Phones in theatres After Denise Gough complained about an audience member filming her performance, Kate Maltby asks what can be done?

Opinion, page 10

JOHAN PERSSON JOHAN PERSSON

‘Fresh and

vibrant revival’

Oliver! at Chichester Festival Theatre Review, page 16

Fringe losses Natasha Tripney talks to theatremakers exploring different aspects of death and grief at Edinburgh Fringe

Focus, pages 26-27

‘Cabaret has always been a place for political performance’ Janie Dee Interview, page 30

RICHARD LAKOS

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RSC overhauls newwriting strategy following review

Want to be the next Fleabag? Edinburgh Fringe explained

Everything you wanted to know about the festival but were too afraid to ask... including how venue deals work, why accommodation is so expensive and how to publicise your show p12-15

S H U T T E R STO C K

MATTHEW HEMLEY

Royal Shakespeare Company bosses have carried out a consultation period impacting its New Works department, as the organisation becomes the latest to implement changes affecting its relationship with writers.

It follows a revamp at the Royal Court in London, where – under the new artistic director David Byrne – redundancies were reportedly carried out in its literary department.

In 2022, Hampstead Theatre underwent a restructuring following its 100% Arts Council England cut, which resulted in its literary director being made redundant.

Now, The Stage understands there have been revisions to the RSC’s New Works department, which are believed to include one post being made redundant alongside changes to some reporting lines. It follows the appointment of artistic directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans earlier this year.

The RSC confirmed there had been a period of “reflection and consultation”

impacting its New Works department, which was responsible for the hit show My Neighbour Totoro.

But it also said that, as part of the changes, it would be implementing a new ‘writer-in-residence’ role, which would be filled by a playwright who will lead the organisation’s “approach to new work”.

In an initial statement to The Stage, a spokesperson for the RSC said: “New writing continues to be of paramount importance to the RSC and we will be sharing future updates in the coming weeks. There is new leadership at the RSC, forging a new chapter for the company. This involves looking at the organisation’s relationships with artists, and how we make new work.

“We’re about to announce the new post of writer-in-residence. This will be a playwright who will lead our approach to new work, sitting at the centre of theatremaking in the new RSC, enabling peer-to-peer conversations between writers and facilitating

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Zero-hours ban ‘could deplete talent pool’ – industry leaders

GEORGIA LUCKHURST

Theatres and creatives have warned the government that a bid to ban zero-hours contracts could lead to rising costs in the sector and a “depletion of the talent pool”, by restricting the use of flexible agreements for front-of-house and box-office workers.

They argue that the current arrangement provides flexibility to theatremakers, who may be doing box-office jobs and front-ofhouse roles to support their creative work.

Chris Stafford, chief executive of Curve in Leicester, said that while the industry was waiting to hear the detail of Labour’s Employment Rights Bill, it was nonetheless a “misconception to assume zero-hour contracts only benefit the employer”, as suggested by the government.

Stafford said: “Many zero-hour workers welcome the flexibility of this arrangement and replacing it with an employment contract will potentially lead to fewer individuals choosing to be engaged, a depletion

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AUGUST .

AUGUST .

MARC BRENNER

Nationwide reviews Including As You Like It at the RSC’s new open-air space Pages 16-19

Actors Centre up for sale Seven Dials Playhouse, which used to be home to the performers’ hub, is on the market Page 2

Lyn Gardner Arts regulatory body is step in the right direction but has its work cut out Page 7

Want a new job? Vacancies in Manchester, Bristol, London and Oman Pages 24-25