In this week’s issue of The Stage, as Arnold Wesker’s Chicken Soup with Barley returns to the Royal Court after more than 50 years, award-winning actress Samantha Spiro and RADA graduate Jenna Augen tells Lucy Brown about the play’s significance, and their experience of working with director Dominic Cooke
“In its day, it must’ve been so shocking,” Spiro says. “Because it was one of the very first plays that was just about working-class people talking to each other about what they believed in. Extraordinary in its day, because it still feels extraordinary. It is a brilliant play.”
After more than 15 years away from the UK, comedian Rita Rudner is coming back to face British audiences again. She talks to Tony Cooke about nerves, family and femininity
It’s a little bit scary. I know we speak the same language, but we do have different references. I’ve got to ask lots of British people on the plane, “Does this make sense to you? Do you have this in England?” But I’ll be working hard to be as funny as I can
At a time when belt-tightening is almost universal, Matthew Hemley talks to the BBC Performing Arts Fund’s Dorothy Wilson about how she convinces the Corporation that giving can be good
An awful lot of shows produce revenue for the charity, and a lot of these are from independent companies. We talk a lot with commissioning editors at the BBC and have done a lot of work to show senior executives and governors what value this money produces in terms of the benefit to the sector. It’s about the next generation of young talent and that is in the BBC’s interests
Also this week:
With “cracks wider than windows”, Wilton’s Music Hall is on its knees. Without imminent funding, campaign patron David Suchet writes, the historic east London venue could vanish forever
With the launch of its summer-long Postcards Festival this week, Jacksons Lane in London is continuing to build its strong reputation among circus fans. Liz Arratoon asks artistic director Adrian Berry what the fuss is all about
Backstage Focus: In 2009, a reporting tool to help improve health and safety in theatres was launched. Here, Barbara Eifler examines the initial findings of the incident enquiry and looks at the updated form that will continue the initiative on an annual basis
The Royal Albert Hall is 140 years old this year, but its programming is as fresh as ever. Innovative events in the refurbished Elgar Room attract new and younger audiences, while the main hall remains a venue that all artists aspire to play
Insight: Arts & Business’ Philip Spedding analyses what the government’s white paper on charitable giving means for the arts, and asks whether it will be able to change attitudes towards philanthropy in the UK
Dear John: As a young performer in a high-profile role, how can I balance the increased attention with developing my craft?
Training: A round-up of useful new books on the perfomring arts
Maggie Brown on the current state of Film4
Arthur Smith in praise of Harry Hill
We meet the winner of The Stage/Greasepaint Scholarship, Defaf Alamri, who wins a place on the make-up’s school prosthetics course
AK Bennett-Hunter looks ahead to the events and exhibits at this year’s ABTT Theatre Show
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I was lucky enough to film an interview with Rita Rudner last Tuesday and then see her first night last night. A wonderful woman with a hilarious and warmhearted show. Highly recommended.