Harper’s Bazaar (yes, that wasn’t a typo in the headline) has announced who it (and a jewelry company) believes are the 20 most powerful women in British theatre.
As someone who helps compile The Stage’s own power list - The Stage 100 - I’m only too aware of how subjective these kind of things can be.
But still, this is a very strange top 20 indeed. Any list which omits the two most powerful women in theatre must surely stretch its credibility somewhat.
Where are Nica Burns and Rosemary Squire?
The pair are respectively the current and former presidents of the Society of London Theatre and heads of two of the most important theatre operators in the UK - Nimax and ATG.
Burns herself is also one of the most prolific producers in the business, while Squire is - effectively - the boss of one of the people who does make the list, Sonia Friedman.
Now, I’m not arguing that Friedman shouldn’t be there (she undoubtedly should), but her company is a subsidiary of ATG, which has Squire as its chief executive.
Instead of Burns and Squire, we are given Rachel Weisz and Gillian Anderson. Two wonderful actresses no doubt and, yes, they’ll both be appearing in the West End later this year, but still, they haven’t been seen on a UK stage for eight and five years respectively. In what real sense are they powerful? I certainly don’t think either of them can boast the kind of box office draw that Judi Dench can command…
I’d forgive Harper’s if the list was just a selection of actresses (after all, it’s a consumer-led publication and the list is in association with a jewelers…) but its editor proudly trumpets that “as well as including actresses, our list also takes account of the incredible powerhouses who make the productions happen.”
But not Nica and Rosemary, who, frankly, both fit that description perfectly.
Very, very strange.
Still, there are some very welcome inclusions.
It’s good to see Paule Constable - a regular entrant in the Stage 100 - getting some wider recognition for her work as a lighting designer, and likewise Emma Rice and Katie Mitchell, two of the most exciting directors working in theatre today.
But it’s hard to take a list seriously when it has two such glaring omissions.
Why you dont call the Donmar for tickets for the new play.. then you will understand the power she has.
Ha, well said. I bought tickets for "A Doll's House" on the second night after they were put on sale and I could hardly find 2 good places. (By the way, it was wonderful, I bet how powerful GA is now, after an Olivier nomination.)