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Why I will review Tom Hiddleston’s Hamlet

25/08/2017

Matt Trueman wrote a piece for The Stage this week – 'What's the point of reviewing Hiddleston's Hamlet?' based on the fact that the Kenneth Branagh directed production is essentially an exclusive gig and a fundraiser.

I'll gloss over him referring to Tom Hiddleston as 'Hollywood's very own' – my view on this is reflected by some of the comments on his piece – and move on to why I will be reviewing HiddleHam. (Yes, I am extremely lucky to have a ticket, thanks to @polyg getting picked in the second round of the ballot).

I enjoy writing about theatre, it's nice to revisit the experience of seeing a particular play. It gives me time to properly cogitate on what I've seen and I sometimes discover something new I hadn't considered while watching. It's also nice to have a record of the experience and I do go back and re-read some reviews – Hamlets are always fun to revisit and compare.

Then there are the conversations I strike up with people who comment on what I've written, discussions I wouldn't otherwise have if I hadn't written a review.

And in the case of HiddleHam, it is an exclusive event, I know I've been lucky and there are at least two people out there who will appreciate reading what I have to say about it, as I would appreciate reading about it had I not got a ticket.

Is it the difference between being a paid critic and someone who is first and foremost an avid theatre fan?

Posted in Theatre thoughts

6 responses to “Why I will review Tom Hiddleston’s Hamlet”

Carolyn

26/08/2017

That article read in some ways to me as though the critic was saying he wouldn’t review Hiddleston Hamlet because he objected to not being able to get a free ticket to it to me… Which to be honest made me think – should theatres provide free tickets to critics? It is their job I guess and productions want/need the reviews, but I am 100% certain I would have different views on any theatre production if I were watching it for free than I do when I am spending my hard earned cash on a ticket… Most people in the lowliest jobs have to pay for all manner of things that are necessary to/for their work, after all… Perhaps if theatres provided a few less free tickets (both to critics and those in all areas of the business) theatre my be able to become a more affordable pastime for the general public? I fancy this may do more to widen theatre audiences and get new people into theatres than any of the initiatives theatres put on that often just benefit the few?
Glad you’ll be sharing your thoughts on Hiddle-Hamlet. I was not lucky in the ballot so I’ll be curious to hear about it! Have you watched any other theatre at RADA?

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Rev Stan

27/08/2017

There was a bit of that tone wasn’t there. I do benefit from free tickets myself for reviews – mainly fringe stuff so I’d be a hypocrite if I said get rid of them, especially as I’d love to get invites to the bigger theatre press nights. I do think the professional critics have a role but they don’t wield the same influence they used to – social media and the internet has seen to that. There’s a blog post I want to write about that at some point.
Where perhaps there could be a change is in the plus ones critics often get. I don’t get to take my friends or family to work with me (it would be monumentally dull for them but you know what I mean).
However, the number of extra tickets this would release I don’t think would be significant enough to impact on the overall cost of tickets.
PS Yes I have seen a couple of things at RADA.

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Neil Durham

29/08/2017

I’m looking forward to reading your review, not least because I was unlucky in the ballot – and so was my hubby. I’m a fan of both Hiddleston and Branagh and reading the reviews is, for me, the next best thing to not being there. Perhaps the production will transfer?

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Jill

30/08/2017

I’ll be back to read your review. Thanks!

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Carolyn

05/09/2017

I’d be really interested to hear your thoughts on the role of critics. Personally, I try not to read reviews for a production I know I am going to see until after I have seen it. But I’ll read reviews afterwards and I will read reviews for things I know I can’t see but am curious about.
That said, even if you don’t read reviews, you can get a sense about things. I adored Girl from the North Country and booked to see it as I liked Conor McPherson’s Paula on the telly (despite detesting Bob Dylan’s voice – sorry Bob!) I hadn’t read any reviews of the play before watching, yet I still had managed to know that it had been well received and as such I was extra-hopeful about the play (a thing which can work for or against it!) So you can still get a sense of what reviews are saying without reading them.
I wonder how much good reviews do affect ticket sales (or sometimes, ticket prices?) I personally don’t always read reviews with the thought that I’d agree with a critic in any case for we all have our different tastes and thoughts ideas and feelings about many things.

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Richard Riordan

05/09/2017

Most of the reviews have focused on Hiddleston’s performance. Obviously, apart from the Bard, he is the main attraction and due space should be devoted to him. However, RADA is about developing the art form and it would be good to read your review of the performances of the other cast members, the setting and how the direction works in this intimate theatre space. I’m looking forward to it.

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