Why are British and American Theatre Audiences So Different?

Great article from Christopher Shinn, a playwright who’s work I much admire, in The Guardian.  I’ve been lucky enough to see a couple of his plays in New York…

I’ve seen a fair amount of theatre in London and a lot of theatre in New York….

There are definitely differences in both the audiences and how work is presented…

Generalisations all, but perhaps with a grain of truth. Maybe, too, American actors and directors know that their theatregoers are impatient. They sense a reluctance to give themselves over to someone else’s self-expression – whereas in London, the greater ease at being a part of a group means the actors and director assume a generous audience, not an always-potentially-dissatisfied one.

via Why are British and American theatre audiences so different? | Christopher Shinn | Stage | guardian.co.uk.