Ostermeier's Hamlet
Thomas Ostermeier's widely acclaimed production of Hamlet, which the director brought to London last week from his home theatre the Schaubühne in Berlin, has set theatrical tongues wagging, despite the fact that the first night was cancelled due to the strikes (which caused me to miss it). Mad and messy, radical and muddy, it was, wrote the Guardian's Lyn Gardner, not for a single second dull. And how many domestic Shakespeare productions can you say that of? (And I'm afraid I'm not excluding the other London Hamlet with Michael Sheen at the Young Vic.)
Fellow director Ramin Gray thinks Ostermeier should be headhunted by the Royal Shakespeare Company to replace departing Michael Boyd – thereby giving the RSC a violent, avant-garde shakeup. "Like the theatrical equivalent of the Eurozone Greeks, we need a German bailout now," he says. Meanwhile, Mark Ravenhill, who has just been appointed resident RSC playwright, confessed that his mother has been telling people that he is to be in residence with the RSPCA. Which is a lovely idea. Ravenhill immediately suggested, as a debut work, Cat Rescue on a Hot Tin Roof.
'Your refusal is refused Mr Gray'
The Saltire Society Scottish book of the year awards last week were a rum do. For a start, none of the shortlisted writers for the £5,000 prize (Ali Smith, AL Kennedy, John Burnside, Jackie Kay, Christopher Whyte, Don Paterson, Alasdair Gray) actually thought it worth their while to turn up. And then the winner, Gray, was found to have refused the award in advance of the ceremony. However, the society decided they should refuse Gray's refusal and insist he accept the award – which he eventually did.
The splendidly contrarian author of Lanark told the Scotsman: "I couldn't have accepted it and have people say, 'Success has corrupted you', or 'You're becoming mellow in your old age'. But then the Saltire Society refused my refusal. They said they would send me the money and I don't have to attend ceremonies and smile smugly at people." He added: "My wife had been furious that I'd refused the award because from time to time we do need money and she doesn't feel as secure as I feel she ought to. So, I'm pleased for her sake."
Turner to migrate north?
What with yet another Glaswegian winning the Turner prize (the third in a row), you would think the Tate could think of migrating the award there sometime soon, since the plan is to hold it outside London in alternate years from now on. In fact, I gather plans are afoot for Glasgow's Tramway to stage it in 2015.
