In this week’s edition of The Stage:
Since taking up the position of Arts Council England chief executive, Alan Davey has had to deal with a lot of angry clients, outraged at their funding cuts. He talks to The Stage about rebuilding the relationship between ACE, artists and artistic bodies and his plans to transofrm the organisation
With the drama school showcase season about to start, Geoffrey Colman, head of acting at Central School of Speech and Drama, suggests students take the approach of Nina in the Seagull, with her core values of passion and truth
Maggie Brown on media: The musical chairs in the TV channels’ boardrooms
Arthur Smith: As a comedian from a previous generation, I should be bitter about Russell Brand’s success — so why am I such a fan?
Dear John: “Is recreational drug use really going to ruin my career, or is it part and parcel of the business?”
Training: Whether you want to set up a theatre company or have your own play produced, Susan Elkin looks at the variety of new courses on offer and how they can help you achieve your ambition
Part-time Training Special: Whether you have acting ambitions or you are a professional already working in the industry, part-time training can give you a chance to hone your skills without giving up the day job.
James Nesbitt is used to making newspaper headlines — and now he’s playing a gutter reporter in new ITV1 drama Midnight Man. He talks to Mary Comerford about why he’s moved on from playing cheeky chappy roles, his plans to take on more theatre work, and the rumours that he’ll be the next Doctor Who
Toby Sedgwick has been a successful actor, set up the pioneering Moving Picture Mime Show and won an Olivier Award for directing movement in War Horse. Now he is looking forward to the hit production’s return to the National and hunting for his next project
After performing in Mark Ravenhill’s Birth of a Nation at the Royal Court and the BBC’s Countdown to War, Toby Jones is taking on the part of Karl Rove in Oliver Stone’s forthcoming biopic of Goerge W Bush, W. But, as he tells Matt Trueman, staying in the political realm has not been a conscious decision
Touring with a show doesn’t have to be a physical and financial strain. Knight Hoosen offers tips on how to find affordable accommodation and travel, and advises on useful items to take with you to make the experience more enjoyable
In an attempt to make Shakespeare more accessible to the public, the Globe Theatre is running a series of Sonnet Walks to places of significance in the Bard’s life, accompanied by actors playing various characters from homeless Londoners to lawyers
Backstage Focus: Students from the Bartlett School of Architecture are examining sustainability in their designs for a new performance space in an exhibition called Perform. Geoffrey Joyce takes a look at their work and picks out some that catch his eye
As the Lyric Hammersmith launches a 50th anniversary run of Pinter play, The Birthday Party, Nick Smurthwaite examines what the critics thought of the first party and how the play recovered from the morning after
Plus all the usual news, reviews, national UK theatre listings and recruitment ads.
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