Where Am I Going To?

I recently stood down as Head of Creative Communities at The Dukes Theatre in Lancaster — after 5 of the toughest years for our sector in history.

I am having a holiday in Lisbon.

Incidentally, a decade ago, this week, I started writing my theatre blog. Since starting that website ten years ago, I’ve seen close to 2500 shows and interviewed some of the most interesting people in British Theatre.

Recently, I have seen Dr Strangelove starring Steve Coogan (mediocre) Waiting For Godot starring Ben Whishaw (solid) Juno and the Paycock featuring Mark Rylance and J.Smith Cameron (underrated, I think), The Buddha of Suburbia (vibrant, fun – but too long) & sharp prison drama at the Donmar, The Fear of 13 – starring Adrian Brody. Oh, and Mean Girls – The Musical (hated it).

London theatre is full of TV and Film stars who, of course, drive prices up, I would say.

Now, overall, the West End is a dumbed down theme park: stuffed with movie musicals and junk. (I cannot bring myself to see The Devil Wears Prada; I love the film too much).

This week, The Stage’s UK ticketing survey 2024 revealed that the average top-price ticket in theatres across the UK has risen by 15% compared to last year’s results, while the average cheapest ticket has fallen a meagre 1.5% to £20.96.

Well, basically the thing about theatre-going is you have to go. It is a habit. Unfortunately, these prices (and the optics) are continuing to exclude large swathes of the population.

To be honest, I am sick and tired of seeing bored rich people in the stalls.

Theatre has proved itself a British success story domestically and internationally, generating £6 for every £1 of funding. The West End as an ecosystem brings £5 billion to London’s economy alone.

I was disappointed to see there was no new money in the budget for UK culture. In my opinion, Sir Keir needs to get out of first gear. 

Alas, our Royal National Theatre has now set a ticket price high of £110 for The Importance of Being Earnest. And in a development that absolutely must not catch on, has scrapped its successful primary schools tour.

Elsewhere, I am dreading the return of A Streetcar Named Desire. Rebecca Frecknall’s captivating production is in an ATG venue, I am anticipating record premium prices of £400 under their rip off dynamic pricing model.

But look, people accept this sort of thing in every way now. It takes two seconds, it seems, to get people used to this. It is astonishing.

In Bristol, the upcoming UK tour of Moulin Rouge is flogging tickets for up to £139.50. I’m pretty sure you can get into the actual Moulin Rouge in Paris for that price.

British theatre feels like it’s always on the back foot, at risk of slipping into irrelevance, and even obscurity.

And what happened to great writing? I’ve enjoyed film and television far more this year than anything I’ve seen on stage.

So, have I lost my love of theatre, or is there less theatre to admire?

Anyhow. I’ve been reading a collection of reviews by legendary theatre critic Kenneth Tynan.

He once famously declared: “We need plays about cab men and demigods, plays about warriors, politicians and grocers.”

In a Genesis Almeida panel recently entitled Playwriting Today: the Hard Questions, the artistic director of London’s Royal Court raised the topic of writers leaving the theatre industry, saying: “There is not an artistic director I talk to who is not worried.”

Byrne said: “Financially it is almost impossible to find a space to write and to be in a position where you can go to see lots of theatre and engage with your craft in a way that gives you time and space.

He added: “Almost weekly, there are potentially really talented voices who are leaving theatre in droves, either to go to film and TV or, more likely, to go and do anything else and live a life that is sustainable.”

Yeah, figures.

Indeed, It is emerging and independent artists that have been sidelined by standstill funding and cuts. Working class artists seem to be struggling to cut through and international work isn’t reaching our big stages as it once was.

Anyway, you get the general idea.

So yes: concerning all round. But for now, I will go out and enjoy Lisbon. 

Anyway, now it is time for a new chapter.