Backstage and technical theatre news, features and interviews

If theatre owners want preferential treatment in the form of tax relief to maintain their properties for the nation, they will all have to be a great deal more open about where the levy money is going

The Green Room

What is your opinion on job sharing for performers and crew?

This week, our Green Room panel discusses whether the industry – and audiences – are ready for the move towards a better work/life balance

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Model boxes are not an optional add-on you can drop to make cost savings

by Grace Smart

The 40-year success of Cats shows theatre is a good financial investment for government

by Rob Halliday

Non-gendered titles in costume would help the fight for pay equity

by Catherine Kodicek

Creative or technical? It shouldn't be a choice between the two

by Grace Smart

As theatre returns to normal(ish), freelancers deserve better working conditions

by Rob Halliday

Our designers' group in the South West has been a model of creative solidarity

by Katie Sykes

Your views

Andrew Lloyd Webber is right: theatres are safe – your views, June 16

by The Stage

Too many actors crowding the industry – your views, June 9

by The Stage

The Green Room

What is your opinion on job sharing for performers and crew?

This week, our Green Room panel discusses whether the industry – and audiences – are ready for the move towards a better work/life balance

Your views

'Actor' or 'actress'? The debate continues (your views, December 14)

by The Stage

Actors' agents need to play a role in addressing harassment allegations (your views, November 7)

by The Stage

Actors are trained to play all roles (your views, February 22)

by The Stage

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Susan May Hawley: ‘Be prepared to work long hours as a stage manager’

by John Byrne

LIPA's Richard Reddrop: 'Every time you hold it together you become stronger'

by John Byrne

Sound course leader Peter Rice: ‘Being adaptable will develop a sustainable career’

by John Byrne

How do you train to become a lighting designer?

by Sarah Lambie

Ali Wade: 'My first job taught me that it only takes a few CVs to land in the right place to open up opportunities'

by John Byrne

Head of design Angela Davies: ‘It’s useful to be able to sketch your idea on a serviette’

by John Byrne

Your views

'Actor' or 'actress'? The debate continues (your views, December 14)

by The Stage

Actors' agents need to play a role in addressing harassment allegations (your views, November 7)

by The Stage

Careers Clinic by John Byrne

How can we make our show stand out?

Dear West End Producer

Dear West End Producer: ‘How can a talented make-up artist like my daughter get into the theatre industry?’

Quote UnQuote

Quotes of the Week, March 24: Ralph Fiennes, Danusia Samal, Josh O’Connor and more

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Big Interviews

The Stage talks in depth to movers and shakers from across the industry

Julian Bird

Chief executive, Society of London Theatre/UK Theatre

Carrie Hope Fletcher

Actor

Adam Cooper

Dancer

Nancy Carroll

Actor

Sarah Frankcom

Antonio Pappano

Music director

Lisa Dwan

Actor

Adam Cooper

Dancer

Nancy Carroll

Actor

Sarah Frankcom

Michael Harrison

Producer

Judith Dimant

Producer

Carrie Hope Fletcher

Actor

Sarah Frankcom

Adam Cooper

Dancer

Clint Dyer

Director, writer and actor

Nancy Carroll

Actor

Felix Barrett

Artistic director

“This is unprecedented. We’re taking each day as it comes”

Stephen Rebbeck

Technical Director

When his hopes of becoming a professional athlete were dashed, Stephen Rebbeck signed up to his local college: Rose Bruford. Now RSC technical director, he tells The Stage about working with a young Daniel Day-Lewis, how the company is coping with the coronavirus and why he never tries to tell his team how to do their jobs

“The beauty and atmosphere of the Sam Wanamaker is unique”

Prema Mehta

Lighting designer

“I make sure the designer’s vision is preserved”

Carol Lingwood

Head of costume

“Catch me while you can”

Pamela Howard

Designer

“Les Mis has gone backwards – it’s become formulaic, not radical”

John Napier

Designer

Julian Bird

Chief executive, Society of London Theatre/UK Theatre

Carrie Hope Fletcher

Actor

Adam Cooper

Dancer

Nancy Carroll

Actor

Sarah Frankcom

Antonio Pappano

Music director

Lisa Dwan

Actor

Adam Cooper

Dancer

Nancy Carroll

Actor

Sarah Frankcom

Michael Harrison

Producer

Judith Dimant

Producer

Carrie Hope Fletcher

Actor

Sarah Frankcom

Adam Cooper

Dancer

Clint Dyer

Director, writer and actor

Nancy Carroll

Actor

Felix Barrett

Artistic director

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Long Reads

The 50 best stage shows to stream right now: dance and opera

by Natasha Tripney

The 50 best stage shows to stream right now: musicals

by Natasha Tripney

What now for the Edinburgh Fringe? The questions that hover over the festival in its fallow year

by Lyn Gardner

With the fringe cancelled this summer, Edinburgh hopefuls are eyeing 2021 – but will it be back next year? And if so, what will it look like and what size will it be? Artists and fringe leaders tell The Stage about the value of the festival and how this could be a chance to remake it for the future

The 50 best stage shows to stream right now: Shakespeare

by Natasha Tripney

From pandemics to puritans: when theatre shut down through history and how it recovered

by The Stage

The 50 best stage shows to stream right now: dance and opera

by Natasha Tripney

The 50 best stage shows to stream right now: musicals

by Natasha Tripney

The 50 best stage shows to stream right now: Shakespeare

by Natasha Tripney

From pandemics to puritans: when theatre shut down through history and how it recovered

by The Stage

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Features

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National Theatre reopens: ‘The cast arrived, and the room came back to life’

by Kate Wyver

After a protracted and ‘horrible’ period of false starts and redundancies, the National Theatre has reopened with After Life, soon to be followed by Under Milk Wood. The buzz is back, members of its operations team tell Kate Wyver