David Lister

A founder member of The Independent David Lister joined the paper in 1986 as Assistant Home Editor. He became the paper's arts correspondent in 1988 and is now Arts Editor and writes a column each Saturday. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

David Lister: Clap-happy crowds can be an irritant

Before Rufus Wainwright came on stage to perform the songs from his new album at Sadler's Wells this week, an official asked the audience to be careful about applauding. More precisely, he requested the audience not to applaud the separate numbers and to hold back until the very end "as the exit is part of the performance".

Recently by David Lister

David Lister: So, was Jonathan Ross worth it?

Saturday, 10 April 2010

Much hangs on how quickly Jonathan Ross is offered another job, or indeed whether he is offered one at all. Since announcing that he was leaving the BBC some weeks ago, no firm offer has been made to him and reported negotiations with Channel 4 for a show seem to have stalled.

David Lister: Yet another door shuts on dramatists

Saturday, 3 April 2010

When Steven Spielberg was about to make the movie Empire of the Sun, he telephoned Tom Stoppard and asked him to write the screenplay. Stoppard initially declined, saying he was working on a play for the BBC. Spielberg couldn't believe his ears. "But that's just television," he exclaimed. "Actually," replied Stoppard, "I'm doing it for the radio."

David Lister: An alternative cultural manifesto

Saturday, 27 March 2010

There seemed to be something missing from the cultural manifesto, launched on Thursday by the great and the good of the arts world at the British Museum. You certainly couldn't argue with the timing. Before the political parties have published their own election manifestos, the arts got in first and put culture on the political agenda.

David Lister: A false start for the Cultural Olympiad

Saturday, 20 March 2010

If there is nothing ready to announce in March 2010, is a wealth of top talent suddenly going to be available for July 2012?

David Lister: Go on, campaign on culture, Mr Brown

Saturday, 13 March 2010

Recently I was invited in to 10 Downing Street to discuss arts policy. It was nice to be the first arts writer to have this invitation extended in the run-up to the election.

David Lister: Previews are not so precious

Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Comment is free, but in the case of an Andrew Lloyd Webber show it can prove very expensive. A Lloyd Webber hit has every chance of becoming an international franchise. Playing on several continents for years, it will make a fortune – as The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Evita have proved spectacularly.

David Lister: The ICA has lost its cutting edge

Saturday, 6 March 2010

Whatever the allegations of fear and loathing in Downing Street, Gordon Brown must in his darkest hours take comfort from the fact that he does not run the Institute of Contemporary Arts.

David Lister: Covent Garden does the decent thing

Saturday, 27 February 2010

It was the one cast change that the Royal Opera didn't want to happen.

David Lister: The BBC is too cowardly for Carmen

Saturday, 20 February 2010

I have always had mixed feelings about BBC4, the corporation's arts and culture channel. There's no arguing about the excellence of much of its output, but its existence can be and is an excuse for the BBC to rein in the number of arts programmes on its mainstream channels. Culture becomes a niche market.

David Lister: Politics and pop culture rarely mix

Saturday, 13 February 2010

Why is it that when MPs say anything about culture, they tend to make fools of themselves? It can even apply to arts ministers. I witnessed one of the worst (or best, depending on how in need of a laugh one is) examples of this when the then Conservative arts minister Stephen Dorrell spoke at the Cannes Film Festival.

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