I came to London from Australia to continue researching and writing on entrepreneurship in the theatre industry. While my doctorate at the University of Sydney looked at 19th century English, American & Australian theatre entrepreneurs, many of the questions I investigated around theatre making and economics still apply today. Broadly speaking, what are the economics of creating new, innovative theatre? The vibrancy of London theatre is worth knowing about globally in this respect.  The myriad of international, UK and Fringe producers that put on new work, re-stage iconic and classical productions (for both local communities and for touring purposes) are inspirational. I believe my visits to each and every production is worth documenting, reporting and celebrating.

London Theatre Productions

My records begin soon after arriving here in January 2009 when I went and saw Pitmen Painters at the National Theatre. I set out my visits in this section Productions Viewed in chronological order. Theatre is a key part of my personal as well as professional life.  Going to the theatre is something which I share with my partner, who loves going every bit as much as I do and who has challenged me to properly record our visits while living here in London.  Going to the theatre is also an activity which I share with close friends who have visited us in our Southwark home.  But in reality, as theatre is such a social experience, being in the audience of any London theatre is a great way to view the curious human need we all have to connect to and differentiate from one another. Yes, I feel ‘Australian’ as I go about negotiating, choosing and viewing London productions yet, in another sense, it does not matter one bit where I come from when I share with others the experience of seeing theatre in London.

 

Significant Theatre Productions Globally

The plays studied by students in drama courses are often iconic texts that changed us culturally.  This is true sometimes of traditional drama – for instance, Kathakali performances from South India — that travel globally and change the cultural views of the country they visit as well as those of the artists who tour the classic performance. The circulation of theatre productions is in itself an amazing spectacle to view on the screen of our computers as artefacts of performance – an image, some video or a podcast of interviews – are shared and call up a response in us.  Better than any postcard with the infamous words ‘wish you were here’, the evidence of a live performance evoke a status which testifies to the importance of shared theatrical experiences globally.  I look forward to sharing Significant Productions with you.