Michael Grandage encourages the sector to rally against plans to cut scholarships for trainee actors and dancers.
“We’re surrounded by philistines.” That is the surprisingly outspoken view of Michael Grandage, one of the UK’s foremost theatre directors, talking about Britain’s attitude to the arts. “Everybody’s letting everybody else just dumb down without question.”
This is unusual language for Grandage. He is not one to get on a soapbox at every opportunity. He was artistic director of one of the world’s great powerhouses, the Donmar Warehouse, between 2002 and 2012, and has been showered with awards from Oliviers to Tonys. His Michael Grandage Company has just completed an acclaimed season in the West End.
What has prompted him to speak out is a threat to government funding for the training of the next generation of actors and dancers. British theatre, he believes, is one of the glories of the world and a major earner for the country. He says we need to ensure that continues... Keep reading on The Telegraph
“We’re surrounded by philistines.” That is the surprisingly outspoken view of Michael Grandage, one of the UK’s foremost theatre directors, talking about Britain’s attitude to the arts. “Everybody’s letting everybody else just dumb down without question.”
This is unusual language for Grandage. He is not one to get on a soapbox at every opportunity. He was artistic director of one of the world’s great powerhouses, the Donmar Warehouse, between 2002 and 2012, and has been showered with awards from Oliviers to Tonys. His Michael Grandage Company has just completed an acclaimed season in the West End.
What has prompted him to speak out is a threat to government funding for the training of the next generation of actors and dancers. British theatre, he believes, is one of the glories of the world and a major earner for the country. He says we need to ensure that continues... Keep reading on The Telegraph