Number 1. If you are a producer, do not star in your own show. At the limit, a director can star in their own show (perhaps another discussion for another time), but never a producer. You may as well just call the thing "My Life Starring Me" and be done with it. Personally I believe that the role of the producer should be a role apart. Quite often, especially on the fringe, you see actors or directors taking on the role of producer because either they believe they can, or because there's no one else around qualified to do it. With all the many definitions floating around about what a producer is, perhaps it is easier to work from the outside in by starting with what the role is not: it's not the thing to do if you want to get famous. It is a behind-the-scenes role keeping all the elements of the show in balance. You are the glue and glue is supposed to be invisible - especially on 19th century xiao dynasty vases.
Number 2. Seating in fringe venues is really uncomfortable. Last night I spent two long hours in the second back row with my knees at an angle so as not to annoy the woman sitting in front of my while the man behind me kicked me square in the bottom once every ten minutes or so (to his credit, he did apologise and look very embarrassed when the lights came up at the end and he realised what he thought was part of my seat was actually a part of me).
Now I am more than aware of the circumstances that lead to fringe audiences being made to sit on uncomfortable seats and I know that I'm guilty of subjecting audiences to them as well. All of the independent shows I've produced have been witnessed from a hard wooden bench covered only with a thin piece of foam. And then there's the other problem of climate control inside these tiny venues lit by stage lights. One of my stoic friends declared after sitting through one of my shows: 'we were sweating and fanning ourselves like the Polynesian women's church choir up there in the back row!'.
I think the first priority for fringe venues should be making sure their audiences are comfortable. It's probably in everyone's interest that they can take a drink in with them too. As a back-up, I'm also seriously considering including a 'cushion' line in future show budgets, though I'm sure other items will creep up past it on the list once the twinges in my back fade away. As a producer (the ones who aren't also acting in the show) is the one to spend the most time up in the bleachers, it pays to have some extra padding, a fan, and a song book at the ready.
The fourth show I saw this week was very good and I was very comfortable watching it! The Three Musketeers and the Princess of Spain toured to York and I was lucky enough to go backstage and to meet the company after the show.
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| Behind the scenes at the York Theatre Royal: The Musketeers practice their jousting |
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| Note the plush red seats... mmm comfortable |
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| York Theatre Royal |
I agree, as in democracies it should be with producers not starring in their own show, the separation of powers is a worthwhile check and balance against misjudgement or excess.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do recall sitting on a thin cushion in a hot concrete bunker while watching one of your shows. I grant that as the play was set in a cell the sensurround immersion experience helped to distract me from sweat trickles and numb bum.