Tag Archives: The Stage

The Stage 100 – movers and shakers or users and takers?

Posted on January 15, 2014 by rageoffstage

It’s probably fair to say that we are not exactly the target audience for the Stage 100 list, a list of ‘movers and shakers’ in the theatre world published annually by ‘The Stage’ since 1997.  We’ve never been great fans … Continue reading →

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Nothing will come of nothing: why actors need to be paid for their work

Posted on June 16, 2013 by rageoffstage

Here’s a question: what’s the one thing you can’t do without if you want to put on theatre?  Actors.  And which category of worker is least likely to get paid when budgets are tight?  Yes, you’ve guessed it, actors.  Why … Continue reading →

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Darkness reigns at the foot of the lighthouse: The Orphan of Zhao brings mixed messages from the RSC

Posted on November 11, 2012 by rageoffstage

The trouble with having a blog is that what you write can come back to haunt you.  Take, for example, our rather fulsome praise of Gregory Doran, at the end of our review of his recent production of ‘Julius Caesar’: … Continue reading →

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Small is beautiful: a study of theatre pricing as if theatre mattered

Posted on April 22, 2012 by rageoffstage

In his book ‘The Undercover Economist’, Tim Harford investigates the question, why can you never seem to get a decent meal in a tourist area.  His answer is interesting.  It is not just to do with the obvious connection between … Continue reading →

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Give ’em the old razzle dazzle: Are TV casting shows here to stay?

Posted on February 15, 2012 by rageoffstage

According to Wikipedia, Noel Coward is attributed with the following quotation:  “The moment you have arrived in the profession is when you realise you don’t have to read ‘The Stage’”.  Now there’s an incentive for aspiring actors.  We can’t help … Continue reading →

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Luck be a lady tonight: What’s so great about awards, prizes and lists?

Posted on January 17, 2012 by rageoffstage

Is it just us, or is there something intrinsically unsatisfying about awards?  Of course it’s nice to see your favourite performers getting some recognition, but most of the time, awards seem to perpetuate a system which is already unfair.  Unless you … Continue reading →

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Taking the show out of showbusiness: theatres claim their pound of flesh

Posted on November 15, 2011 by rageoffstage

Why does ‘The Stage’ continue to report the ever growing profits in West End Theatres as a good news story?  Their latest report on West End revenues has the headline ‘West End stays on course for £500m box office hat-trick’ and … Continue reading →

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Too many understudies underwhelm! Or do they?

Posted on February 5, 2011 by rageoffstage

We spotted this letter in the Stage (3rd February 2011), complaining about the overuse of understudies, a topic which we are currently very interested in ourselves.  Here is our response: “We sympathise with the writer of your recent letter about … Continue reading →

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