Task 6c, Literature Review 2

The second piece of literature I will review is, 'Noises off - The pro's and cons in the job of theatre'.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2010/aug/26/noises-off-theatre-love-money?INTCMP=SRCH

This article was again produced for 'The guardian' theatre blog.  It is written by Chris Wilkinson, a freelance journalist and theatre director, on Thursday 26 August 2010.  Being a journalist and theatre director means that Chris Wilkinson is writing from an insider researchers point of view.

Chris Wilkinson has used five sources to compile the evidence for his work;

http://culturefuture.blogspot.co.uk/

http://fluxtheatreensemble.blogspot.co.uk/

http://donhall.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/case-for-going-off-grid.html

http://rvcbard.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.missionparadox.com/about.html

Unfortunately these sources are all writing from a male point of view, it would have been interesting for him to have reviewed the ideas of female sources to gain a perspective from another angle.

The document presents the argument that working as a performer in the theatre is not a financially viable career.  Although he has used many sources that have agreed with this sentiment I would be interested to discover a different perspective.  Many people would presume that of our best loved and well known theatre stars would be generating a healthy wage from their work. 
Reading the comments posted below this blog it would be fair to say that many people have a wide range of ideas about what has been discussed, however it is easy to get involved in debate and harder to decipher fact from fiction.  For example, how many companies/workers would discuss their salary? Are living costs considered when commenting on the financial viability of a career in theatre? What wage is considered as a making a living?

Although this blog presents an array of ideas and issues I think it is missing huge parts of the argument.  Firstly, what is considered as a job in theatre? Touring? West end? Local theatre? And what about other performing careers? Cruise ships? Holiday resorts? Holiday parks? I believe this article has it's place In my research but it is lacking in thorough back up.