In conjunction with the launch of our new microsite, www.whatsonstage.com/offwestend (many thanks to those who gave us feedback during the build stage), we thought we'd start a dedicated forum on the subject of all things Off-West End & Fringe...

To get things going, what do you make of the new site?

Sorry, don't like it. I don't want to have to go to two different sites for theatre. And despite reading Coveney's blurb about "fringe benefits", I'm not clear what will move and what will be left on the main site. Is the Donmar off-West End? Is the Royal Court fringe? To have to go to one site for a review of Hamlet at the Novello and another for a review of Othello at the Donmar is just silly.

If the main site was getting too full it would have made much more sense to divide musicals and plays.

I completely agree with Alexandra. I find it very disappointing and divisive. I didn't realise that this site was "Whatsonwestendstage.com". It just appears to have lumped together all the theatres out of the west end. Big mistake. It feels incredibly snobbish.

I agree...and where is the link on the home page to get you there?
Once again Whatsonstage has made another mistake...there is no reason why the off west end or fringe should not be
part of the the main page, after all isn't the web site called 'What's on Stage' and that should cover all theatre from one home. Take a leaf out of the good theatre websites such as Playbill.com and Theatremania.com, they have got it spot on covering all performances wherever they are being played and give as much coverage to the smaller shows as they do the big ones...rethink needed I feel!

I think it is a great idea. I like the look of the site and think it makes viewing much easier, having everything on one site would have meant shows disappearing down the list as new ones were put up. Whether we like it or not, as great as whatsonstage might be, it has never really focused on smaller off west end shows and now every show gets a look in. Great work. And Mr Fringe, if you don't think whatsonstage.com a good site why are you here?

Im a little confused as to why we need a separate section for fringe. What ever the piece is it would still fit into the existing categories i.e. play, stand-up, dance etc …

I’m not criticising just curious

I like the idea of a separate site promoting off West End but...

- I think the separate discussion board is a bit pointless and I suspect it won't be used much. I also think it would be wrong to move threads started in the main play or musicals boards to the off-west end board just for the sake of it.

- I think the microsite, however, is a good thing - but it should be far more integrated with the main whatsonstage site if you really want people to use it. eg whenever the main whatsonstage site is running news stories about off-west end theatre (including places like the bush / young vic) they should then lead readers directly to the micro-site. At the moment the link to the off-West End site is sort of lost at the top of the page. Unlike regional sites, it should be just as prominent as the main whatsonstage site, since viewers should be encouraged to read both.

- Also, why not have the off-west end news section on the front page of the whatsonstage main site? Again, this would encourage people to then click through and explore the microsite!

- I also think that whatsonstage should have more subsidised advertising rates for off-west end theatre, rather than making small theatres compete with big commercial producers.
So any ways of integrating the two sites more closely would be better...

I'm with the no camp here.

If the board is too big then split musicals and plays - it's the musicals and telly related stuff that is taking up space not plays. Those of us who go to plays don't split into west end and fringe when we make a choice about what to see!

I think there are pros and cons in each argument.

I don't mind the seperation(maybe even prefer it), but i think the link to it is VERY BADLY placed. It needs to be in a much more prominent place, and maybe there is a need to include stories from it on the main site.
It is a good step though, and in the right direction.

I suspect you're right. I often started fringe/off-West End threads in the Plays forum, only to see them whither and die after just one or two posts, or even none. I've been left with the impression that very few people on this board see this kind of production, or at least aren't interested in discussing them.

I haven't spent much time on the microsite yet. It's okay, but the front page is very busy and cluttered. Then again, the WOS main site home page is too. A longer news listing on the fringe site would be good.

For various reasons I haven't been to much fringe in London this year, so haven't had much reason to visit or post here. I'm disappointed to see that not very many other people have been using this forum. This appears to be the 1st post in the whole fringe forum for nearly 3 weeks. In 2009 I'm aiming to resume fringe theatregoing but am dispirited to think that if I want to post here about my experiences I will largely end up talking to myself. Which, as I said above (in July), was what happened whenever I posted fringe threads in the main forum. The WOS messageboard members really do seem to be very London- and West End/NT-centric.

That seems to be true Backdrifter - or me personally until the Victoria Line gets its arse into gear I cant really go anywhere further out of London if I need to get back to the sticks, but I do have plans to see more shows in Fringe Venues myself in the upcoming year! I guess its also to do with how the fringe venues promote themselves if you dont already know about a theatre sometimes its very hard to find out whats going on etc!

I forget to look! If you tell me a fringe thing is brilliant I will go - you have to do the work and go first.

You wait 3 weeks for a post in the Fringe forum, and then suddenly 3 appear in 6 minutes.

I will no doubt still post stuff here once I'm back on the Fringe horse, even if it turns into a monologue. I don't mind being the fringe missionary for Lynette or anyone. Part of the problem, apart from what monsta just said, is that the productions often have quite short runs so if only one or two of us go and then post about it, and it happens to be near the end of the run or even the middle of a short run, it doesn't leave much time for others to investigate and book. So if they're not going, they very likely won't post.

As usual I'll be going to a few BITE shows, fewer than usual though - however, at risk of reviving the "what is fringe/off-West End?" debate, where would I post thoughts on those? My inclination would be to do it here.

Here I am, talking to myself in the Fringe thread again!

Looking at the figures on the board's front page show this is the least populated, least active forum on the board. It's such a shame, given the range of fringe venues in London alone, as well as throughout Britain. However, I'll carry on doing my little bit here and hope that I can work up a teeny bit of interest from some others. I have productions at the Bridewell (The Constant Wife), Jermyn St (Saturday Night and Trumbo) and Hackney Empire (Othello) coming up. I'm trying to make this year the one when I resume my efforts to visit as many of the London venues as possible, so I'm aiming to focus on ones I've never been to before. All 3 of those I just mentioned will be new to me. Anyone here have experience of them?

I've been to the Bridewell yonks ago - a big space I remember. Historic site. Nice bar. The Hackney Empire is wonderful - reminiscent of the old days of music hall and big names. Impossible to park - I went round and round until spotted a car park that allowed theatre patrons. I saw Hamlet there with Ralph Fiennes, so that long ago. I don't do fringe unless I know someone associated with the play. I don't have enough days in the week. I have been to a few though. But keep plugging away. Last year I was tempted out to the Arcola and loved it.

If anyone is interested I have two tickets for Once a Catholic at Upstairs at the Gatehouse on 19th Feb if anyone is interested please let me know by PM

Yes the Bridewwell was indeed a surprisingly big space. Front row was set very far back from the performance area. Tower Theatre's production of The Constant Wife felt very under-powered and I didn't enjoy it much. I like the bar area.

It was also interesting to visit the Hackney Empire and I'd probably give it another go sometime. The RSC production of Othello I saw there was longwinded and somewhat stilted. I'd think twice before seeing anything else directed by Kathryn Hunter.

Tonight, first visit to the Jermyn Street theatre. Thursday, 1st visit to the Leicester Sq Theatre.

I thought the Hackney Empire was a fabulously beautiful theatre, both inside and out. I think I enjoyed Othello a little more than Backdrifter, although can't find it in myself to *totally* disagree.

Back, did you see her Pericles at the Globe a couple of years back? That was pretty good, I thought, even after they had to replace Corin Redgrave at short notice.

No I didn't - ah, so that was the Redgrave illness incident? He was in a really bad way for a while, as I recall. That would be after I'd decided to stop visiting the Globe. Well, perhaps I shouldn't so hastily consign her to the 'think twice' file.

Seeing Redgrave in my 2nd visit to the Jermyn next month, in Trumbo. I'm not a major fan of Redgrave, but the play combines two subjects of interest to me - Dalton Trumbo, and the McCarthy blacklists.

John Webster's

THE DUCHESS

OF MALFI

8.00pm, 17th March - 4th April 2009,

The Blue Elephant Theatre, Camberwell.

(no Sunday or Monday performances)

BOX OFFICE NOW OPEN, TICKETS FROM JUST £10. BOOK ONLINE@ www.blueelephanttheatre.co.uk

Lazarus presents John Webster’s gripping and powerful Jacobean Tragedy, THE DUCHESS OF MALFI, re-imagined in 1940’s England, this dark and passionate play follows the Duchess’s tragic spiral of Love, Reputation and ultimately Death.

London 1939 on the eve of war the Duchess, a widow, finds Love in the arms of her servant Antonio, their dangerous love affair is played out against the darkness of a world that forbids them to be together.

There will be two post show 'after dark' sessions with cast and creative team on the 24th and 31stMarch, this will give audience members the chance to gain a behind the scenes insight into this remarkable production.




"LOVE, REPUTATION, DEATH."
CREATIVE

Directed by Ricky Dukes

Designed by Heather Doole, Liam Welton and Ricky Dukes

Movement by Tim Mcfarland and Ricky Dukes

Music by Liam Welton and Ricky Dukes

Production and Stage Management by Jacob Patterson

Lighting by Heather Doole

Sound by Liam Welton

CAST

Duchess - Natalie Lesser

Ferdinand – James French

Cardinal – David J Spence

Antonio – Neal Craig

Bosola – Steven Rodgers

Delio – James Ronan

Julia – Charlotte Lamont

Cariola – Carrie Whitton

Roderigo – Daniel Rodrigues

Silvio – Chris Waplington

Castruchio - Carlie Dupré

Viola – Claire Daly

Carla – Rebecca Eve