Wanted: Beautiful Lady Dancers! (The Stage)

Member Name: pjs21

Product:	The Stage
Date:	09/12/00 (148 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well established, can be interesting

Disadvantages: Losing touch with it's intended audience

The Stage newspaper has been around now for over 100 years - I myself have only been buying it for the last ten.

I used to love the stage, and it was always considered to be the one thing any budding artiste should buy on a regular basis.

Whether you're an actor, a singer, a musician, a topless dancer, a look-a-likee, there was always something of interest.

Now it's one of those papers that I buy if I happen to think about it - which isn't very often.

The job section, which used to be packed of auditions for actors, is now more or less dedicated to backstage/front of house staff for theatres, 6' tall muscular male dancers, or pole/lap dancers (for which I fit into neither category!)

For example, a recent issue containing 9 full pages of job adverts contained only 5 for actors compared to 12 for topless dancers/lapdancers etc and many for telesales work. I know this may sound bitter, and maybe it is. But a paper that has a reputation for helping actors find work - this is quite poor. There must be almost 200 ads, yet only 5 are for actors. That is not good.

The other thing to bare in mind if you are looking to audition is that the adverts in the stage are nearly always for "Open Auditions" - this is where you queue up and get a number and then wait your turn. I did that for Beauty and the Beast when it first came to London - I was number 874 - I had quite a long wait!

I don't really know anyone who now buys this paper on a regular basis, it's completely
ad hoc depending on whether you're bored or if you know someone in a show somewhere that's been reviewed. And I don't know of one person who has replied to any of the audition calls.

As far as being actor is concerned, this paper is very useful for finding out what's going on in theatres around the country, what's coming up, what's happening between various unions, and also t
he possibilty that you may see someone you know.

We all secretly crave to get into the Show-People section. (If you had a copy on the 30th November you may have seen me!).

For anyone who's not in the profession but is keen on theatre - it is full of reviews of shows around the country - musicals, dramas, dance, operas, pantos (seasonal obviously), and this is good way way to find out a little bit about something you may want to see. Never be put off by a bad review though - always make up your own mind.

It also contains a full listing of Regional Theatres and London Theatres, Fringe Theatres and Clubs at the back telling what is currently playing where.

The classified section is also quite useful at times - if you need rehearsal space, trying to find a song-writer, choreographer, script-writer, or even if you're one of the above and are looking for work, this is a good place to look.

It is a very useful newspaper, and although most of it is aimed at people within the industry, it can make a really interesting read for anyone.

My only complaint is that it has never really changed with the times - as theatre has become braver and braver and moved forward to represent the modern time, this paper still looks like it was printed in 1880.

I don't want to put it down completely as it is a useful paper and is well written. If you are interested in theatre or TV then this a good thing to buy. It is out every Thursday and currently costs 90p. I have only seen it in WHSmiths, but I used to order a copy every week from my local newsagents. It's not something that is generally stocked. If you live near a theatre, you may find it easier to get your hands on - just get there before the theatre staff as they tend to nick every copy in the hope of finding a new job somewhere!

If you are wanting something to use for private auditions (those where you are given an appointment) you should
use PCR*, it doesn't cost much to subscribe to and can be much more useful as a tool for those wanting to get into something.

* I don't know how you get PCR as I steal it from a friend when they've finished, but I will get the details and post them as soon as I can.

Summary: