Текст 4
British theatres
Until recently the history of the English theatre has been build around actors rather than companies. It was hard to find any London theatre that even had a consistent policy. There is no permanent staff in British theatres. A play is rehearsed for a few weeks by a company of actors working together mostly for the first time and it is allowed to run as long as it draws the odious and pays it's way.
Another peculiarity of the theatres in Great Britain is as follows: there are two kinds of seats, which can be booked in advance (bookable), and unbookable ones have no numbers and the spectators occupy them on the principle: first come - first served. In ancient times plays were acted inside churches and later on the market places.
The first theatre in England "The Blackfries" was built in 1576, and "The Globe", which is closely connected with William Shakespeare, was built in 1599. Speaking about our times we should first of all mention "The English National theatre", "The Royal Shakespeare company" and "Covent Garden".
"Covent Garden" used to be a fashionable promenade - it was, before then, a convent garden - but when it became overrun with flower-sellers, orange-vendors and vegetable-growers, the people moved to more exclusive surroundings farther west, such as "St. Jame's Square".
The first "Covent Garden theatre" was built in 1732. It was burnt down in 1808 and rebuilt exactly a year after. It opened in September 1809, with Shakespeare's "Macbeth". Since the middle of the last century "Covent Garden" became exclusively devoted to opera.
Now "Covent Garden" is busier than ever, it is one of the few well-known opera houses open for 11 months of the year and it employs over 600 people from both the Opera company and the Royal Ballet.
Согласитесь или не согласитесь:
The history of the English theatre has been build around companies.
There is no permanent staff in British theatres.
Bookable seats have no numbers and the spectators occupy them on the principle: first come - first served.
The Blackfries" is closely connected with William Shakespeare.
"Covent Garden" is one of the few well-known opera houses.
"Covent Garden" employs over 1000 people.
Текст 5
Theatre in the UK
West End Shows
For many people the highlight of a visit to London is the chance to see a West End show. The West End of London, situated a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus and Chinatown, is home to dozens of beautiful theatres.
London’s West End theatres are currently enjoying a boom in popularity and ticket sales. According to the Society of London Theatres, nearly 12 million people attended a West End show last year, whilst audience numbers in 2005 look set to outstrip that impressive figure.
One possible reason for the success of contemporary theatrical productions is the casting of A-list Hollywood actors in lead roles. Val Kilmer, star of films like Top Gun and Batman Forever, is currently appearing in The Postman Always Rings Twice. And he is not alone - other American movie stars performing in London include Oscar winner, Kevin Spacey, and David Schwimmer, who found international fame in the hit TV sitcom, Friends. British screen stars are also treading the boards in West End shows. Scottish actor, Ewan McGregor, is appearing in the classic 1950s musical Guys and Dolls – an experience very different to making movies. McGregor says ‘The actual process of making films is extraordinarily tedious. It is very difficult to keep your energy and focus. Whereas what is wonderful about this is we have to create it together.’ Ironically, it is not just that film stars are acting in plays nowadays but films themselves are being adapted for the stage. Amongst the films that can now be seen as plays or musicals are The Lion King, A Few Good Men, and Billy Elliot.
The longest-running shows in the West End are usually musicals. The Andrew Lloyd Webber show, Cats, ran for 21 years and 7000 performances, making its composer a multi-millionaire. However, not all musicals do so well. Oscar Wilde: The Musical ran for only one night, closing after terrible reviews and poor bookings. It was quite possibly the biggest flop in London theatrical history.
Согласитесь или не согласитесь:
1. London’s West End is located not very far from Chinatown.
2. Ticket sales for West End shows have been very poor in recent years due to high prices.
3. The actor, Ewan McGregor, feels that the process of shooting a film is actually very boring.
4. Many successful West End shows are adapted for the big screen and made into movies.
5. Some West End musical can have a run lasting decades.
Text 6
British Drama
Britain is one of the world's major centres for theatre, and has a long and rich dramatic tradition. There are many companies based in London and other cities and towns, as well as numerous touring companies which visit theatres, festivals and other venues, including arts and sports centres and social clubs. There are 66 companies in receipt of, subsidies from the Arts Council.
Contemporary British playwrights who have received international recognition include: Harold Pinter - The Caretaker, The Homecoming; Tom Stoppard - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Jumper, Caryl Churchill -Serious Money, Top Girls; and Peter Shaffer – Equus; Amadeus.
The musicals of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber have been highly successful in Britain and overseas; well known examples include Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Cats.,
Among the best-known directors are Sir Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn, Jonathan Miller, Terry Hands, while the many British performers who enjoy international reputations include Sir John Gielgud, Sir Alec Guinness, Vanessa Redgrave, Sir Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi, Albert Finney, Dame Judi Dench, Brian Cox, Dame Maggie Smith.
Britain has about 300 theatres intended for professional use which can seat between 200 and 2,300 people. Some are privately owned, but most are owned either municipally or by non-profit-distributing organizations. In summer there are also open air theatres, including one in London's Regent's Park and the Minack Theatre, which is on an open cliffside near Land's End in Cornwall.
Fifteen of many London's theatres are permanently occupied by subsidized companies. These include: the Royal National Theatre, which stages a wide choice of modern and classical plays; the Royal Shakespeare Соmрапу, which presents plays mainly by Shakespeare and his contemporaries as well as some modern works; the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square, London, which stages the works of many talented new playwrights.
Most theatres are commercially run and self-financing, relying on popular shows and musicals to be profitable. By contrast there is the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the Central School of Speech anв Drama, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and the Drama Centre (all in London); the Bristol Old Vic School, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (Glasgow) and the Welsh College of Music and Drama (Cardiff). Theatre design courses, often based in art schools, are available for people wanting to train as stage designers. A number of universities and colleges offer degree courses in drama.
Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующих выражений:
быть одним из мировых театральных центров, иметь давние и богатые театральные традиции, находиться (базироваться) в, многочисленные гастролирующие театральные труппы, получающие субсидии от Совета по искусству, современные драматурги Великобритании, получить международное признание, пользоваться большим успехом, в Британии и за ее пределами, предназначаться для профессионального использования, принадлежать местным властям или благотворительным организациям, содержаться на коммерческой основе, быть выгодным, приносить сборы, быть доступным для желающих, обучаться ремеслу театральных художников, выпускать дипломированных театральных работников (специалистов)
Согласитесь или не согласитесь:
1. Britain is one of the world's major centres for theatre, and has a long and rich dramatic tradition.
2. There are practically few companies based' in London and other cities and towns, as well as some touring companies which visit theatres, festivals and other venues, including arts and sports centres and social clubs.
3. Britain has about 200 theatres intended for professional use which can seat between 500 and 1,500 people.
4. Most of the theatres in Britain are privately owned and not many are owned either municipally or by non-profit-distributing organizations.
5. In summer and late autumn there are also open air theatres, including one in London's Regent's Park and the Minack Theatre, which is on an open cliffside near Land's End in Cornwall.
6. 25 of many London's theatres are permanently осcupied by subsidized companies.
7. Most of the theatres are commercially run and self-financing, relying on popular shows and musicals to be profitable.
8. Theatre design courses, often based in sports centres, are available for people wanting to train as stage designers and stage hands.
9. A number of universities and colleges offer degree courses in drama.
10. There are 45 companies in receipt of subsidies from the Arts Council.
Ответьте на вопросы:
Why is London considered to be one of the world’s major centres for theatre?
What kinds of theatrical companies are based in London and other cities and towns?
How many companies are in receipt of subsidies from the Arts Council?
What contemporary British playwrights, who have received international recognition are known to you? What are their famous works?
Whose musicals have been highly successful in Britain and overseas? What are his well-known examples?
Who are the best-known directors in Britain? (
Can you give the names of the famous British performers who enjoy international reputations?
On what bases are theatres rented or owned in Britain?
What are the most famous subsidized companies which occupy 15 theatres? What do they stage?
How do many commercially run and self-financing theatres make themselves profitable and successful with the public?
Where are people wanting to start their theatrical careers trained in England, Wales and Scotland? What are they trained for?
Выберите правильный вариант ответа:
1. Contemporary British playwrights who have received international recognition include:
A. Harold Pinter with his The Caretaker, Rosencrantz and Guilden-stern Are Dead, The Homecoming
B. Caryl Churchill with Serious Money, Top Girls
C. Tom Stoppard with Equus, Amadeus
2. Among the best-known directors are:_
A. Sir John Gielgud
B. Sir Alec Guinness
C. Sir Peter Hall
3. The many British performers who enjoy international reputations include:
A. Vanessa Redgrave
B. Trevor Nunn
C. Terry Hands
4. The Royal National Theatre stages_
A. the works of many talented new playwrights
B. a wide choice of modern and classical plays
C. plays mainly by Shakespeare and his contemporaries
5. The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the Central School of Speech and Drama and the Drama Centre are situated in_
A. Glasgow
B. Cardiff
C. London
Вставьте подходящее по смыслу слово:
a) company, cast, to cast
1. The Royal Shakespeare … are divided between the country and the capital, playing concurrently at two theatres for most of the year.
2. There are many famous actors in the …today.
3. Paul Scofield … for the part of Macbeth.
4. The … is on tour, so the theatre is closed.
5. - The Mousetrap has been running for over twenty years. - What? With the same …?
6. The essential of a repertory … strictly speaking is that it should have several productions - a repertory of productions in fact -ready at the same time.
b) play, production, performance
1. The … begins at 7.30.
2. No doubt, the … must enter the repertoire of the twentieth century classics.
3. I've seen that … several times, and I think tonight's … is the best.
4. Judy Dench gave a brilliant … as Beatrice (in Much Ado About Nothing), but the… as a whole is very second rate.
5. We are going to see a new … at the Pushkin Theatre tonight.
6. I've never seen a better … of Othello.
7. The Cottesloe Theater is a very small theatre with movable seats for experimental … .
8. I didn't like the … but I was impressed by the acting.
9. He's been in a lot of interesting ….