Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Wales set to ban smoking on stage
The Stage: "Despite lobbying from the arts world, including the Theatrical Management Association, the Welsh Assembly took the decision not to allow a clause to be inserted into its legislation as in England, where smoking on stage will be permitted as part of performance “if artistic integrity makes it appropriate”. Wales’ ban on smoking in enclosed public places comes into force on April 2, three months ahead of England."
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6 comments:
can you actually feel something by somebody smoking on stage? there was smoking scene during sideshow and i didn't even know the actor was really smoking until i read the pre-notice of smoking. even it is a small theatre, can you really feel it? if you can, i guess it's right to ban it.
Although I see the artistic desire to have real smoking on stage, I personally find it very distracting and often can make breathing harder. I don't like smoking in theater, but I do believe that it is one of the only ways to have that realistic smoking effect. This seems to be an issue worldwide, and I'm sure there will be many more debates over it.
-A Siebert
I personally think that this borders ridiculous. I understand the fact that it can affect someone's health but in all honesty, I have seen smoking in MANY plays, both in small and large spaces and it has never affected me. I do think that it can taint the artistic integrity of a play. If they ever did THE GODFATHER, and they said there was to be no smoking, it would take so much out of the production. They often say when someone makes a comment about something, to consider the source. That being said, the fact that the Surgeon General is saying that it will not affect artistic integrity is like me saying "I don't think that cruise ships loose that much if they don't have pools."
I agree with Terry Hands, director of Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Let them smoke on stage, let them stay true to source material. The theater is a place where artistic freedom should be upheld. Plus, no one is getting lung cancer from a few moments of second hand smoke - TOUGHEN UP PEOPLE - sitting in a small Welch theater with small seats is worse for your knees - worry about them - let the actors smoke and enjoy the show!
-J Bogush
I have to say I disagree with Aaron, there are many times in which smoking can be replaced by other actions, but it is certainly important in period pieces. Regardless, this is just another piece of legislation that limits the creative ability of the theater.
-Kim Allen-Poole
theatre is all about re-creating events on stage. if you take away the ability to portray an event on stage as it might or might not occur in life, perhaps we should question what we are trying to achieve. With proper ventilation smoking shouldn’t be an issue for anyone. If it’s a 10 seat black box, ok, but if it’s a hall the size of the chosky, is anyone actually going to care? It wasn’t very long ago that you had smoking everywhere you went…what’s changed besides knowing that it’s harmful?
-mr. barton
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