Is asking members of the public to pay for the privilege of appearing on stage as extras a clever fundraising move or a dangerous precedent, asks Michael Billington.
n 16 January, a leading London QC will appear on the stage of the Music Box theatre on Broadway as an extra in Mike Bartlett’s King Charles III. He paid £10,500 for the privilege in a fund-raising auction held at the show’s producing theatre, the Almeida, last summer. Although no one has any animus against the individual concerned, his presence in the show has caused a bit of a storm. The cast held an Equity meeting to debate the situation and, by a vote of 11 to six, agreed to sanction his appearance.
Is it fitting that anyone should be able to buy the right to perform? Pragmatists will say “Why not?” The Almeida suffered a substantial cut to its Arts Council grant a few years back. And, while it needs to take £1.4m annually at the box office, it also has to raise another £1.2m from sponsorship. In tough times, all extra revenue is vital... Keep reading on The Guardian
n 16 January, a leading London QC will appear on the stage of the Music Box theatre on Broadway as an extra in Mike Bartlett’s King Charles III. He paid £10,500 for the privilege in a fund-raising auction held at the show’s producing theatre, the Almeida, last summer. Although no one has any animus against the individual concerned, his presence in the show has caused a bit of a storm. The cast held an Equity meeting to debate the situation and, by a vote of 11 to six, agreed to sanction his appearance.
Is it fitting that anyone should be able to buy the right to perform? Pragmatists will say “Why not?” The Almeida suffered a substantial cut to its Arts Council grant a few years back. And, while it needs to take £1.4m annually at the box office, it also has to raise another £1.2m from sponsorship. In tough times, all extra revenue is vital... Keep reading on The Guardian