The Stage

Musical TV shows are “why the theatre is working”, says Mackintosh

Published Friday 23 January 2009 at 11:15 by Matthew Hemley

Cameron Mackintosh has defended the rise of musical theatre talent programmes such as the BBC’s I’d Do Anything, claiming they are the reason “theatre is working”.

The producer, whose new staging of Oliver! features cast members discovered through I’d Do Anything, defended the shows from critics such as Kevin Spacey, who last year said the programmes are “essentially a 13-week promotion for a musical”.

Speaking to The Stage after receiving an Outstanding Achievement gong at this year’s South Bank Show awards, Mackintosh said: “TV and the theatre have always been intertwined. Who could have thought ten years ago that prime time TV would promote musical theatre and that there would be so many programmes about musicals - it’s marvellous. That is why the theatre is working.”

He added: “With straights plays, it is not a coincidence that the ones really taking money are the ones that have become events. The public want to go to an event, particularly in difficult times. It does not matter what it is as along as it’s something special.”

Mackintosh said he would consider casting one of his productions using a BBC show in the future, and added: “The great thing that Andrew [Lloyd Webber] and the BBC have done is they have brought forward a lot of new talent that are in lots of shows. Lots of us have gained enormously from these BBC shows.”

The theatre impresario also defended his new production of Oliver! from allegations that child performers in the show are being underpaid.

He declined to comment on what amount they receive, but said: “Children in Oliver! are actually being paid, which they aren’t in a lot of other shows. It costs a fortune to have all these children - it’s one of the most expensive elements of the show - because you have chaperones, travel, the cost of putting them up in London, teachers. I don’t think there are any parents who are unhappy about having their children in the show - we have a queue a mile long of people wanting to come in.”