BP News

The Artistic Director's Blog

I was recently approached by those friendly folk at The Barn Theatre in Welwyn Garden City, asking if I would review their next production for Barn News. Of course I will - and it set me thinking about whether there is mileage in the BPs doing the same thing. By inviting someone with a keen knowledge of drama to comment on our shows we may all learn a lot. No harm in that surely. The whole exercise is not without its possible downside, of course. What if the reviewer slates the show in question and isn't shy about saying so?

Now don't get me wrong, I am all in favour of people expressing their opinion but the way in which its done is also very important. For instance after Big Spirit's Larkrise, the group garnered a lot of praise and even amazement from the paying public apart from two people who took me aside to tell me off for not paying enough attention to hairstyles and groupings. The whole show had apparently been spoiled for them by this hair-grouping thing and they weren't afraid to tell me so at some length. Now any director gets well used to this sort of encounter, which often parades under a banner of 'constructive criticism'. Even the most swingeing comment can be dignified by this upbeat phrase. After one show recently I went over to a friend in the bar who pulled faces at me for 30 seconds, presumably in a tremendous effort to restrain themselves, before blurting out: 'I can't keep it to myself - I've just got to say it and I'm sorry if it upsets you - but if I had directed that show I would have set it completely differently - the actors did marvellously of course but the fact is - it was set all wrong. They didn't stand a chance. I hope you don't mind a bit of constructive criticism…' They then proceeded to describe in great detail how they would have done it all set on a balcony or underwater or some such. Well they started to but I took this as my cue to make my excuses and leave as News of the World reporters used to say.

Comments after a show can be really quite bizarre: someone once sidled up and whispered in my ear conspiratorially: 'You know what was wrong don't you? Your leading girl. She's too tall, far too tall - it's obvious now I say it, isn't it?. Yeah? You can see what I mean? Yeah? And that's why that second scene doesn't work. Don't worry about it - we all make mistakes' then gave me a knowing smile and a wink before sloping off like an undercover agent. Well call me hard-hearted but I fail to see anything remotely constructive or even useful in that sort of thing. Hmm - if we are going to have regular reviews in BP News, we must take great care when we select the critic.

The new season of plays is about to be announced. I would like to announce it now but it has to be chewed over by the EC first and they can be mighty strong chewers. As you know, nothing is settled until it is duly passed and stamped by those who foregather in the Green Room. Nonetheless, I would like to heartily thank my fellow play selectors Charles, Nicki, Zoe and Sal for their wisdom and enthusiasm and also all those who submitted such great shows for our consideration. We want a big moneymaking season next year and that has been at the forefront of our minds as we looked at the different options before us. I know you won't be afraid to tell us whether you think we have succeeded in our task when the whole thing comes out in the next couple of weeks.