18 August 2016
Shorter Concerts?
No intervals, or just better loos?
by Lynda Goetz
Two rather insignificant pieces of news this week provided some food for thought. The first was an article by the classical pianist Stephen Hough in the Radio Times in which he suggested that the format for classical concerts should perhaps be rethought. The second was the announcement of a donation of £125,000 by hedge-fund manager Simon Ruddick and his wife, Susan, both keen theatre-goers, to be used to improve the facilities for the ‘Ladies’ in ten of the most ‘deserving’ theatres. The so-called ‘Spend a Penny Scheme’ administered by the Theatres Trust is open for applications from now until 26th October.
The link between these two seemingly quite separate news items is the question of making these experiences more enjoyable. Although Stephen Hough’s suggestions have the much broader aim of widening audiences for classical music (and include a suggestion of less formal attire for musicians), interval ‘facilities’ are a problem in both concert halls and theatres. As everyone knows, the queue is always much longer for the ‘Ladies’ than for the ‘Gents’. It is a simple fact that men are able to deal with their needs on this front much quicker than women. Women, during a concert or theatre interval, can spend most of their time simply waiting; either waiting to be served a drink or waiting to relieve the call of nature.
Stephen Hough has suggested that venues consider shorter performances and do away with the interval. This is an interesting and somewhat revolutionary idea, but it does have a number of merits from the standpoints of the ‘punters’, the venue owners and even the musicians. The format (which has been in place effectively since the turn of the 20thcentury) is the concert which starts at 7.30 and lasts roughly two hours with a 20-minute interval. Were this to be replaced by a shorter concert starting earlier (say 7pm) or later (say 9pm) with just 60-80 minutes of music, it could lead to more dynamic concerts; possibly more revenue for venues (with the opportunity to schedule two concerts in an evening); and for concert-goers the chance to eat either before or after a concert in an unhurried manner (neither cramming in a meal between finishing work and before the concert, nor rushing it through between the end of the concert and before the last train home). Stephen Hough, who is performing at the Proms next week (at a concert with an interval), said that a shorter concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at which he performed a few months ago, ‘felt charged with an energy that the traditional concert can sometimes lack’.
Theatres appear to have fewer problems attracting new audiences, although the high prices charged for tickets do, on the whole, make the average theatre audience a pretty affluent bunch, particularly in London. The spectacular success of sales for the new Harry Potter play show that keeping ticket prices low does make for quick sales, although many would argue that keeping the run of such a popular production so short is going to guarantee sales anyway. Quite how the theatre is going to ensure that those £20 tickets aren’t resold for hundreds of pounds is less clear. Unfortunately, however, as successful theatres will not be awarded their £15,000 from the ‘Spend a Penny’ scheme until December, and as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child finishes its run on December 10th, anyone thinking of taking new audience members (otherwise known as children) had perhaps better make sure they leap up early when the curtain goes down for the interval.
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