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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · 5d

Every couple of years an international show comes to the Barbican and blows people’s mind in the U.K.

And the second day everyone goes back to doing what they used to do before (as practice, aesthetic, approach to making theatre).

Have seen this “movie” a couple times already it’s almost funny 🤣

Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · 26d

Migrants in Theatre doesn’t have an account (yet) on bluesky but this is the latest statement to put together. We are all concerned with what’s going on in this country and need the solidarity of our peers from the theatre industry. Feel free to follow us on Instagram.

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · 26d

Unless it’s a german production like this one below which seems from a different planet haha. If you wanna have a look at the trailer :)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=ytD3...

SCHAUSPIEL FRANKFURT: »Warten auf Godot« von Samuel Beckett

YouTube video by Schauspiel Frankfurt

m.youtube.com

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · 26d

I haven’t, only seen production shots from it, and yes, they are altering it with light (and that’s about it), but I am also basing my take on seeing other shows by Jamie Lloyd in which I felt that tends to be the main issue - exhausting the possibilities of staging in the first 10 min.

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · 26d

Sure, but after 5-10 min the possibilities of this set are totally exhausted basically. The room for changes/surprises/transformation is extremely limited when you opt for such a space/set. I think that’s the actual issue, it’s diminishing the potential of the experience….

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Aug 31

10 years ago it was the Eastern European migrants, then it was Brexit. When they couldn’t use these excuses, they got obsessed with the “illegal” migration and refugees.

Let’s be honest, NOTHING will satisfy these people waving the flags these days. THEY will ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING else…TO HATE!

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Aug 13

The 3 theatre recordings are all directed by Butusov, filmed at a great quality and come with English subs. One of them - The Seagull production- is by far the best production of that play that I’ve seen. Out of this world.
Consider buying the package. Totally worth it! And for a noble cause…

Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Aug 13

Following the tragic death of the great Russian theatre director, Yury Butusov, the online platform StageRussia (completely independent and USA based) is running a special offer package of buying 3 recording for 15£.
Proceeding will all go to the surviving family. 👇

vimeo.com/ondemand/but...

Watch Butusov Set Online | Vimeo On Demand

A trio of extraordinary works, from Gogol to Chekhov to Shakespeare, staged by Yury Butusov. Watch and rewatch as often as you want, whenever you want. All proceeds…

vimeo.com

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Aug 10

Visionary really…

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Aug 10

He left a few years ago for Paris. He was in rehearsals summer break now at Craiova National Theatre where I directed a show once. I was basically told by one of my friends actors from that ensemble of this tragedy. He was supposed to resume rehearsals with them in 1-2 weeks. For A Winter’s Tale.

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Aug 10

Truly heartbreaking…

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Aug 10

Such a tragedy - Yuri BUTUSOV, the famous theatre director who left Russia after the start of the war, drowned in Bulgaria. 💔💔

He directed The Seagull production which we watched part of the European Theatre Club during the pandemic + The Good Person of Shezhuan at the Barbican some years ago.

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Jul 16

Most of them are written with an underlying tone of “you should be grateful just to be around/for the opportunity to be in the room”.

The room for potential individualised development path and pursuing of certain interests seems almost 0 in these ads…

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Jul 16

90% of calls for directors/assistants/trainees/resident are ALL about what the applicant can offer.

Almost no meaningful thought in terms of what the theatre/institution can offer in terms of craft and artistic development for the person applying.

It’s all so one sided…and uninteresting really…

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Jun 7

I would dare to argue that THE SERVANT (1963) is the best British film ever made. 🙊

Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · May 14

Good to see the Young Vic studio making a come back…

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · May 11

What the Labour government doesn’t understand is that you can’t win the argument with some voters and some communities.

So many of these folks adopted a victimhood mentality and resentment - yesterday it was Brexit and EU migrants, today it’s the “illegals” , tomorrow they will find someone else…

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · May 3

I am really looking forward to that play that stops idealising (mostly) white working classes and also deals with the racism, xenophobia and victimisation that exists with a lot of people from these communities.

Genuinely getting tired of folks finding excuses for the far right voters…

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · May 2

How the hell is still possible for Farage to count in politics?

He’s the architect of Brexit, the biggest mistake of U.K. politics in decades. Political rivals should remind everyone that every time Farage opens his mouth. The media should do that too.

Are the Brits seriously switching to Reform?

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Apr 29

Question for my Canadian friends if they can illuminate me:

P. POILIEVRE losing his seat for the first time since 2004 - isn’t this a bit strange given that the Conservative didn’t do that bad overall? Is he actually less popular than his own party?

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Apr 28

Part of me would really want to see Canada becoming a USA state for one reason only:

It will be the state with the most electors given its population and it would probably vote Democrats, hence it would become borderline impossible for the Republicans to ever win the presidency. 😂🙃😂

Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Apr 28

In a city like London, with so much offer in terms of theatre, standing out is absolutely essential.

And still - almost no theatre institution has a fully shaped/assumed artistic identity. Everyone does the same - a bit of everything basically. 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Apr 17

Trump’s assault on universities is textbook autocratic behaviour. We’ve seen this in so many other instances (Hungary, Germany în the 30s, Russia).

The only chance is for ALL American universities to stand together on a matter of principle and rally popular support.

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Apr 15

Been noticing this for years but now we have the data.
Or better said - don’t follow the money, follow the studios (I reckon loads of theatres that used to produce show in their studio space stoped doing that). For eg. YV.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Big drop in plays staged by theatres over past decade

The number of plays and musicals staged by the UK's main subsidised theatres is down by almost a third.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Alex Istudor @alexistudor.bsky.social · Apr 11

I think most theatre houses are not funded by the federal government but rather by the local/city/land one. So maybe that’s a good thing in this case….

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