ABSTRACT
How does one become a theater critic in London?
What do the theater critics think of their profession?
How are they judged by those they critique?
What do both critics and theatre-makers think of their mutual object of desire - the British Theatre?
Who Keeps the Score on the London Stages? sets out to find the answers to these questions and many more in this long overdue publication on Britain's current theatre scene. Included are comprehensive interviews with more than fifty major London theatre critics and theater-makers, including Sir Alan Ayckbourn, Stephen Berkoff, Michael Billington, Martin Coveney, Nicholas de Jongh, Sir Richard Eyre, Sir Peter Hall, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Adrian Noble, Sir Trevor Nunn and Irving Wardle.
The author has gathered together a lively discussion about the contrmporary state of the British theatre, drawing a picture of its strengths, weaknesses and the problems it faces today. This volume serves as a long overdue guide to the Theatre critics' profession in Britain.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|38 pages
In Their Capacity As An Ideal: Enter The London Theatre Critics
chapter 1|22 pages
Roads to Perfection: 27 Ways to Become a Theatre Critic in London
chapter 2|4 pages
Hats off to the Masters: Who Made Critics Want to be Critics?
chapter 3|6 pages
“Like A Wine-Writer In Bordeaux”: Reflections From Paradise
part II|38 pages
Is The Ideal Really That Ideal?
chapter 1|12 pages
British Theatre Criticism – Virtues And Vices: Critics Review Themselves
chapter 2|11 pages
Change of The Roles: Theatre-Makers Criticize Their Critics
chapter 3|7 pages
Are All the Battles Won? (Kenneth Tynan Bequeaths a Controversy)
chapter 4|4 pages
British and American Theatre Criticism: A Comparison
part III|49 pages
Who Would Notice If The Critics Disappeared? (Theory In The Making)
chapter 1|3 pages
Defining Criticism on a Funny Note: An Exercise in Self-Irony
chapter 3|10 pages
Criticism should be … but in Reality…: Theatre-Makers have their Say
chapter 4|11 pages
The Role of Theatre Criticism in the Theatre Process: The Critics' View
part IV|8 pages
Move Over, Tarantino! (14 “True Crime” Stories From The Critics' Lives)
part V|30 pages
Diagnosis Of A Theatre
chapter 1|14 pages
British Theatre Today: The Critics' Report
chapter 2|14 pages
British Theatre Today: The Theatre-Makers' Report
part VI|12 pages
Remembrance Of Time Wasted
chapter 1|6 pages
When Critics Decide they Should Have Watched TV
chapter 2|4 pages
When a Review is Not a Page-Turner
part VII|12 pages
Give-And-Take Time
chapter 1|6 pages
I regret Having Said …: Critics Offer Their Apologies
chapter 2|4 pages
If I were you…: Theatre-Makers Offer Their Advice
part VIII|11 pages
Starring: The Critics (16 Eye-Witness Stories About Critics Related by Theatre-Makers And Critics)