Press Night | What do you do with your old theatre programmes and would you like some more?

Weekly newsletter No 2

What do you do with your old theatre programmes? Are they organised into categories? Sorted by venues, perhaps? Chronologically? Or are they gathering dust in a pile in the corner? Of course, you may not bother buying one at all on your trip to the theatre, or if you do, you may be one of those who leave it behind under your seat after the performance. Or do you save them for recycling.

That’s what most theatres do with any left over ‘playbills’ at the end of a run. Venues don’t want to sell out before closing night but equally don’t want to have copious numbers left over​ - there’s an art in knowing just how many to have printed, I’m told, especially when it comes to weekly touring productions.

Slowly, however, the age-old tradition of producing a printed programme is on the wain as producers look to digital for alternative ways of keeping audiences informed, already at least one pantomime company has eschewed print in favour of free online programmes accessed via a QR code or by visiting their website. It’s a trend that will grow.

Other smaller Fringe companies already do the same while, on occasion, you will also find cast lists displayed on a screen in the foyer. A quick snap on your mobile phone and you’ve saved a fiver or more, especially if your theatre adventures take you to London’s West End where ‘souvenir brochures’, with the cast ​included, ​a​re ever more expensive and ​n​ow regularly replace the traditional pocket-sized publication.

Talking to one fellow critic the other day, he mused how his collected programmes from shows he’s reviewed pile up until he decides to have a clear out, I know the feeling. I have a pile of them in front of me right now that I can’t quite bring myself to throw out.

There’s Wild Rose, Mary Poppins, Shrek, Ghost Story, Calamity Jane, Death of a Salesman, Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort of), Kinky Boots, Boys From The Black Stuff and The Testament of Gideon Mack. So if anyone would like them or needs one or more for their collection, drop me a line and they’re yours. Better that​ than these little pieces of theatrical history are thrown in the recycling bin.

Two eagerly awaited press nights (and no doubt two more programmes to add to that list) approach next week, one in Edinburgh, one in Perth. At the Edinburgh Playhouse, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, arguably the biggest production to open in the Scottish Capital, if not in Scotland, in 2025, is in preview and the word is already encouraging - it has been described by more than one audience member as ‘the most spectacular production they have ever seen’. Having visited the London production a couple of year’s back, I can’t wait to see the World Tour production, next week. I have a feeling it’s going to be even more breathtaking than its West End counterpart.

The other is the stage adaptation of the brilliant 1985, cult comedy film, Restless Natives, which embarks on a Scottish Tour out of Perth Theatre, next week. The press night finds critics travelling to the event by minibus, courtesy of Rabbie’s guided tours. We’ve to expect a surprise along the way… having been a fan of the original film since appearing in it as an extra, I have a pretty good idea what that surprise might be. Time will tell, as will my social media if I​'m right. Follow me on X @liamrudden, Bluesky @liamrudden.bsky.social and Instagram @liamruddenofficial.

Capital Theatre’s latest ‘what’s on’ brochure dropped through the letterbox this week and a couple of ‘Must See’ productions caught my eye immediately, Matthew Bourne’s Red Shoes returns next April, it’s quite a lush, stunning piece of dance theatre and not to one missed. Another production to watch out for is the Scottish premiere of Patricia Highsmith’s iconic psychological thriller, The Talented Mr Ripley, coming this September.

I’ll also be interested to see Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, which comes to the Festival Theatre next February. It's the latest work from the multi-award-winning company Mischief. Have to admit I was less than impressed by their original piece in the series, The Play That Goes Wrong, it was poor in comparison to Michael Green's similarly themed The Art of Course Acting, yet I absolutely howled with laughter at their second outing, Peter Pan Goes Wrong. It was brilliant. Hopefully Christmas Carol will be more of the latter.

Finally, there was just one press night in the past week for me, Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort of). It turned out to be another press night with a lead swapped out for an understudy, something that seems to happen more and more these days, both here and in Glasgow… must be something in the air. You can read my review here.

And there’s still time to catch it, well you have tomorrow, Saturday to be precise.

Until next time, who wants those programmes? Let me know.

Liam