tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post7952863009709994165..comments2023-10-03T11:41:21.191+01:00Comments on The Truth About Lies: Sky Arts Theatre Live!Jim Murdochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-80685188747868783902009-08-04T15:42:49.433+01:002009-08-04T15:42:49.433+01:00I think we're talking 'baby steps' her...I think we're talking 'baby steps' here, <b>David</b>. All the plays so far have been chamber pieces. You can almost imagine them rearranging the living room furniture so they could perform the piece, or the in case of the last one, just dragging you into the kitchen. And no, we've had nothing particularly challenging nor do I expect the rest to be. But it's a start. If the BBC sees that people are interested then maybe it'll realise that there is an audience. Only I do hope they use more experienced playwrights. That's part of the problem here, but it's also been the novelty factor, the twist to pique our interests. Another problem has been the time constraint, thirty minutes – less actually – and that is not a lot of time. I'm just happy to see live theatre back on the tele.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-12754446190029175772009-08-04T13:47:22.307+01:002009-08-04T13:47:22.307+01:00I must say, although this all seems like a good id...I must say, although this all seems like a good idea in theory, I am -incredibly- uneasy about it being in the hands of Sky/Rupert Murdoch. Theatre must be free to express whatever needs to be expressed, and Sky/Murdoch have never been great advocates of this. (see right wing mountebank fest Noel's HQ) As I say, I like it in theory, but I sure wish it was "BBC Arts."David Shawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-17331502846964409482009-07-23T11:22:22.514+01:002009-07-23T11:22:22.514+01:00Sky Arts, thank you for your comment. Yes, you can...<b>Sky Arts</b>, thank you for your comment. Yes, you can most definitely count me as a fan of <i>Theatre Live!</i> and I will keep watching the series. I have never understood why theatre is treated so badly on TV. They do live broadcasts of everything else. And, in all seriousness, when you get three actors of the calibre as Stewart, Callow and McKellan are you honestly telling me that the public wouldn't want to watch them in action? I feel the same about this as I do about missing Robin Williams and Steve Martin play Didi and Gogo. Why is theatre so ephemeral? You're filming Joe Public standing on a plinth and that will be kept for posterity. I don't get it. It's a poor use of two cameras if you ask me. <br /><br />For the record I have nothing particular against the plinth, the artist or the participants. I just used it as an example because it's there and people know about it.<br /><br />Oh, and I am looking forward to <i>Theatreland</i> with great anticipation but thanks for the reminder.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-55085055262737860802009-07-23T10:06:04.081+01:002009-07-23T10:06:04.081+01:00Jim, hi
Sky Arts here. Thanks for the write up - ...Jim, hi<br /><br />Sky Arts here. Thanks for the write up - really interesting to hear your feedback. <br /><br />Just with ref to your point about Godot - we haven't filmed the production itself, but we're premiering an eight part series next week called Theatreland (30th July, 8pm); which goes behind the scenes of the Theatre Royal, Haymarket during the first six month of Sean Mathias' artistic directorship. Of course, this includes the run up / opening night and a lot of backstage footage of...Waiting for Godot. <br /><br />Oh, and should also apologise - as we should take some responsibility for the plinth too.<br /><br />Hope you continue to watch Theatre Live; next week it's Nicci French's turn with 'Too Many Cooks.' Please do keep the feedback coming!<br /><br />Sky ArtsSky Artshttp://www.skyarts.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-13945034760822776162009-07-16T11:23:24.795+01:002009-07-16T11:23:24.795+01:00Well, Ken, the second play was shown last night bu...Well, <b>Ken</b>, the second play was shown last night but it'll be repeated on Sunday at 9pm on Sky Arts 1. As for <i>Wallander</i>, you can see the third episode tonight on BBC4 at 10:30 – the first two were shown at the same time as the British remake and I missed them assuming them to be repeats – the <i>TV Guide</i> could have been clearer.<br /><br />As for the plinth, well, the plays aren't an hour in length, they're 27 minutes long. The rest of the time is spent on talking about the writing before and a wee interview afterwards which is fine. I especially appreciated this week's post-production chat because the playwright explained some of the imagery, e.g. why there were twelve chairs floating in mid-air at the back of the stage and why the ghost appeared out of a hole in the floorboards.<br /><br />I do have to say that every time I see a live play – and it's been a while – I get the urge to write dialogue but it's been years since I have. You've read my only play. The only other piece for theatre is really a dramatic monologue and I've done nothing with either of them. I wouldn't know where to start to be honest.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-75899254341824931222009-07-16T10:49:44.786+01:002009-07-16T10:49:44.786+01:00This is good news. Except I'm reading it on T...This is good news. Except I'm reading it on Thursday morning - have I just missed one?<br /><br />I'm missing the original Wallenders on BBC 4 at the minute too.<br /><br />I bet you're peeping at the plinth from time to time, I bet you are. Perhaps you have a post in you about it? What would you do for an hour?Ken Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-8892332816639937432009-07-16T04:50:32.497+01:002009-07-16T04:50:32.497+01:00That's where it's nice that with the explo...That's where it's nice that with the explosion of TV channels we're getting options like Sky Arts and BBC4, <b>Rachel</b>. When I look at the program choices over a period of time live theatre (even <i>recorded</i> live theatre) is not high on the agenda. This is something I don't undersatnd. They'll plonk a couple of cameras in front of an orchestra or an opera so why not a play? To my mind this would be a cheap form of TV. <br /><br />The second of the six live plays was on last night, novelist Kate Mosse's reworking of the Greek story of <a href="http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/NympheSyrinx.html" rel="nofollow">Syrinx</a>. It was an interesting production, well acted as before. Again, it had its weaknesses but it was still watchable. <br /><br />There is a pub in Glasgow's west end where they do sonething called "A Play, A Pie and a Pint" where a half-hour play is performed during the lunch hour. And it's very popular and has attracted some big names. There is a hunger out there and I just wish people would recognise it.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-29791094018720201512009-07-15T23:08:33.526+01:002009-07-15T23:08:33.526+01:00Unfortunately - and some might cite America as a p...Unfortunately - and some might cite America as a possible influence in this matter :)- nothing seems to happen without it being a high grossing money maker - it is the nature of capitalist society, and, let's not forget - the book market is prey to the very same beast! You have to be marketable - your books have to sell by the cart load - and you have to be the most talented, original, innovative, but not too innovative, general allrounder! Small price?Rachel Fentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10046917627054462214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-53999703561967920922009-07-13T19:02:14.278+01:002009-07-13T19:02:14.278+01:00In 1997, NBC broadcast a special live episode of E...In 1997, NBC broadcast a special live episode of <i>ER</i>, <b>John</b>, but, like the two I mentioned in my article, it was more of a novelty item than anything else.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-27514982976260889542009-07-13T18:39:02.580+01:002009-07-13T18:39:02.580+01:00Jim, unless you count Saturday Night Live, a comed...Jim, unless you count Saturday Night Live, a comedy sketch show, we haven't had live theatre on TV in America in not just many years, but many decades.John Ettorrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18229971392235689875noreply@blogger.com