I'm about to apply for a job, of which one of the points in the job description is:

"regularly attend shows at the theatre & keep up to date with contemporary theatre".

I've seen and enjoyed a broad range of theatre in the last year, but I was just wondering if there is a recognised range for 'contemporary' theatre.

Eg is it the last 2 yrs, 10 yrs, 20 yrs, 50 yrs, 100yrs, or just anything that isn't Shakespeare?!

Thanks

kjb

I believe contemporary theatre covers at least back as far as 1930. I'm not coming at this from any historical angle, just a lot of audition prep. In preparing a contemporary monologue, you are generally advised to keep more up-to-date than the likes of Wilde and Shaw, because you don't know what the audition panel is going to consider contemporary, and it's better safe than sorry.

So definitely the last 50 years, but beyond that, definitions get more nebulous and more likely to vary from person to person.

Hmmm, from that snippet of job description I'd say you need to be ready to show your knowledge of current theatre, rather than current or recent plays, which I think would be misleading. So for example, a revival by Complicite or something like Lazarus's Ceasar or The Factory's Hamlet would qualify, even though the plays themselves aren't recent. In-vogue practices (site-specific) and directors - discussing the work of Goold would come under contemporary theatre, even though a number of his recent productions have been revivals. New writing will of course be relevant too, I'm just saying that's not all I'd class as 'contemporary'.

Thanks both

This is purely for an admin job within the theatre, so no auditions for me thankfully, but I'll have a look into your suggestions for interview prep if I'm shortlisted.

Contemporary British Theatre is classed from 1958 onwards and is to do with changes in the law, that were happening at the time to do with censorship in the theatre.

Probably just means they don't want old people applying.

I would be suprised if you get many brownie points at an interview if you expand on your love for Coward and Rattigan when asked about contemporary theatre...

"Probably just means they don't want old people applying. "

That may be right.

No, best to get that bit in right at the beginning, before the contemporary theatre question comes up.

I agree with all of the above - it means theatre now, not necessarily plays written last week. But plays written last week would be good to refer to! And they prob want young thing...so apply and go for it. We await your fate.

Thanks everyone.

Didn't get an interview for the job, so back to my plan A for doing ushering/volunteer work or working with am. dram. to get some experience. (I had just been on the theatre website to look for usher/volunteer work when I saw the 'proper' job advertised which matched my experience although in a different field)

Having 'discovered' theatre last year, I'd love to be part of it but behind the scenes, not on stage. I guess volunteering and working with am.dram may be the way forward to start with to prove I'm serious.