Anne McElvoy on Theatre

I AM DEVELOPING AN ALGORITHM to predict what mid-Covid period theatre will look like. As it is live-streamed, it needs a star — preferably one with a loyal TV or film audience to sell out quickly — and a small ensemble. The National Theatre’s misfortune is that its vast main stages lend themselves to big epic plays like Brecht or Lucy Kirkwood’s The Welkin (which was on stage when the lockdown curtain fell). Covid-era economics demand the opposite — tight casting and not too much spare space, making camera angles easier.

The Old Vic has already produced smart programming of this new ilk for its “In Camera” season, which sees plays staged (almost) like the, which seemed an odd choice at first glance. No disrespect to Friel’s talents, but his heyday seemed to have passed from all those productions of and a diehard place alongside Timberlake Wertenbaker on the A level curriculum.