Repertory and Commercial Theatres

It is necessary to mention that theatres in Britain are divided into repertory and commercial ones. A repertory theatre has a regular company that puts on a changing programme. The National and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, for example, are the repertory theatres: their companies present three or four plays in rotation for several weeks. This system allows classics and old favourites to be seen again by regular theatre-goers; but the government has to help this type of theatre financially, because the majority of the paying public is more interested in new light comedies, musicals and thrillers.

There are many commercial theatres in London (mostly in the West End) where one play is usually performed while it remains successful with the audience. Before a new play is put on in the West End, it often has a short trial run at a provincial theatre, because a lot of money is at risk.

The only other place where the public can see old and well-known, or new and experimental plays — both of which are financially risky — is in a "Club" or "Fringe" theatre, where the money problem is not important since the actors and backstage staff are paid nothing. A play is produced for one or two weeks and any profits from this go to pay for the next production. There are several club theatres like this in the London suburbs — especially in the north. The members are often out-of-work or ex-actors, but there are also many others who have a completely different job in the daytime. Some members want to act, while others prefer to direct, design or organize the lighting and sound effects. Since most people want to be on stage, the actors will also be expected to help backstage on other productions. The stage manager and his assistants are responsible for the costumes, the props (the furniture and any other stage decorations) and prompting the actors if they forget their words.

Working like this — sometimes until midnight — especially after a hard day's work, maybe in an office or a school, can be quite tiring; but nobody seems to mind because they love it so much. Very often the shows are just as good as professional productions, and some of the bigger club theatres are advertised in the national as well as the local newspapers.

Although these theatres are quite small — about 200 seats — they can play an important role by giving a chance to new, young playwrights; many of the best new plays on playwrights have been "discovered" in places like this, before the West End has enough courage to offer them a theatre. There are thousands of amateur dramatic societies in Britain with a membership of some half a million. Most universities have active amateur drama clubs and societies.

Topics for discussion:

1. The land of Shakespeare.

2. History of English theatre.

3. English dramatists.

4. West End Theatres.

5. South Bank.

6. Famous theatres outside London.

7. English actors and actresses of international renown.