Abstract
Theatre in London's East End is in disarray. As of June I990, two of the area's four theatres have stopped producing work-one, the Half Moon, has shut permanently-and at another, the Albany Empire's, artistic progress is at a standstill. Any renaissance which Douglas Anderson may have detected on his recent visit to the East End has evaporated. Directly to blame for the growing crisis in East End theatre is the Thatcher government's arts funding policy, which threatens the very existence of these-and indeed all-noncommercial theatres in Britain. In Thatcher's Britain Socialism is dead. This government is rejecting its control over utilities and services, embracing instead the deciding power of market forces. For the arts the government advocates an American model in which arts organizations mostly support themselves through monies generated at the box office; tours and subscription seasons; bar, restaurant, and T-shirt sales; and private monies-corporate sponsorship and charitable donations. The government has cut the amount of available arts funding, hoping to force arts organizations away from external support and toward self-sufficiency. . ut it s ems unlikely tha th lessons of the East End can e a sorbed system which is content to be the indentured f ol of free enter-
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
