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Home » Blogs » the linster's blog » The women who rule the British stage

The women who rule the British stage

by
the linster

As usual, I am behind on Google Reader, so I just found Women & Hollywood’s report on the 20 most powerful women in British theatre. The list, published by Harper’s Bazaar and Tiffany’s, doesn’t rank the women, but provides award titles that fitly describe why their stage work deserves a place on the list.

Since only one woman of color graces the list, she gets first place on my list. Bola Agbaje, playwright, earns the moniker, The New Voice, thanks to the amazing success of her very first play, Gone Too Far!

Bola Agbaje

The lone American on the list, with good reason, is Gillian Anderson as The Honorary Brit. I have no idea what that is on her head, but if you scroll down a bit, you won’t care.

Gillian Anderson

The usual suspects appear: Dame Judi Dench is The Queen Bee.

Dame Judi Dench

Fiona Shaw, who directs theatre as well as acts, is The Double Threat.

Fiona Shaw

Dame Helen Mirren is The Eternal Siren. Oh yes, she certainly is.

Dame Helen Mirren

Rachel Weisz makes a surprise appearance as The Star Turn. Weisz is scheduled to play Blanche DuBois, but actually hasn’t been on stage since 2001. No worries – that won’t stop me from posting a picture.

Rachel Weisz

Some of British theatre’s finest behind-the-scenes professionals – with no pictures to be found – like set and costume designer Miriam Buether (The Visionary) and lighting designer Paule Constable (The Illuminator) are welcome inclusions on the list.

In fact, one of the most innovative women working in theatre today is choreographer and associate director of Punchdrunk, Maxine Doyle. Her designation, The Mover, is sort of a double entendre since Punchdrunk is the home of “promenade theatre,” where the audience wanders through the performance to watch.

As Lyn Garner of guardian.co.uk points out, however, the only women on the list besides the “big names” with any “real power to make things happen” are producers Sonia Friedman (The Super-Producer) and Sally Greene (The Powerhouse).

Sonia Friedman and Sally Greene

Most of the women, because of the nature of their profession, are considered only as good as their last show. Which is pretty much the plight of women in the U.S. theater, too.

You’ll find the entire list here. What do you think? Are these the most powerful women in British theatre? Who would be on your list of the top U.S. women stage pros?

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    • Submitted by
    the linster
    on March 13, 2009 - 11:07am.
    TAGS :: 
    eel_lee's picture

    I'm surprised

    Submitted by
    eel_lee (5 posts)
    on March 13, 2009 - 1:14pm.
    that Jude Kelly doesn't make the list
    eve_jig_it's picture

    Lol

    Submitted by
    eve_jig_it (581 posts)
    on March 13, 2009 - 1:39pm.

    yeah if you scroll down Gillian Anderson's pic, you won't care whats on her head, lmao.  But despite whats happening in the head and bust area, Gillian's face is looking lovely in that pic! 

     

     

    .."The joy of success is in the struggle"..

    Kels.'s picture

    Oh, Gillian Anderson.

    Submitted by
    Kels. (66 posts)
    on March 13, 2009 - 9:30pm.
    Oh, Gillian Anderson. *Swoon.*
    Nyssa's picture

    ditto

    Submitted by
    Nyssa (6662 posts)
    on March 14, 2009 - 8:28am.

    oh yes. The look on her face was priceless.

     

    ~~

    Everywhere I go the cars all follow me, I'm the girl with magnetic tights.

    Voulez-vous travailler avec moi ce soir?

    Rosie's picture

    When?

    Submitted by
    Rosie (15 posts)
    on March 15, 2009 - 11:16pm.
    Ok, I've always had a soft spot for Gillian Anderson, but when did she get so incredibly hot? I guess FBI agents just don't get to wear their shirts cut like that. :-)
    maxime68's picture

    Vanessa Redgrave

    Submitted by
    maxime68 (59 posts)
    on March 14, 2009 - 7:40am.

    Vanessa Redgrave definitely belongs on this list. I know, she's often forgotten on purpose because of her political activities, but she is one amazing actress. Saw her once live on stage in London, it was a memorable event, branded into memory.

     

    http://www.myspace.com/417200048
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    kallisti's picture

    *gush*

    Submitted by
    kallisti (44 posts)
    on March 14, 2009 - 12:09pm.
    I'm so hopelessly in love with Vanessa Redgrave. She's a stupendously wonderful actress.
    potto's picture

    songbird

    Submitted by
    potto (2 posts)
    on March 14, 2009 - 8:43am.
    The song bird on the list is Summer Strallen, whilst she has a beautiful voice I think the moniker of 'song bird' of the British stage belongs to Laura Michelle Kelly
    cappuccinogirlie's picture

    real actresses don't make films.

    Submitted by
    cappuccinogirlie (42 posts)
    on March 14, 2009 - 9:47am.
    It's rather strange to see Gillian Anderson on that list, considering how poorly her forays into West End theatre have been received by the critics. Helen Mirren hasn't done a play in Britain since Mourning Becomes Electra in, I want to say, 2002. That's not so say she isn't a great actress, but surely someone like Maggie Smith would have been more apropriate... Where on earth are Kelly Reilly and Eve Best, who will almost inevitably be the actresses to take on the roles which made Judi Dench and co. the living legends they are today?  And the omission of Prunella Scales from that list, who has done so very much campaigning for the preservation of small theatres around the country and remains one of our finest living actresses today, is near criminal.
    Catelynn's picture

    Since no one else is doing this...

    Submitted by
    Catelynn (61 posts)
    on March 14, 2009 - 7:22pm.

    It seems as though no one has started a list of Americans.  I have a couple.

    Perhaps our "Song Bird" could be Karen Olivio - she had an excellent run with In the Heights and I've been hearing some pretty great things about her Anita in West Side Story.

    I'm sure we'd see Patty LuPone on the list.  

    Hmmm.... I guess this is actually a pretty difficult list to comprise.  How sad. 

    notshane's picture

    Deborah Warner

    Submitted by
    notshane (331 posts)
    on March 14, 2009 - 9:30pm.

    Surprised this stellar theatre director hasn't been included. Perhaps she's too much of a rebel. She tends to push the envelop in whatever she does. Here's an indepth interview with her at BBC:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/johntusainterview/warner_transcript.shtml

    She also happens to be a lesbian, and an ex of Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter), who is now with Saffron Burrows.

    Even more interesting, she's been in a relationship with Jeannette Winterson (Oranges are not the only friut) for the last 5 years or so...:)  I think it started when she collaborated with her in bringing Winterson's  Powerbook to the stage.

     

    Keeva99's picture

    Bola Agbaje

    Submitted by
    Keeva99 (254 posts)
    on March 16, 2009 - 11:04am.

    Arrrrr...im sure she's a really awesome playwright & all...but seriously, someone needs to change her vocation to actress...cause holy jeebus she's gorgeous!! (That said, im not moving to the UK anytime soon, so stage actress is out...cause i want her on my TV screen!! ...lol)

     

    "I know you're lonely. I think you need someone to want you. Well, I do want you. So be brave, and want me back."

     

     


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