The secrets of the rehearsal process are to be revealed to theatre audiences after a director decided to raise money to make up for lost grant cash.
Max Stafford-Clark said that all three weeks of rehearsals for the revival of Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker would be open to the public after his company, Out of Joint, had its Arts Council grant cut by £100,000 to £424,000.
Tickets will cost £6 a session and £12 for three.
Stafford-Clark, 71, a former artistic director of the Royal Court, said the Arts Council had effectively forced him to charge for rehearsals — and that he hadn’t even consulted his cast.
“I’m very angry. The Arts Council made a number of traumatic cuts. People said they had a very difficult job to do but I think they did a very dishonest job. It was extraordinarily shabby,” he said.
However, he hoped theatre lovers would learn from the experience. “It’s a secret process and I think that will be of value to students and aficionados. It will be fun.”
Out of Joint has raised £9,000 from a friends scheme and aims to make £2,000 from rehearsals before a tour that includes the Watford Palace Theatre in November and the new St James Theatre from January 30 until March 9.
Rehearsals will take place in Finsbury Park from July 31 until August 19.
Bookings on 020 7609 0207 or panda@outofjoint.co.uk
