Editor John Roberts started The Public Reviews in 2006: the theatre review site ‘for you, by you’. Using a team of dedicated volunteer reviewers, John has built the site into a trusted and significant player in the reviewing-game - the growth of TPR in just four years is an admirable feat; one which has been achieved through hard-work, unwavering commitment and a love of theatre.
The site receives nearly half a million hits per month and is regularly invited to review all manners of theatre, both on and off-West End, with many of our reviews having been quoted on show posters and websites. We’ve also run interviews with a number of big-name actors/actresses, such as Rebecca Caine, and are always being contacted by theatre companies/individuals who contact our site looking for promotional interviews or articles. The name of The Public Reviews is a well-known one now and is gaining more and more recognition every day – so the news last week that TPR has not been given Press accreditation for this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival is astounding!
John Roberts wrote a blog post detailing his disappointment at the decision of the Ed Fringe Media Accreditation Team (MAT). I highly recommend you take a look at it - HERE – and if you wanted to leave a message of support for TPR, we would very much appreciate it. Theatre companies whom we have reviewed/interviewed have shown their support, as have a great number of TPR’s followers too.
Personally, I feel it is extremely short-sighted of MAT to not offer TPR accreditation. We were also denied it in 2010 and to this day, have still not received a clear answer as to just why that is. Taking into account everything I have mentioned already about TPR, what is it that makes it so ‘inappropriate’ to offer us accreditation?
For those who are not aware, I have been writing for The Public Reviews for six months now as one of the Features Writers, covering articles, reviews and interviews – so I know first-hand just how well thought-of the site is. John regularly forwards me e-mails he has received, asking for an interview, a feature article or a review of their show and, I personally, am constantly inundated with similar requests. People come to us because they accept and welcome us as a valued theatre site, which is why it saddens me that the MAT still does not: after all, isn’t Ed Fringe all about being accepting and welcoming? ‘Open to everyone’! Well, clearly, not everyone it seems…
I would urge you to read some of the messages of supports we have received on John’s blog, it is overwhelming how much positive feedback TPR has received regarding this issue. From people whose first stop for reviews is our site, to theatre companies who find our reviews so important to their work, everyone has echoed the incredulity at our situation and is behind us all the way, for which I would like to take the opportunity to now thank each and every one of them. It’s truly heart-warming to see and just reaffirms our determination to go to Ed Fringe, accreditation or not.
There was one comment there however I’d like to address here:
“I’m not saying the contribution of TPR isn’t valuable. Just that it seems inconsistent for a site – the very premise of which is the participation of amateur reviewers and “the public” – to get upset because it is being denied VIP treatment.”
First off – we are hardly asking for VIP treatment. A review site which is regularly invited to review all the major West End shows – as well as hundreds of Fringe theatre productions – alongside the other accredited critics should surely be extended the same courtesy, wouldn’t you agree? Why are we being singled out here – that is our issue…
It seems ‘Sans Taste’ believes it is our amateur reviewers which may be the reason. As part of the TPR writing team, it does rile me when our efforts are looked upon in a negative and dismissive manner and to be honest, I find it insulting. Every person who writes for TPR has had to submit examples of work (to a high enough standard) to be accepted. We all share a love of theatre; we know theatre and how to write about it and just because we are giving our time voluntarily, it doesn’t mean we are incapable of critical reviewing that stands up there with that of The Guardian, The Independent, The Stage and so forth.
Two of my biggest passions in life are theatre and writing, and being able to combine the two by writing for TPR is something I am very grateful and thankful for. I am not someone who cares to blow my own trumpet and you will never find anyone more critical of my work than me, but you know what; I am good at what I do – if I didn’t believe that then I’d have no business writing in the first place. People approach me to write for them, so I must be doing something right! J The point is; having voluntary reviewers write for TPR does not make it any less entitled to the same treatment other review publications receive.
So, with my self-righteous indignation dissipated, I’ll lay the subject to rest for now by asking once again for any help you can give in supporting The Public Reviews. We are here to stay and are only going to get bigger and better with every coming year, so come along for the journey and help us prove to Ed Fringe MAT that their decision was wrong!
On a happier note, I was at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane this Wednesday for the showcase of a new musical, PLAYBACK. Having already heard the premise and the demo recording, I must admit I was rather keen to take a look and see how it was coming along.
Written by Paul Rayfield, PLAYBACK is a satirical take on the ‘trailer trash’ daytime TV shows (think Jeremy Kyle and you’re on the right track!): a callous, self-obsessed presenter, outlandish paternity claims – with the obligatory lie detector tests – and plenty of behind-the-scenes dramas… Here, the audience of the musical are also the TV audience within the show, encouraged to participate in the action.
Being a showcase, we only get a taste of PLAYBACK -it’s very easy to see just how good it will be when staged as a full-on production however. The dialogue is witty and has a great back-and-forth rhythm between the characters, while the songs are fun, upbeat numbers to get the audience going. Designed to be catchy and memorable, they certainly achieve this (Café Caipirinha – Sarah Lark – Owain Williams).
Simon Greiff of SimG Productions directs (and also produced the recording through SimG Records) while MD AnneMarie Lewis Thomas of the MTA can take credit for the arrangements. A number of her MTA students did an excellent job providing backing vocals and the main cast (Jon-Paul Hevey; Graham Bickley; Anita Louise Combe; Peter Duncan; Sarah Lark and Owain Williams) were simply brilliant.
I thoroughly enjoyed PLAYBACK and am looking forward to seeing how it progresses from here. Being in the developmental stage, there are, of course, elements that still need work, but a showcase isn’t about presenting a complete, polished production: the purpose is to, well…showcase what you do have; offer an early glimpse of the production and give the audience a chance to see the backbone of the model. The PLAYBACK showcase introduced us to the characters, the songs, and the story and provided a clear view of what it’s all about. I can easily picture how it would come across on stage, backed up with the sets and costumes and technical additions…hopefully, something we’ll all be able to see for ourselves soon enough!
The team are working towards staging an Off-West End run of PLAYBACK in 2012 and are currently looking for backers to support them in this aim. After my sneak-peek at the musical, I for one wish them all nothing but good luck in this endeavour and am confident that they can make this happen. It’s a fun, good-feel musical that entertains enormously and I would love for others to experience it.
You can check out the website www.playbackthemusical.com for all PLAYBACK news and hey, if you were a lucky Euromillions winner this week, you could always throw a little in their direction? ;)
I couldn’t end things here without mentioning MADTrust’s presence at London’s Gay Pride on Saturday. Myself, along with Trust Director Steven Inman, my lovely friends Anna and Jo and a few new volunteers, joined in the parade to highlight the charity and its support, as well as raise some awareness for our September event, West End Bares. We handed out almost five thousand flyers that day and all involved had a fabulous time! We laughed, we made some nice new friends and some of us even got hugs (not me though. Sad face)! I can’t stress enough just what a lovely bunch of people the MADTrust team are – I am so proud to be a part of it as, along with the fantastic and inspiring work we do, I have found some life-long friends through it all. I absolutely love being involved with them – the more the better!
It’s been a week of ups and downs in theatre circle, but hard work, a great product – be it a new musical or a website – and a little bit of faith can go a long way: if you have all of these things, you’re bound to get to where you want to be. The bumps in the road just make it all the more worthwhile when you finally get there. J
Remember…create, love inspire!
Miss Julie
