http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-the-pulsating-battle-to-rule-the-arts-1816599.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-the-pulsating-battle-to-rule-the-arts-1816599.html <p>Who should be the next chairman of the London Regional Arts Council? There's a question that invites the reader to turn the page. But this seemingly arcane question has become intriguing, controversial even. </p> David Lister Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-you-need-a-phd-for-a-night-at-the-opera-1812304.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-you-need-a-phd-for-a-night-at-the-opera-1812304.html <p>They're expensive and often of little use, yet they are the one part of the cultural experience that rarely provokes comment. Why can't the programmes on sale at concerts, theatres and operas be better?</p> David Lister Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-the-perils-of-being-friends-with-the-boss-1809964.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-the-perils-of-being-friends-with-the-boss-1809964.html <p>The editor on my first newspaper had a habit of standing behind you as you were writing. Eventually, unnerved by his presence, you would stop writing. "What are you doing?" he would ask, amazed. "I'm thinking," the hapless reporter would answer. "Don't think! Write!" he would bark, emphasising the point with a jab of his finger between the shoulder blades.</p> David Lister Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-annie-get-your-politically-correct-gun-1808436.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-annie-get-your-politically-correct-gun-1808436.html <p> Those who like musicals will know that Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun has one of the great scores. Watching the new production of the show at the Young Vic in London with Jane Horrocks, it was good to be reminded of showstoppers such as "Anything You Can Do" and "There's No Business Like Show Business". </p> David Lister Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-its-not-time-to-junk-the-breeches-and-bonnets-1806883.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-its-not-time-to-junk-the-breeches-and-bonnets-1806883.html <p>The death of the costume drama on the BBC has been declared before. By the BBC. In the Eighties the Corporation decided that the public no longer had an appetite for it, and barely made any, denying a generation adaptations of the classics. Then in the Nineties it made the excellent Colin Firth/ Jennifer Ehle version of <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> to critical and public acclaim, and the senior BBC executive Michael Jackson went on the <I>Today</I> programme to apologise for keeping costume dramas off the air.</p> David Lister Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-hirsts-163250k-gift-1804386.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-hirsts-163250k-gift-1804386.html <p>There's no need for me to comment on the quality of Damien Hirst's new paintings at London's Wallace Collection. The art critics have delivered their verdict (see Performance Notes below) and it's a damning one. Anyway, I'm rather more interested in – and worried by – what went on behind the scenes to get this particular show on the road. What worries me is the £250,000 that Hirst gave from his own large pockets to the Wallace Collection.</p> David Lister Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-i-seek-to-understand-david-hare-1800603.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-lister/david-lister-i-seek-to-understand-david-hare-1800603.html <p> There's something that disturbs me about the subtitle David Hare has given to his new play The Power of Yes. It is "A dramatist seeks to understand the financial crisis." </p> David Lister Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100