When Labour Costs Are Low
Bollywood movies provide cross-country evidence for Baumol's cost disease in the performing arts.
Peter Brook: The Empty Space
This is one of those books of which I'm ashamed to admit I only just read it. It is, as it says on the back cover of my paperback edition, required reading for anyone working in dance or theatre.
Can Dance Be Disgusting?
In one of my recent papers I address the observation that scents can be disgusting, but watching dance rarely is. Stephen Fry begs to disagree, although not in response to my article.
Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes: De Monstruos y Prodigios
A history of the castrati doesn’t sound like an obvious theme for a theatre production. But at least it’s different. And difference is interesting.
Romeo Castellucci: Hey Girl!
Romeo Castellucci creates scenes and images that are pregnant with meaning yet never deliver. This is the strength of the theatre of Romeo Castellucci.
Rene Pollesch: L'Affaire Martin! Etc.
In L´Affaire Martin! Occupe-toi de Sophie! Par la fenêtre, Caroline! Le mariage de Spengler. Christine est en avance, or L’Affaire Martin! Etc. for short, René Pollesch has turned the language of postmodern philosophy into the stuff of comedy.
La Fura dels Baus: Imperium
Towards the end of Imperium by La Fura dels Baus a half naked girl with silver body paint tried to hide behind me as another girl, also half naked, threw a bucket full of water at her. I ended up with wet trousers and a wet jacket.
Cirque du Soleil: O
I must admit that in the back of my mind I had been a bit sceptical. I wanted to see a performance by Cirque du Soleil while I was in Las Vegas and O is supposed to be their most spectacular show. And spectacular it is.
Elevator Repair Service: Gatz
Gatz by New York based theatre company Elevator Repair Service is a magnificent performance and Scott Shepherd as the reader/Nick Carraway is phenomenal.
Johan Simons: Platform
The performance was good, the actors were great and I really liked the stage design. And yet, as I type this, I wonder why I wasn't completely struck.
Johan Simons: Elementarteilchen
In Elementarteilchen, Johan Simons’ adaptation of the novel of the same title by Michel Houellebecq, the five actors mostly stand on a corrugated floor on an otherwise empty stage. The piece consists of little more than this, but this “little more” touches precisely the right tone.
Guy Cassiers: Proust 4. Marcel's Way
I had some reservations about the first part, but the third and now the fourth part stole my heart.