REPERTOIRE (THEATRE)

In theatre, a 'repertoire system' can operate when a theatre has many plays (or musicals, ballets, operas, etc.) in performance at any time. It differs from a repertory system in that each play will have a different cast, and possibly stage crew, from the others. In other words, each will be a separate production.
It also differs from a receiving house in that most, if not all, of the productions in the repertoire will be produced internally and alternate with each other, rather than a succession of individual productions by external companies simply using the theatre as a performance space.

Contents

Pros and cons

Examples

See also

Pros and cons

Among the benefits of such a system are increased variety and better quality, due to fresh actors and shopped in directors. The theatre can afford to take risks, and a show that is likely to attract a large audience will effectively subsidize a show that is less likely, especially if season tickets are sold.
Drawbacks to the repertoire system are increased production costs as each show will need separate sets, props, costumes and actors, (although sometimes an actor will be engaged to play in more than one production.) Many such companies are large, and are able to have a smaller space available to workshop an experimental production or present playreadings. But the standard should be higher than under the old-time repertory system, because there will be more time for rehearsal. Also many repertoire companies today have non-profit status, so that budgets and income should be higher because they will not just depend upon ticket sales. However, the downside is that promotional costs will also be much higher due to having to employ a separate staff.

Examples

★ Royal National Theatre in London.

★ Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London (sometimes operates in repertory too)

★ Shaw Festival

★ Stratford Festival of Canada

★ Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, UK.

See also

★ Repertory

★ Theatre festival