Alex Istudor
@alexistudor.bsky.social
FRESH START ON BLUESKY 🙃🤷♂️
Romanian-born theatre director | London based | @migrantstheatre ⭐️Trying really hard to ‘infect the theatre in the U.K.’ with radical ‘European’ stagings⭐️
Romanian-born theatre director | London based | @migrantstheatre ⭐️Trying really hard to ‘infect the theatre in the U.K.’ with radical ‘European’ stagings⭐️
I find it absolutely insane that Trump could destroy the East Wing of the White House without requiring proper conservation approval.
I know the USA has a whole different culture of regulations (or lack of), but surely these buildings are heritage grade protected?
I know the USA has a whole different culture of regulations (or lack of), but surely these buildings are heritage grade protected?
October 26, 2025 at 6:29 PM
I find it absolutely insane that Trump could destroy the East Wing of the White House without requiring proper conservation approval.
I know the USA has a whole different culture of regulations (or lack of), but surely these buildings are heritage grade protected?
I know the USA has a whole different culture of regulations (or lack of), but surely these buildings are heritage grade protected?
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 🤣
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 🤣
October 6, 2025 at 11:23 AM
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 🤣
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 🤣
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.
September 15, 2025 at 7:06 PM
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.
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!
Let’s be honest, NOTHING will satisfy these people waving the flags these days. THEY will ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING else…TO HATE!
August 31, 2025 at 6:52 PM
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!
Let’s be honest, NOTHING will satisfy these people waving the flags these days. THEY will ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING else…TO HATE!
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...
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
August 13, 2025 at 7:25 PM
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...
Proceeding will all go to the surviving family. 👇
vimeo.com/ondemand/but...
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.
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.
August 10, 2025 at 12:44 PM
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.
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.
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…
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…
July 16, 2025 at 12:17 PM
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…
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…
I would dare to argue that THE SERVANT (1963) is the best British film ever made. 🙊
June 7, 2025 at 10:56 PM
I would dare to argue that THE SERVANT (1963) is the best British film ever made. 🙊
Good to see the Young Vic studio making a come back…
May 14, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Good to see the Young Vic studio making a come back…
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…
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…
May 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM
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…
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…
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…
Genuinely getting tired of folks finding excuses for the far right voters…
May 3, 2025 at 9:52 AM
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…
Genuinely getting tired of folks finding excuses for the far right voters…
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?
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?
May 2, 2025 at 1:25 PM
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?
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?
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?
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?
April 29, 2025 at 6:43 PM
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?
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?
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. 😂🙃😂
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. 😂🙃😂
April 28, 2025 at 4:22 PM
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. 😂🙃😂
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. 😂🙃😂
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. 🤷♂️🤷♂️
And still - almost no theatre institution has a fully shaped/assumed artistic identity. Everyone does the same - a bit of everything basically. 🤷♂️🤷♂️
April 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM
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. 🤷♂️🤷♂️
And still - almost no theatre institution has a fully shaped/assumed artistic identity. Everyone does the same - a bit of everything basically. 🤷♂️🤷♂️
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.
The only chance is for ALL American universities to stand together on a matter of principle and rally popular support.
April 17, 2025 at 8:55 AM
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.
The only chance is for ALL American universities to stand together on a matter of principle and rally popular support.
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...
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
April 15, 2025 at 10:58 AM
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...
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...
This is an interesting discussion (although I always roll my eyes when chats about “European theatre” never make it further than Amsterdam in terms of concrete references).
I would add a few things that make the difference: lack of ambition and vision (both in programming and artistic intent)
I would add a few things that make the difference: lack of ambition and vision (both in programming and artistic intent)
Frank Peschier and Natasha Tripney discuss 'European Theatre' - Eline Arbo, ensemble companies, flashy budgets, naked rollerskating...
And ask: 'Are we as a nation more conservative in how literal we want our theatre to be – or do we not believe our audiences can handle it?'
And ask: 'Are we as a nation more conservative in how literal we want our theatre to be – or do we not believe our audiences can handle it?'
Money + innovation = cool?
Massive rain rigs, UV cum, and naked roller-skating: Frank Peschier and Natasha Tripney talk ‘European Theatre’
exeuntmagazine.substack.com
April 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM
This is an interesting discussion (although I always roll my eyes when chats about “European theatre” never make it further than Amsterdam in terms of concrete references).
I would add a few things that make the difference: lack of ambition and vision (both in programming and artistic intent)
I would add a few things that make the difference: lack of ambition and vision (both in programming and artistic intent)
When you are reading a German play written in 1892 and outside is 2025 😀
April 9, 2025 at 11:13 AM
When you are reading a German play written in 1892 and outside is 2025 😀
Wait until Trump finds out the Brits regularly transfer shows from the West End to Broadway.
He will put tariffs on those ones too. “The British theatre is ripping us off” 🙊😂😂
He will put tariffs on those ones too. “The British theatre is ripping us off” 🙊😂😂
April 4, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Wait until Trump finds out the Brits regularly transfer shows from the West End to Broadway.
He will put tariffs on those ones too. “The British theatre is ripping us off” 🙊😂😂
He will put tariffs on those ones too. “The British theatre is ripping us off” 🙊😂😂
I genuinely think that one of the biggest mistake you can make as a board în the theatre world is to DELAY appointing an ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.
We can look at so many examples when that happened and how various theatre institutions/festivals have slowly gone off the radar/started losing any identity.
We can look at so many examples when that happened and how various theatre institutions/festivals have slowly gone off the radar/started losing any identity.
March 29, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I genuinely think that one of the biggest mistake you can make as a board în the theatre world is to DELAY appointing an ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.
We can look at so many examples when that happened and how various theatre institutions/festivals have slowly gone off the radar/started losing any identity.
We can look at so many examples when that happened and how various theatre institutions/festivals have slowly gone off the radar/started losing any identity.
It’s been a long time (maybe since 2019?) since I attended a show in person in the German speaking (theatre) world. 🙃
March 21, 2025 at 6:28 PM
It’s been a long time (maybe since 2019?) since I attended a show in person in the German speaking (theatre) world. 🙃
Hmm, am I mis-interpreting or there’s a risk for ACE to be abolished too given the approach they took with NHS England?
If not, what’s different? It sounds a bit like a similar arms length principle?
If not, what’s different? It sounds a bit like a similar arms length principle?
March 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Hmm, am I mis-interpreting or there’s a risk for ACE to be abolished too given the approach they took with NHS England?
If not, what’s different? It sounds a bit like a similar arms length principle?
If not, what’s different? It sounds a bit like a similar arms length principle?
The Olivier really need to split in two the BEST NEW PLAY category. They could have instead:
1. BEST NEW ORIGINAL PLAY.
2. BEST (ADAPTATION) PLAY.
Writing a new play from scratch is a whole different thing than adapting a pre-existent material into a play…
1. BEST NEW ORIGINAL PLAY.
2. BEST (ADAPTATION) PLAY.
Writing a new play from scratch is a whole different thing than adapting a pre-existent material into a play…
March 5, 2025 at 9:32 AM
The Olivier really need to split in two the BEST NEW PLAY category. They could have instead:
1. BEST NEW ORIGINAL PLAY.
2. BEST (ADAPTATION) PLAY.
Writing a new play from scratch is a whole different thing than adapting a pre-existent material into a play…
1. BEST NEW ORIGINAL PLAY.
2. BEST (ADAPTATION) PLAY.
Writing a new play from scratch is a whole different thing than adapting a pre-existent material into a play…
The Canadians are the only so far to give Trump a run for its money.
And funny enough I also think they have loads of cards to play (since it’s all about that these days).
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
And funny enough I also think they have loads of cards to play (since it’s all about that these days).
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ontario's Doug Ford says he could cut electricity to US over tariffs - BBC News
Ford announced retaliatory plans shortly after Trump implemented tariffs against Canada.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 4, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The Canadians are the only so far to give Trump a run for its money.
And funny enough I also think they have loads of cards to play (since it’s all about that these days).
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
And funny enough I also think they have loads of cards to play (since it’s all about that these days).
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...