The National Theatre’s brutalist architecture leaves its mark on London’s theatre industry and Southbank visual in an unmistakable and unmissable way. But what goes on behind its walls? What secrets do the three auditoria hold in front of their velveteen seats, hidden behind groundbreaking productions and celebrity casting?
Written by, and based on, the experiences of Nicholas Hytner, former Artistic Director of the National Theatre, Balancing Acts explores some of the behind-the-scenes dynamics that arise when producing theatre shows in one of London’s most famous theatrical locations. From international sensations like War Horse, to more intimate productions and even relative failures, we look through the career of one of the country’s most legendary thespian directors and how the National Theatre functions, from those on the inside. Exploring society, politics and human nature throughout, it’s an intimate look into one of the most famous artistic institutions our country has to offer.
The very first thing this book does which definitely needs to be highlighted is what the role of an Artistic Director entails. It’s a role I’ve long been familiar with but being able to read what this involves at production, institution and individual levels is a great insight that we often don’t get to see. Whilst this will be highly personal and specific to each Artistic Director, having this insight allows you to frame the rest of the book, as well as apply what it says to other theatres you may be more familiar with.
It’s also fascinating to explore the career of Hytner, from the productions he has staged to the people he has worked with! You’re met with genuine shock when you turn the page and find yourself reading about his many productions with Maggie Smith, Judi Dench and Alan Bennett, among others, as well as other casual interactions with the families of Rodgers & Hammerstein, disputes with Harold Pinter and pitching the arts to then Secretary of State for Culture Jeremy Hunt MP. As well as this, reading about the involvement Hytner had in so many fantastic and highly regarded productions, whilst holding little public regard is such an insightful look into the power and talent he possessed in his role. The book ends with him working to build the Bridge Theatre, the current location of the Olivier Award-winning Guys & Dolls.
There are points in this book, however, when you find yourself engaged in such specific details about specific subjects that you can be left slightly confused at points. This is never hugely impactful but does take you out of the flow of the accounts from time to time, and always takes a little while to get back into. Another structural issue for me arises at section breaks, where it’s not always clear how the former section links to the new. They’re almost always related in some way, but the sudden ending of one passionate account before jumping to an new one with an unclear and often tenuous link can leave you feeling slightly lost, and sometimes this manifests in realising that how you’ve interpreted the entire previous section was incorrect.
If you are even slightly interested in theatre production, creative direction or even finding a way to break into the industry, Balancing Acts is a must-read. It’s exciting, interesting and shows a deep connection between Hytner and his work, which is so rare to see in so many workplaces. Reading this can be confusing, comes with some issues and there are points that I’m still not clear about, but if you’re prepared to look over some of its flaws, it’s a very enjoyable and unique read.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Balancing Acts (ISBN: 978-1-784-70414-8) was published in 2017
