Sam West and Sheffield Theatres.

00Soul · 15-02-2007, 22:50

I've just got in from The Crucible and I'm absolutely buzzing. Sam West has again done a fantastic job directing a superb cast in what must be one of the finest theatres in Britain.
Once again the 'decision makers' have dropped an almighty clanger by not allowing this man his vision of what theatre could and should be, and losing someone who will prove to be one of the greats.
What is the point of appointing someone with that talent and then telling him what he can and can't do? Yet again Sheffield will lose out in the long run due to people who don't know what they're doing.
Just remembered...I was buzzing.

pattricia · 15-02-2007, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00Soul

I've just got in from The Crucible and I'm absolutely buzzing. Sam West has again done a fantastic job directing a superb cast in what must be one of the finest theatres in Britain.
Once again the 'decision makers' have dropped an almighty clanger by not allowing this man his vision of what theatre could and should be, and losing someone who will prove to be one of the greats.
What is the point of appointing someone with that talent and then telling him what he can and can't do? Yet again Sheffield will lose out in the long run due to people who don't know what they're doing.
Just remembered...I was buzzing.

I thought he was leaving ? What play did you see ?

Vogue1984 · 15-02-2007, 22:59

Spot on there mate, I totally agree. With him going they are going to have to pull off some spectacular move to maintain standards. It is a ridiculous decision and I just know they are going to live to regret it. Before we know it they are going to be displaying a big

sign on their doors.

What did you go to see btw?

00Soul · 15-02-2007, 23:09

As You Like It

pattricia · 15-02-2007, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00Soul

As You Like It

And did you like it ?

dieselbabe · 15-02-2007, 23:13

I never hear of Sam West untill last year when i met him when he presented an award to my daughter at the city hall, He was realy nice and talk to my daughter about acting as she love to get into it. I only seen him since in a film, He was going on about a play then, i can not remeber what play he was on about so it could have been that one, but ive got him on film on the night of the awards we went to so may watch again to see if it was.

pattricia · 15-02-2007, 23:15

Just before Christmas I heard him in a play on Radio Sheffield and his mother & father were playing the other parts.

maggi · 15-02-2007, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vogue1984

Before we know it they are going to be displaying a big

sign on their doors.

Better than the www.sheffieldtheartres.co.uk (spot the spelling mistake!) they've got on their doors now. Please someone take a picture before the refurb

Totally agree about losing Sam, btw, see this thread. There's an interesting Q&A from Tuesday's Guardian, where he says that (what I presume was) the review from Sunday Times Culture 12/2/2006 was 'unjustifiably cruel'. I'd agree and also I'd like to thank Sam for staging the play, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

gneighbour · 16-02-2007, 00:46

Wow that certainly was a stinker of a review, and not at all justified IMO. I saw the Romans in Britain and while the play does have some stonking flaws with the historical context of the controversy it only added interest for me in a very striking production. It's all very well for jaded theatre critics but few of us had the chance to see the play first time round. I thought it was a bold move to stage that play and one that paid off.

I thought Sam West was leaving the Crucible because of the long closure for refurbishment and disagreement over his role during that time. Pity they couldn't have resolved that before his appointment. He's barely had time to get into his stride.

00Soul · 16-02-2007, 08:02

He had a tough act to follow Michael Grandage but the quality and diversity of stuff he's done has resulted in enhancing The Crucible's reputation even higher.
Re re-furb: It's definitely needed but why wouldn't they let him program the Lyceum until the re-opening of The Crucible? I'm still buzzin...and fuming at the same time.

feargal · 16-02-2007, 08:14

...Or give the bloke a sabbatical! He's done some great things at the Crucible, I'm

as to why he can't carry on once the refurb is finished. Surely the new season will need planning whilst it's shut? Fools, the lot of 'em.

00Soul · 16-02-2007, 08:27

From what I hear, they're laying off a few others as well, which is another reason Sam wanted to continue. He wanted to take 'The Company' in to other Sheff venues and on tour, thus keeping the name of The Crucuble in the public mind and keeping 'The Company' in work. It worked for The Old Vic (I think it was there), when that was closed for over two years. Not good enough for Sheffield though eh? 'Our' decision makers always know better...

maggi · 22-03-2007, 23:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00Soul

From what I hear, they're laying off a few others as well, which is another reason Sam wanted to continue. He wanted to take 'The Company' in to other Sheff venues and on tour, thus keeping the name of The Crucuble in the public mind and keeping 'The Company' in work. It worked for The Old Vic (I think it was there), when that was closed for over two years. Not good enough for Sheffield though eh? 'Our' decision makers always know better...

Here's an article from The Stage supporting your view (though it suggests it was the Young Vic

)

Damon · 23-03-2007, 08:47

The Crucible is an uncompromising theatre space that NEEDS charismatic and visionary artistic direction; when it has this, it doesn't just thrive - it excels.

However, when this kind of leadership isn't there - such as in the early nineties after the departure of the brilliant Clare Venables - it has always proved to be a near disaster for the place.

Sam West is exactly the kind of person who should be leading The Crucible, and whose opinions should be listened to.