An indictment of the arrival of AI onstage, thoughts on the closing of Cats: the Jellicle Ball, and reviews of Sweeney Todd, Hit Machine, and more
OHMYGOD HEY!
Welcome back to my weekly collation of the various reviews, opinion pieces and theatre news updates I’ve shared across multiple social media platforms.
The headline news in my life this week while I’ve been bouncing between Birmingham and London for opening nights has been the sudden focus on artificial intelligence in the theatre industry, observed particularly via a handful of examples of generative AI in prop and video design for recent productions. With another professional production launching shameless, fully AI generated artwork earlier today, it’s clear that the industry has become all too comfortable with this environmentally detrimental, politically dangerous and generally frivolous use of new tech, and all in the name of circumventing what makes the industry as special and ongoingly valuable as it is – the artistry of real people.
Meanwhile, Broadway’s pundits have been sent into a veritable feline frenzy by the news that Cats: The Jellicle Ball would be closing only a few months after it opened at the Broadhurst Theatre, having sustained larely decent grosses and audience capacities in spite of losing out on the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. This lightning rod moment for the community has inspired discourse on multiple frontiers, including the increasingly perilous economic landscape in midtown Manhattan, the notion of revivals vs original work, and the commercial viability of telling stories onstage that depict the lives and culture of marginalised individuals.
What brings these two issues from either side of the Atlantic into vital conversation is the notion of humanity and authenticity at the heart of theatrical storytelling. While massive commercial success on stage is nothing to be ashamed of, and often a means for producers to uplift and sustain other projects, it’s allure ought not to eclipse the reward of telling a diverse range of stories about community’s that may not resemble our own, or indeed the majority of audiences. While, AI-driven or otherwise, many strive to minimise the personnel on their projects, reducing company and orchestra sizes in addition to those roles harder to scrutinise offstage, I applaud the theatremakers who cherish the people with whom they work, and respect enough not to try and render them obsolete with a few clicks of an all too consequential button.
Prefer to read on email? Subscribe to free weekly Substack newsletter
Why are these musicals using AI?! The growing problem with artificial intelligence on and offstage…
With increasing frequency, theatregoers in the UK have been observing a rise in the number of theatrical productions utilising AI.
This comes amidst a global increase in the prevalence of artificial intelligence, in spite of its environmental and social impact.
Today, I’m sharing my unfiltered thoughts about the arrival of AI in the theatre industry, both onstage via generative AI imagery, as well as offstage in promotional materials and possibly even in the writing process…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Why is CATS: the Jellicle Ball closing?! What went wrong for the Broadway musical revival…
It was announced that Cats: The Jellicle Ball, the groundbreaking, award-winning revival of the iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, would close early on Broadway.
The production, playing until early August at the Broadhurst Theatre, was the best reviewed musical of the Broadway season and won multiple Tony Awards for its creative team, though notably not for Best Revival of a Musical.
That, however, is not the only factor that played a role in the show’s early demise – check out my thoughts on what went wrong with the Jellicle Ball on Broadway…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
RIDE THE CYCLONE London cast Q&A! Post show discussion at Southwark Playhouse Elephant
I recently hosted a post show Q&A with the company of Ride The Cyclone after their performance at Southwark Playhouse Elephant.
The cult hit musical received its UK premiere at the venue last year and has returned amidst huge popular demand for another engagement, with some additional cast members.
Check out what they had to say about their discovery of the show, their favourite numbers to be a part of, and what it’s been like performing in a heatwave.
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
This Week’s Reviews
Sweeney Todd at Birmingham Rep, Birmingham
★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
The Jonathan Larson Project at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London
★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Ride The Cyclone at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, London
★★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Hit Machine at Soho Theatre, London
★★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Hole! at Soho Theatre, London
★★★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
We went to opening nights in London & Manchester! Theatre vlog ft Jesus Christ Superstar, Fun Home
Check out another week in our life of seeing theatre in the UK!
This week we travelled between London and Manchester to see opening night performances of multiple musicals, including Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium, and Fun Home at the Royal Exchange.
Join us vicariously in this brand new vlog to find out what a week in our lives looks like!
What’s coming up this week?
I’ll be playing catch up this week as I see Midnight at the Never Get, The Oresteia and Trainspotting the Musical a little later than the rest of the West End’s critics.
The weekend to come promises to be an eventful one, though I won’t be at the theatre – as I will instead by covering this year’s West End Flea Market, and even hawking some of my own collection of programmes, tote bags and playbills. Then, on Sunday, I will be running through the streets of London, toga-clad, in support of Disney’s Hercules the Musical and Make a Wish UK, for whom I have just started fundraising.
Until next week, I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey… week! – Mickey-Jo
Prefer to read on email? Subscribe to free weekly Substack newsletter
Leave a Reply