2 hours ago
1
Theatre critics in Scotland have written to the Royal Lyceum theatre in Edinburgh condemning a “divisive” and “London-centric” decision to not invite reviews from UK national publications for its new musical version of One Day.
The show, based on the 2009 novel by David Nicholls, held a press night on Wednesday but only critics writing for Scottish publications were invited to review it. A separate press night for other critics is planned for a later date, when the show opens in London.
In a letter sent on Friday for the attention of the Lyceum’s board of directors, 15 theatre journalists working in Scotland expressed their concern that the invitation to review the show in Edinburgh “was not extended to all of us”. They labelled it a “divisive move” that raised “uncomfortable questions”. A two-tier invitation “suggests not only that critics in Scotland are less important than critics in London, but also that audiences in Edinburgh are less important than audiences in London,” they write. “Clearly, this is not the case.”
One Day: The Musical is co-produced by the Lyceum and Melting Pot, an independent theatre and film production company. When Melting Pot was contacted last week for an explanation as to why the Guardian was not being invited to review in Edinburgh, it replied: “The presentation here, in Edinburgh, will be followed by a West End run. We appreciate there are critics for the UK nationals across the country – we’re building a new piece of event theatre here and it takes time. Opening at the Lyceum has been fantastic and we’re so looking forward to another moment when the show transfers to the West End.”
The 15 critics state in their letter that the decision to allow some but not all critics to review creates the impression that One Day “is not a finished production but a preview for dates to come. Despite this, Edinburgh theatregoers must pay up to £55 to see it.”
They note that “the Lyceum Company is publicly supported and funded in Scotland to create theatre in Scotland … its work should always be vigorously reviewed and debated as part of Scottish public life. As critics, we all recognise the vital and enriching role that co-productions now play in Scotland’s theatre life, and warmly welcome them. However, when co-production leads to the exclusion of leading Scottish-based critical voices from that public debate, we believe that a line must be drawn; and we trust that the London-centric attitudes reflected in this week’s decision will play no part in the future thinking and planning of Scotland’s leading producing theatres.”
The letter was written by critics who were invited to review as well as those who were not. It was sent from Mary Brennan, Mark Brown, Anna Burnside, Neil Cooper, Dominic Corr, Thom Dibdin, the Guardian’s Mark Fisher, Joyce McMillan, Fergus Morgan, Natalie O’Donoghue, David Pollock, Arusa Qureshi, Allan Radcliffe, Hugh Simpson and Simon Thompson.
The Royal Lyceum theatre has been contacted for further comment.
English (US) ·