On the Guardian theatre blog today, Lynn Gardner revisits the perennial topic of theatre and criticism. Her post’s title sums it up: theatre and critics need each other. Her post was inspired by the recent initiative by National Theatre Wales to nurture new critical voices.
I think this line in particular really resonates: “[I]t remains crucial for a developing theatre culture that there is coverage of all types of theatre in all parts…”
And I would add that a diverse and healthy theatre culture needs not only coverage and coverage of all types of theatre, but also diverse critical voices willing to experience a range of work, from the most tried and true plays on Broadway to the unknown, sometimes idiosyncratic plays of offoffBroadway and beyond.
(P.S. I loathe the word frenemy. I’d like to see it on Lake Superior State University’s list of banished words this year!!!)
DRAMA, DAILY 