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| Vicky Featherstone named most influential person in British theatre | Vicky Featherstone named most influential person in British theatre |
| (12 days later) | |
| Royal Court artistic director takes top spot in league table after swift response to industry harassment scandal | |
| Mark Brown Arts correspondent | |
| Thu 4 Jan 2018 00.00 GMT | |
| Last modified on Thu 4 Jan 2018 00.10 GMT | |
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| Vicky Featherstone, the artistic director of the Royal Court, has been named the most influential person working in British theatre, following her swift response to the entertainment industry harassment scandal. | Vicky Featherstone, the artistic director of the Royal Court, has been named the most influential person working in British theatre, following her swift response to the entertainment industry harassment scandal. |
| Featherstone was the first and most powerful voice to speak out about historical and current abuses of power in the theatre industry after allegations emerged against the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. She quickly organised a “No Grey Area” day of action, which was followed by the publication of a code of behaviour. | Featherstone was the first and most powerful voice to speak out about historical and current abuses of power in the theatre industry after allegations emerged against the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. She quickly organised a “No Grey Area” day of action, which was followed by the publication of a code of behaviour. |
| The Guardian’s Decca Aitkenhead said Featherstone had offered “a masterclass in how to channel fury about a frighteningly big problem into focused action”. | The Guardian’s Decca Aitkenhead said Featherstone had offered “a masterclass in how to channel fury about a frighteningly big problem into focused action”. |
| Featherstone’s words and actions propelled her to the No 1 spot in the Stage 100 power list, an annual league table organised by the influential industry newspaper. | Featherstone’s words and actions propelled her to the No 1 spot in the Stage 100 power list, an annual league table organised by the influential industry newspaper. |
| Featherstone said it was a “total shock and honour” to be recognised by the Stage. | Featherstone said it was a “total shock and honour” to be recognised by the Stage. |
| “I share this with the fearless and passionate team and board at the Royal Court,” she said. “But mostly, it is affirmation to the brave women and men who spoke out about their experiences that they are being taken seriously and proof that my theatre colleagues, with the power to do so, are listening and that we can achieve fundamental change. As an industry, we are once more leading the way.” | “I share this with the fearless and passionate team and board at the Royal Court,” she said. “But mostly, it is affirmation to the brave women and men who spoke out about their experiences that they are being taken seriously and proof that my theatre colleagues, with the power to do so, are listening and that we can achieve fundamental change. As an industry, we are once more leading the way.” |
| Natasha Tripney, the Stage’s reviews editor who was on the judging panel, said Featherstone had responded to the abuse allegations by trying to create lasting change. | Natasha Tripney, the Stage’s reviews editor who was on the judging panel, said Featherstone had responded to the abuse allegations by trying to create lasting change. |
| “Whereas other key industry figures have remained noticeably silent, she has been responsive and outspoken,” Tripney said. | “Whereas other key industry figures have remained noticeably silent, she has been responsive and outspoken,” Tripney said. |
| Featherstone was 39th on the list last year and replaces the West End producer Sonia Friedman in the No 1 spot. Friedman, whose successes include the Harry Potter stage plays, drops to No 3 behind the producers Cameron Mackintosh and Nicholas Allott. | Featherstone was 39th on the list last year and replaces the West End producer Sonia Friedman in the No 1 spot. Friedman, whose successes include the Harry Potter stage plays, drops to No 3 behind the producers Cameron Mackintosh and Nicholas Allott. |
| New entries to the list include the Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda (9); Martin Green, the chief executive of Hull city of culture (14); the in-demand Belgian director Ivo van Hove (19); the incoming artistic director of the Young Vic Kwame Kwei-Armah (20), and the actor Imelda Staunton, who dazzled in Follies and railed against theatre audience eaters when she starred in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. | New entries to the list include the Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda (9); Martin Green, the chief executive of Hull city of culture (14); the in-demand Belgian director Ivo van Hove (19); the incoming artistic director of the Young Vic Kwame Kwei-Armah (20), and the actor Imelda Staunton, who dazzled in Follies and railed against theatre audience eaters when she starred in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. |
| Notable high risers include the playwright James Graham, who moved from 66 to 10 after a year in which he had three plays in the West End – This House, Ink and Labour of Love. A West End transfer for his play Quiz was announced last month. | Notable high risers include the playwright James Graham, who moved from 66 to 10 after a year in which he had three plays in the West End – This House, Ink and Labour of Love. A West End transfer for his play Quiz was announced last month. |
| Featherstone, formerly the inaugural artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland, has been in charge at the Royal Court since 2013. | Featherstone, formerly the inaugural artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland, has been in charge at the Royal Court since 2013. |
| She becomes the third woman to top the list, published for the last 22 years, as a solo entry. Overall, the Stage said, there had been a 7% increase in the number of entries featuring women since last year, up from 39% to 46%. | She becomes the third woman to top the list, published for the last 22 years, as a solo entry. Overall, the Stage said, there had been a 7% increase in the number of entries featuring women since last year, up from 39% to 46%. |
| The Stage top 10 | The Stage top 10 |
| The full list will be available at www.thestage.co.uk/thestage100 | The full list will be available at www.thestage.co.uk/thestage100 |
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