But over the last few years, the propensity to cast film and TV stars for the stage has become a point of contention in an industry still struggling from funding cuts and changing audience habits after the Covid pandemic. While some believe big names can help entice audiences and sell tickets, others say they stop risk-averse theatres from taking a chance on smaller productions with unknown casts.
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.