Keep calm and for goodness sake stop carrying on!

Well the weather gets colder and the fall-out from the GFC continues to threaten arts funding cuts. But it's not all doom and gloom! As history shows us, there are a multitude of sayings that can be wheeled out at a time like this to cheer everyone up. Here are a few of my favourites from a little book of calm that was given to me recently. It's called 'Keep Calm and Carry On' which - I have learned - was one of a number of slogans generated by the British Government's Ministry of Information to help keep a lid on things should Hitler have invaded Great Britain. The book says:


Groucho Marx said: It isn't so much that hard times are coming; the change observed is mostly soft times going. 


Benjamin Disaeli said: What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expect generally happens. 


...And the latest edition of The Stage says that the Olympics are going to ruin everything.

Just when I thought that funding cuts were the only thing to worry about! Me and my silly Australian optimism. The feature article in the weekly publication for the entertainment industry claims that, based on the experiences of previous Olympic host cities, people go to more sport - or stay home and watch sport - than go to the theatre during the Olympics. Shock. They are worried that the West End will suffer. I'm sure that there is truth in this as audiences in the West End do appear to comprise mostly of tourists. However I see this as being much more 'golden opportunity' than a 'getting to the end of the toilet roll' situation. The article cites evidence that Sydney experienced a drop in attendance at visitor attractions during Sydney 2000. But what of the effect the Olympics had on visitation - and indeed on Sydney's international image - after the Olympics? The West End Marketing Department - if there is such a thing (it wouldn't surprise me as they all seem to be operated by one of a few umbrella companies) need to grab the Olympic megaphone and tell the world about the field in which Great Britain excels (er, not sport).

As for the other members of the theatre family, I think the Olympics presents some fantastic opportunities for exposure, financially supported experimentation and shameless self-promotion. Case in point: mention Legs on the Wall and the AMP building in the same sentence and most people will know exactly who you are talking about!

Let's face it, an Olympic opening ceremony is going employ just about every acrobat and ballet dancer in the country in its bid to out-do the opening ceremonies that have gone before it and speaking to someone during the week who works freelance in the theatre and events industries, I've learned that these mega-events have been the catalyst for some fascinating advances in AV and animatronics.

Listen to me defending the Olympics! Oh dear.

The other thing that's good about the financial crisis is the recent emergence of a new genre called 'pop-up theatre'. Theatre-makers are taking over some of the many deserted shop fronts, offices and other formerly private places appearing throughout the city and transforming them into theatre spaces. Theatre Delicatessan is one such theatre company involved in this carry-on. I shall be attending one of their performances shortly and will provide you with a full report. So keep calm. 


On a (not really) related note, sleep over theatre is another phenomenon to look out for. In June 2011 at the Barbican, punters will be lulled to sleep by performers as they (the audience) lie tucked up in one of 50 beds and then woken up and given breakfast by performers the next day! 


Now for some quick reviews: 


Breed by Lou Ramsden at the 503Theatre (fringe pub theatre) was great! The theatre had a very Darlinghurst Theatre feel to it - and boy was it stifling! But this new play about the world of dog fighting (the dogs were done with mime and sounds effects) was a really interesting and convincing glimpse into unfamiliar territory. The cast - particularly the actors who played the father and the brother - were terrific. Although it was let down a little bit in the final scene when it got a little bit melodramatic and missed a few notes. 


God save us all from Krapp's Last Tape! It's like eating something incredibly healthy and made of oats. Of course in the long run you know it's going to nourish your soul but it takes ages to digest. Michael Gambon gave an excellent demonstration of exactly how to keep an audience engaged while you eat a banana, Beckett gives us a perfect example of work that doesn't think much of you or care what you think either, and the audience put on a spectacular performance of clearing their throats and moving in their creaky chairs. I'm glad I saw it though.


And this just in: the Arcola is moving! So much for having a local haunt. It's not going far though, just a bit closer to Dalston Junction. Their current landlord is kicking them out so they can build fancy apartments. And the beat goes on...

I promise there will be more photos in the next one. xx