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Theater Design: 7 Basic Rules for Designing a Good Theater

Theater Design: 7 Basic Rules for Designing a Good Theater

Theater Design: 7 Basic Rules for Designing a Good Theater

Theater Design: 7 Basic Rules for Designing a Good Theater

A Smart, Strategic Way To Help Theatre Companies

From Propel last week Jez Butterworth's new play, directed by Sam Mendes, is now playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre behind Leicester Square in Panton Street. I booked The Hills of California in about October last year, over a particularly lovely breakfast at Farmer J’s, when I thought I needed something to look forward to on what was probably going to be a cold, wet, windy, miserable February day in 2024. It was.   The anticipation of being able to see something terrific on stage is just a joy. King Lear with Kenneth Branagh, Guys and Dolls directed by Nicholas Hytner, Operation Mincemeat at the Fortune Theatre, Dear England with Joseph Fiennes, and The Motive and the Cue with Mark Gatiss and Johny Flynn have all been sensational to watch over the last few months. .   It’s particularly brilliant to be able to go to a matinee – unheard of pre-covid, to be honest. Only really old people go the theatre in the afternoon, I thought.   Well, they don’t. Every matinee I have been to recently has had the same sort of profile as the evening performance. At this week’s performance, someone was working on their laptop in the break. Not quite work-from-home but in the same spirit, probably. I think they stopped when the play started again, but I can’t be sure.   Of course, what makes the whole experience of going to the theatre so exceptional is planning where to eat either pre or post, preferably pre as there is less inclination to close your eyes during a quiet moment on stage. So, pre King Lear, we went to Fallow. Pre Guys and Dolls, it was the Coal Shed. Pre Operation Mincemeat, it was Caravan. Pre Oklahoma, we went to Palomar. And post The Motive and The Cue, it was Mountain.   I thought this week’s choice around Panton Street was going to be a tad challenging as it’s so touristy. I steer clear of looking on TripAdvisor for recommendations as I think its restaurant reviews in central London are often led by that particular demographic. I do use The Infatuation though for advice as it’s good for independent and honest reviews   I couldn’t get a table at Bancone that it mentioned, and with no chance at the Devonshire, I tried the French House, but no joy there either. But this caught my eye: “Machiya’s already a hit with Asian students and young professionals, who pop in for a cheap solo lunch or to catch up with friends over matcha cake and tea.” Duly booked, it was tremendous.   My restaurant bill was £22.30 and my theatre bill was £89.50. I enjoyed the play but I loved my food (and coffee afterwards, at Ole & Steen). Simple, honest, beautifully presented food with a friendly service. A busy but small footprint restaurant with a nice team – absolutely all you could ever want before a theatre visit. An afternoon of memory making with a friend – what more can you want in life but just that?

🎭 British Theatre: Boosting the Economy, Culture, and Community 💷 British theatre is an economic powerhouse. It is vital to the UK's thriving creative industries and key to Global Britain, supplying talent to British film and television, driving inbound tourism, and exporting productions worldwide. 🏫 Theatre is also a source of transformative social good, promoting wellbeing, empathy, and confidence, and boosting educational attainment. British theatre is also leading the way for a sustainable future, pioneering initiatives to embed sustainable practices within productions and organisations. But the sector is at risk. Production costs continue to rise faster than inflation, with energy costs up 120% since 2019. Public investment in the arts has declined dramatically over the past 14 years. Without significant capital investment in the physical infrastructure in the next five years, nearly 40% of venues risk closure and 40% will become too unsafe to use. The Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre are eager to collaborate with an incoming government to create the conditions for theatre to thrive, including: 1. Break down barriers to opportunity with Theatre for Every Child. 2. Kickstart local economies, deliver social good, and make Britain a clean energy superpower through investment in theatre buildings. 3. Kickstart economic growth through sustainable public investment in the arts. Read more in the link below. https://lnkd.in/eJ2ZXerF

My essay for HowlRound Theatre Commons, "We Can't Build an Equitable Theatre While Ignoring Covid," is now published. If we want to build an accessible, anti-racist, equitable theatre field, we MUST enact COVID precautions. It is my hope that my fellow theatremakers (and arts workers of all kinds) will read this essay and it can serve as a loving call-in and an offering for us all to re-commit to our values. Please let me know your thoughts! https://lnkd.in/es9Htf8y

The pandemic has been catastrophic for many industries, including the theater industry. However, theaters have demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability in this existential threat. From digital performances to outdoor stages, this article from The Conversation examines the innovative ways that theaters have responded to survive. You can just check it out to learn more about the creative solutions that have emerged in the face of unprecedented challenges. #theater #innovation #resilience #adaptability #PINCommunityAdvocate