Thursday, 23 February, 2017

INTERVIEW WITH DOMINIC LINDESAY-BETHUNE

Dominic received his bachelors degree from the Central School of Speech and Drama and specialised in producing through Stage One's Workshop and the New Producer's Alliance for Film and Television. After working at Ealing Studios at the start of his career Dominic moved into theatre, producing his first play on London's Fringe when he was 21. He has since worked in both the commercial and subsidised sectors of theatre including The Albany, Soho Theatre, The Yard Theatre, Oliver Mackwood and Jonathan Church Productions.

Select credits include co-producer for the West end transfer of The Scottsboro Boys, winning the Evening Standard Award for Best Musical, the UK tour of Honest by Alice Nicholas, David Mamet double bill The Water Engine and Mr Happiness at tThe Old Vic Tunnels and the UK premiere of Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang. Outside of producing, Dominic has been involved in several West End productions including the transfers of Kings Charles III and Clybourne Park, The Prisoner of Second Avenue starring Jeff Goldblum, Shirley Valentine with Meera Syal, A Flea in Her Ear at the Old Vic and Educating Rita with Tim Pigott-Smith.  Dominic is Executive Producer for Theatre6

At the moment you are…
Approving marketing images for my UK tour of Gabriel by Moira Buffini.

What does Stage One mean to you?
To me, Stage One is the best source for learning to be a producer and finding support for more ambitious productions. The three day workshop taught me so much about the industry and it gives those starting out access and introductions to established producers who, in my experience, are always happy to give guidance and advice. Furthermore, Stage One is the only organisation in the country that financially supports new companies making large scale touring theatre. Even Arts Council England, the largest funder of the arts in the UK, only support existing NPO's or favoured theatre companies when it comes to touring professional theatre on a large scale, so Stage One really are the only supporters of touring producers. This makes Stage One invaluable not just for the West End, but for producers and audiences across the country.

Last show you saw and loved?
There are so many! In the last year alone Groundhog Day at The Old Vic was a fantastic new musical and The Invisible Hand at The Tricycle was superb.

What do you think, is the best thing about the Theatre Industry?
For me, the best thing about the theatre industry, especially being a producer, is working with skilled and hard working creatives who really deserve the support of a producer. There aren't many new professional producers in the industry (which is why Stage One is so important) with the knowledge of how to both balance a budget and talk to creatives, to raise the capitalisation and trouble shoot rehearsal problems. They are such challenging skills to master so it's a wonderful thing when you discover a director, writer, composer or actor who you want to fight for, to use all these skills in support of their vision.

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?
I've been fortunate enough in my career to receive great advice from people inside and outside of our industry. When I was starting out I was told " The right show in the right space." To this day I keep this in mind; a successful show really thrives when it's in the right space. Not every show belongs in the West End but that doesn't mean it can't be artistically exciting and financially successful. Just look at how Mischief Theatre Company or Selladoor started out, Austentatious and Kneehigh are other great examples. And we're producers, so remember "everything's negotiable".

To find out more information regarding our Start Up Fund click HERE.
Applications are now open for our Stage One New Producers' Workshop, click HERE to find out how to apply.
To find out more regarding Dominic's UK Tour of Gabriel click HERE.

 


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