Ian Bunn | Political & Popular Culture Arts

Peter Reginald Frederick Hall the 80 year old UK theatre director and founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company has decried again the state of public funding and subsidies to arts in the UK. In a recent interview with Horatia Harrod, Hall stated “I don’t think we quite know who we are. But as far as the arts are concerned, there’ll always be trouble, because that’s what the art is there for. It’s to ask big questions, and suggest big answers. I’ve lost faith in various projects, various political suggestions, but I’ve never lost faith in that”. Hall at the age of 29 founded the Royal Shakespeare Company serving as the artistic director, and has been a passionate defender of the public subsidies to the arts in the UK for over 50 years.

Inspired by Horatia Harrod http://ow.ly/5ZyXR image source trialx http://ow.ly/5ZyXg

Catherine Élise “Cate” Blanchett the 42 year old Australian actress, theatre director and ambassador for the Australian Conservation Foundation, has come under attack in a scare campaign from conservatives and climate change skeptics over her support of the proposed Australian Carbon Tax ‘Just Say Yes’ campaign. Blanchett appears in advertising for the campaign funded by a coalition of unions and green groups, and has been accused by conservative politicians of being a well paid actor engaging in gestures which will have no effect, failing to understand the plight of the poor who can’t afford their power bill. Blanchett responded to the criticisms with “I’m absolutely committed to supporting the action on climate change … it’s one of the greatest challenges we’re facing. It’s about the future generations, our children”.

Inspired by Anna Rose ow.ly/5hdt7 image source Thore Siebrands ow.ly/5hduR

Patrice Chéreau the 66 year old French theatre director who is currently in London rehearsing his first play in the UK has provided a comparative perspective on French and English productions in an interview with Stephen Moss of the Guardian. Chéreau stated in his interview that he enjoyed English actors for their very disciplined and open work ethic, whereas in France a lot of time is spent waiting for the arrival of inspiration. He argues that France is the country of directors, whereas England is the country of writers. Chéreau is renowned for upsetting theatre traditionalists with his personal tinkering of operatic productions, with audiences initially disliking his work, for which he did not seem to mind as in his words “it’s OK to be hated.”

Inspired by Stephen Moss ow.ly/4KASu image source Nicolas Genin ow.ly/4KAOn