
In this week’s issue of The Stage, writer/director Neil Bartlett suggests it may be the first time that many theatregoers have been inside a bingo hall, but that’s exactly where they will find themselves when attending his new show, Everybody Loves a Winner. Part of the Manchester International Festival in July, the cast of 20 is led by former Coronation Street actress Sally Lindsay and features a live bingo game that audience members will participate in. There are even prizes. Nick Smurthwaite talks to Bartlett and Lindsay to find out more
It is all about hope. Your head knows bingo isn’t about winning, it’s about losing. Only one person wins. If it was all about winning, the bingo halls would go out of business overnight. But the interesting thing is that your heart rate increases dramatically as you’re playing, because you are telling yourself that your life is about to change…
We’ve no idea who is going to win. It might be a member of the audience, it might be a member of the cast. The only thing you can be sure of in bingo is that there is always going to be a winner. There will be passages of improvisation which are not in the script because they will depend on what the audience does and on what the computer does.
Leading the cast of Ruby in the Dust’s adaptation of Dorian Gray, Matthew James Thomas has experienced highs and lows recently, landing a part in the ITV drama Britannia High, only for it to be cancelled after nine episodes. He talks to The Stage about his career so far, and keeping mum about moving away from dance.
When we first had the music, they did have very different storylines and they were going to a very different place with it… There is a lot of drama in just being a young kid and involved in the performing arts. Obviously it’s a very different job and something where you have to be very mature from a young age. And you have to take yourself quite seriously, I think.
Whether you are looking at the availability of drama schools in your area to find a suitable place to send your child or as an entry to drama teaching, then research is essential. In our Weekend Schools supplement, Susan Elkin examines the wide range of classes on offer nationally and looks at some company and career success stories.
Also this week:
In light of Gordon Ramsay’s recent antics in Australia, Chris Bartlett reflects on how much crudity and swearing is tolerated on British television in comparison to the USA and Australia, and how well our presenting talents translate
Insight: Creative disciplines in classrooms, such as drama, dance and music, not only reach pupils who are not academic but also develop communication skills. Nick Smurthwaite argues that we need to act quickly to educate youngsters for the workplace of the future
Animatronics may have been overtaken by CGI in films, but it’s making a comeback in live shows. Sonny Tilders, director of Global Careatures and creator of the dinosaures for Walking with Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular, explains why
Dear John: If ‘star quality’ is what sets one performer apart from others, is there an equivalent for backstage professionals?
Ian Herbert on the International Association of Theatre Critics’ Amsterdam conference
Richard Jordan on two very different musicals — Spring Awakening and Dirty Dancing — that could not be more different
Showpeople
- Shaun McKee, of all-male Shakespeare troupe The Lord Chamberlain’s Men
- Christopher Beeny, star of Upstairs Downstairs and currently playing Lane in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
- Rebecca Allin-Jayns, a National Youth Theatre member currently touring with the British Shakespeare Company
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