Now that publicity has become more of an industry than an art, most theatre productions can be seen coming from a long way off. Just before starting this piece, I opened a National Theatre email alerting me to a David Byrne and Fatboy Slim musical in October and a December adaptation of Treasure Island. So the production that opened at the National on Monday night is highly unusual in having been announced only 72 hours before the premiere and – a second distinction – starting directly with a press night rather then the usual run of fine-tuning previews.The reason for the stealth marketing was legal. Richard Bean – who previously gave the NT one of its most controversial productions with the immigration play England People Very Nice and one of it
03 July 2014, The Tablet
Great Britain
Lyttelton, National Theatre, London (until august 23)
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