Stella Duffy questions whether Tony Hall’s plan for the BBC involving opera, ballet and still more Shakespeare really represents "arts for everyone".
Tony Hall came in to the BBC as a new broom saying all the right things – the new director general wanted more access for consumers, creating "some of the greatest, boldest, most imaginative work of our lives", and promising a "bonfire of the boards".
Today we heard what that bold and important work would look like in the first instance: Nicholas Hytner from the National Theatre joining the BBC executive board, with Nicholas Serota from the Tate and Vicky Featherstone from the Royal Court as advisers. Rupert Goold of the Almeida will create new dramas.
Yes, these people have amazing track records (discounting Hytner's dismal lack of women writers and directors during his NT tenure), but while the BBC may perceive the Royal Court and the Almeida to be cutting edge, the truth is that they are now – rightly, after all this time – establishment theatres that work largely with establishment theatre-makers... Keep reading on The Guardian
Tony Hall came in to the BBC as a new broom saying all the right things – the new director general wanted more access for consumers, creating "some of the greatest, boldest, most imaginative work of our lives", and promising a "bonfire of the boards".
Today we heard what that bold and important work would look like in the first instance: Nicholas Hytner from the National Theatre joining the BBC executive board, with Nicholas Serota from the Tate and Vicky Featherstone from the Royal Court as advisers. Rupert Goold of the Almeida will create new dramas.
Yes, these people have amazing track records (discounting Hytner's dismal lack of women writers and directors during his NT tenure), but while the BBC may perceive the Royal Court and the Almeida to be cutting edge, the truth is that they are now – rightly, after all this time – establishment theatres that work largely with establishment theatre-makers... Keep reading on The Guardian