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The Heckler

The Heckler: the disingenuous custom of the ‘press night’ should be scrapped

Once preview tickets are on sale the customer has a right to information about the goods being offered

5 September 2015

9:00 AM

5 September 2015

9:00 AM

Sam Mendes once said there is no such thing as the history of British theatre, only the history of British press nights. That observation takes us closer to understanding the taboo that constrains journalists from reviewing the opening performance of a West End play. A dozen or so previews take place before the critics are invited in for a star-studded gala, or ‘press night’, which is fixed by the producer to make the show appear in its most seductive light.

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