Tag: Society for Theatre Research

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Interested in musicals? This may be for you!

On 27 February at 7.30pm, The Society for Theatre Research is giving another engaging free lecture, both in-person and online, which will interest those who love the magic of musicals.

Join in person at St Annes, 55 Dean Street, London, UK or online at the link below. Tickets are free but all places must be booked in advance here.

The Making of a Monster: an Anatomy of Musical Flops is presented by Christopher Howell

West End Wonder or Flop? Even when blessed with a timely topic, willing investors, a team of top creatives and popular appeal, a musical tipped to be a hit can flounder. Others, with the odds seemingly stacked against them, nonetheless thrive. Why do some musicals flourish whilst others fail to. captivate an audience? Christopher Howell explores this vexed question, and takes a candid look behind the scenes of Carrie, Les Misérables and other musicals.

The presenter, actor and director Christopher Howell has worked extensively on the West End as well as in film and television. This presentation is based upon his current research on West End and Broadway musical theatre histories.

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Society for Theatre Research opens 2023 Grants applications!

Calling all researchers! Is there an element within your research topics that deals with an aspect of the British theatre which would make it eligible for a STR grant? It’s worth taking a look at their website to find out!

Topics they can consider include buildings, people, historical or contemporary concerns, theories and practices, and all kinds of performance arts, as long as there is a connection with theatre in Britain or British theatre people.

STR says “We invite all engaged in theatre research to apply – for example you may be an early career academic needing help with a particular piece of research, or an independent scholar digging up traces of local theatre or performers, in which case the Research Grants would be suitable for you, or a theatre practitioner engaged in practical research on an aspect of performance practice, in which case you might apply for one of our Practitioner Grants.”

Whichever of the two distinct types of grants might apply to your project, visit their website here for more details – and good luck!

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Free lecture – ‘Don’t Forget the Pierrots: Seaside Follies on the Prom’

On Tuesday 13th December at 7.30pm, you’re invited to a talk by Tony Lidington, author of a new book about Pierrot troupes and concert parties, hosted by the Society for Theatre Research, and available in-person and also online.

The Pierrot troupes grew from a single idea into a major international cultural industry, which boosted morale and national identity during the UK’s times of crisis. Tony Liddington will draw upon his 2022 book – “Don’t Forget The Pierrots!” The Complete History of British Pierrot Troupes & Concert Parties, which is the first scholarly exploration of this popular performance form and its heritage.

The presenter, Dr. Tony Lidington has been a showman, researcher and teacher for over 35 years. He specialises in historical popular entertainment forms and their application to contemporary contexts. Tony was awarded a doctorate for his research into itinerant British performance forms by the University of Exeter, where he now teaches. He regularly writes about the subject for academic journals and general interest magazines, as well as broadcasting on both radio and television. Tony was founder of ‘The Pierrotters’ – Britain’s last professional seaside Pierrot troupe, with whom he performed for 27 years as ‘Uncle Tacko’!

You can either attend online, from the comfort of your own home, or travel to The Art Workers’ Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT (nearest tube Russell Square).

The event is expected to run approximately 90 minutes.

For more information, and to book, click here

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The battle to build Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre – watch Society of Theatre Research’s latest free online/in-person talk

Join the Society of Theatre Research for their next free lecture on 16th November at 7:30pm online or in-person at at St Anne’s Soho.

Entitled ‘Stirring Up Sheffield: The Battle to Build the Crucible Theatre’ the talk is given by Tedd George, son the first Artistic Director of the Crucible Theatre, Colin George.

The book they wrote together– Stirring Up Sheffield – won the 2022 STR Theatre Book Prize. Stirring Up Sheffield is the story of a group of visionaries who came together to build a revolutionary thrust stage theatre in Sheffield. Their daring venture marked the high watermark of experimentation in post-war British theatre, but it was to provoke a battle amongst the UK’s theatrical elite.

So why did Sheffield opt for a thrust stage, and why was this design so controversial? In this talk, Tedd George explores the intense debates over the theatre’s design, the people who inspired the thrust stage – among them Sir Tyrone Guthrie and Tanya Moiseiwitsch – and the brilliant architects and engineers who turned their vision into concrete and steel. Drawing on material from his father’s archives and interviews with the surviving protagonists, among them the Crucible’s architect, Nick Thompson, Tedd reconstructs the design process that created what is arguably the most successful thrust stage ever built in the UK, and the technical innovations that were developed to achieve this.

Tedd also explores the battle of ideas over the Crucible’s creation, which pitted the Sheffield Star, local councillors and the so-called ‘Three Knights’ – Sir Bernard Miles, Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir John Clements – against the Morning Telegraph and Britain’s leading theatrical innovators, among them Michael Elliot, Peter Cheeseman and Alan Ayckbourn. Ultimately this battle drove Tedd’s father to resign as Artistic Director only one year after the Crucible’s opening, and it would be nearly forty years before he returned to the thrust stage he had helped create.

Attend this free event in person or watch online – more details and booking here

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Applications open for Research Grants from STR!

Applications are now open for the Society of Theatre Research’s Research Grants! The grants, raging in value from £200 to a maximum of £1000 are awarded annually to those researching British or British-related theatre and performance . You’ve plenty of time, as the deadline for applications is 25 March 2022

You can find out more information and download the application form via the STR website here