2013: The facts and figures

As 2013 moves towards its conclusion, Civilian Theatre has delved into the back of the cupboard for some last little snippets for the year. There was no intention to see quite so many plays last year – and certainly not to end up writing up quite so many – it just ended up working out that way. It is only when there is time to sit back and reflect does one begin to find the surprising nature of what does/doesn’t make a post popular, and the fact that people may come from all over the world to read them. It was surprising to discover that Shakespeare made up only 17% of the plays that I saw this year – and only just holds off musicals (although Kiss Me, Kate is an adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew so it is 50:50). I also had to check that over a 1/3 of plays were new works, as these always seem as if they pass Civilian Theatre by. Less surprising but slightly depressing is that only six could be claimed to be pretty much entirely original texts.

47: Plays Seen      

38: Plays Reviewed

This includes:

8 Shakespeare Plays (17%)

7 Musicals (15%) + 1 Opera

17 were new works (36%), of which 6 were not based in existing literature or historical events (13%)

4 were in a foreign language (8%)

 

Most popular posts of 2013

1. Peter and Alice

Judy Dench, arguably one of the greatest female actors Britain has produced, and Ben Wishaw, spellbinding in the BBC’s Richard II, joining forces to take on the real-life counterparts of two of literature’s most enduring and imaginative childhood creations. It should have been perfect. It wasn’t.

2. Sweeny Todd / WAG: The Musical

Proving once again that bad publicity is better than no publicity at all, and Civilian Theatre’s first experience of having a review filleted for *ahem* unrepresentative quotes. WAG: The Musical is the unwanted gift that keeps on giving.

3. Mojo

Ben Wishaw (again), Rupert Grint, Colin Morgan, That guy off Downton Abbey, Daniel Mays (something for the theatre fans). I cannot guess why this made it into the top 3. I did also learn not to underestimate the twitter power of Colin Morgan fans.

 

Top 10 Countries by Visitors (thanks guys!)

1. United Kingdom
2. United States
3. Australia
4. Canada
5. France
6. Germany
7. Russian Federation
8. Belgium
9. Republic of Korea
10. Ireland

• Civilian Theatre was visited by people from 87 countries in 2013.  This represents 45% of all countries recognised by the United Nations.
• However 20 countries only visited a single time. This includes China, which has an estimated population of 1.35 billion. So clearly room for improvement there.
• Other countries with just a single visit include the Democratic Republic of Congo,  Kazakhstan and Guatemala,

The worldwide reach of Civilian Theatre

The 2013 playlist

1. The El Train – Hoxton Hall, December
2. The Shape of Things – Arcola Theatre, December
3. Henry V – Noel Coward Theatre, November
4. The Scottsboro Boys – Young Vic, November
5. Passing By – Tristan Bates Theatre, November
6. Mojo – Harold Pinter Theatre, October
7. The Events – Maria Room @ Young Vic, October
8. Hamlet de los Andes – The Barbican Pit, October
9. The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui – Duchess Theatre, September
10. Edward II – National Theatre, September
11. Fleabag – DryWrite @ Soho Theatre, September
12. The Secret Agent – Theatre O @ the Young Vic, September
13. All’s Well That Ends Well – Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford, August
14. The Same Deep Water As Me – Donmar Warehouse, August
15. Jekyll & Hyde – Red Shift & Flipping the Bird @ Maltings Art Centre, July
16. Where the White Stops – ANTLER @ Battersea Arts Centre, July
17. Circle Mirror Transformation – Royal Court @ Rose Lipman Community Centre, July
18. Death in Venice – English National Opera @ Coliseum, June
19. Mission Drift – The Shed @ National Theatre, June
20. The Cripple of Inishmaan – Noel Coward Theatre, June
21. Trash Cuisine – Belarus Free Theatre @ Young Vic, June
22. Merrily We Roll Along – Harold Pinter Theatre, May
23. Public Enemy – Young Vic Theatre, May
24. Orpheus – Little Bulb Theatre @ Battersea Arts Centre, May
25. Fraulein Julie – Barbican, April
26. Macbeth – Trafalgar Studios, April
27. Ubu Roi – Cheek by Jowl @ the Barbican, April
28. Gibraltar – Arcola Theatre, March
29. This House – National Theatre, March
30. Peter and Alice – Noel Coward Theatre, March
31. Watt – Gate Theatre Dublin @ the Barbican, March
32. Mydidae – Trafalgar Studios, March
33. In The Beginning Was The End – dreamthinkspeak @ National Theatre, February
34. Rhinoceros – Théâtre de la Ville–Paris @ the Barbican, February
35. Old Times – Harold Pinter Theatre, January
36. Julius Caesar – Donmar Warehouse, January
37. The human being’s guide to not being a dick about religion – Matt Thomas at the Canal Cafe Theatre, January
38. Kiss Me, Kate – The Old Vic, January

Not reviewed (at least not yet)

1. American Psycho – Almeida Theatre
2. Richard II – Barbican
3. Coriolanus – Donmar Warehouse
4. Othello – Olivier @ National Theatre
5. Candide – The Swan @ Royal Shakespeare Company
6. Metamorphosis – Lyric Hammersmith
7. Matilda: The Musical – Cambridge Theatre
8. The Hot House – Trafalgar Studios
9. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers – Wimbledon Theatre