in the extreme ends of the circle and switching back to the usual seats with a restricted view.



It's empty gestures, just as these are companies are jumping on the virtue signalling bandwaggon lately with this gender-bending casting

And they are relying on us having short-term memory because as you say a lot of this stuff they are proclaiming has been done before. Same with films proclaiming they are finally bringing us strong female characters when there have been plenty of (well-written) ones already

[Deleted]

It’s called marketing.

[Jan]

It was interesting to re-read an interview with Doran when he took over where he said up to then the “Company” aspect of the RSC name had been emphasised but now he was going to emphasise the “Shakespeare” part instead. An attempt to justify their move away from a true company structure to increasingly stand-alone productions for economic purposes I assume. Making a virtue out of necessity. Likewise with the musicians positioning (I think they are obliged by charter to use live musicians for every performance ?).

[learfan]

Not sure GD or anyone else at the RSC are saying these measures are have never been done before. As for the musicians, they have always been visible, as the Prof says, i think it is in the charter. So whether they are literally on stage or not is not really much of an issue i would have thought. The image of the proposed new main house seating looks exciting. I recall going to an event and Michael Boyd saying this sort of thing could be done.

[Jan]

Sept 16, 2018 15:40:57 GMT learfan said:

Not sure GD or anyone else at the RSC are saying these measures are have never been done before. As for the musicians, they have always been visible, as the Prof says, i think it is in the charter. So whether they are literally on stage or not is not really much of an issue i would have thought. The image of the proposed new main house seating looks exciting. I recall going to an event and Michael Boyd saying this sort of thing could be done.

I recall Boyd also saying it could be changed back to a proscenium arch - so I'm looking forward to that. 

[learfan]

Sept 16, 2018 15:47:35 GMT Jan said:

Sept 16, 2018 15:40:57 GMT learfan said:

Not sure GD or noanyone else at the RSC are saying these measures are have never been done before. As for the musicians, they have always been visible, as the Prof says, i think it is in the charter. So whether they are literally on stage or not is not really much of an issue i would have thought. The image of the proposed new main house seating looks exciting. I recall going to an event and Michael Boyd saying this sort of thing could be done.

I recall Boyd also saying it could be changed back to a proscenium arch - so I'm looking forward to that. 

Hmm, think you might have a wait for that!

[Deleted]

Sept 16, 2018 12:31:18 GMT Someone in a tree said:

 the NT but they don’t really use live musicians for plays anymore do they?)

Of the things I've seen over the last couple of years, I think there were live musicians for Translations, and Twelfth Night, and Jane Eyre (I think?) and Amadeus of course.