As part of its 21st birthday celebrations, English Touring Theatre has launched a search to discover the nation’s favourite play, with the results set to mould the leading company’s 2014 programme.
Members of the public have until 8 December 2013 to cast their vote for their most-loved play, which will then be whittled down to a shortlist of the most popular that English Touring Theatre has promised will be performed across the UK in its landmark 21st anniversary year either as full productions or public rehearsed readings.
The rules are simple. Anyone can vote for any play, as long as it is an original piece written in the English language and isn’t a musical, translation or adaptation. Whether it’s your favourite rarely performed Jacobean tragedy, a Tom Stoppard modern classic or a comedy that premiered at one of London’s prestigious new writing venues just last month, all are eligible.
English Touring Theatre’s director Rachel Tackley, who has led the acclaimed company on its mission to present stimulating and ambitious theatre to the widest possible audience since 2008, commented on the search, saying: “We want to make 2014 a birthday year to remember. Since the company has made its name taking high quality productions to theatres across the country we felt the country had to be at the heart of our celebrations. It’s a surprisingly simple yet tricky question: What is your favourite play? We’re very excited and curious to see what the nation votes for.”
It’s a question that is sure to divide many and provide much debate. Already on Twitter people are sharing their votes using the hashtag #myfavouriteplay, with people arguing a place on the shortlist for everything from Shakespeare’s much-loved Macbeth to one of last year’s MasterCard Best New Play nominees, James Graham’s This House.
Have your say by casting your vote now at www.myfavouriteplay.com