Links

Articles

News

Reviews

Amateur Theatre

Contact

Other Resources

Bookstore

Forum

Search the Site

Dateline: 14th December, 2003

News from the Midlands

Boyd gets to work on RSC deficit

The Royal Shakespeare Company's accumulated deficit of £2.8 million will be more than halved by the end of the current financial year, it announced at its annual general meeting.

Michael Boyd, appointed artistic director last April, revealed that the deficit he inherited will be reduced by £1.5 million and the Company plans to eliminate the deficit completely over the next four years.

A more prudent approach to financial management and planning, led by Boyd, has led to the improved position. Targeted cost-cutting which included seven redundancies has led to savings in marketing, public affairs, development, stage operations and workshops.

Boyd's reworking of the RSC's finances means the Company will be able to take on a new London base next year to transfer productions from Stratford. The RSC has not had a London home since quitting the Barbican in May 2002.

Boyd said: "To secure artistic freedom for the RSC we must balance the books first. It's never easy cutting costs but we've made some great progress this year."

The RSC's new core ensemble which was announced in September began working together this week in preparation for the opening of Boyd's inaugural season in March.

The first week was dedicated to training. The company worked alongside academics and practitioners including Sir Peter Hall, John Barton, Cis Berry and Professor Jonathan Bate before they start rehearsals on Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet.

New date for Joan Collins - in Stoke-on-Trent!

The unlikely sight of Joan Collins appearing in Stoke-on-Trent will become reality in March when the former star of Dynasty and Cinzano adverts makes a rare stage appearance.

The Hollywood legend will be appearing at the Regent Theatre from March 29th to April 3rd in Alan Melville's comedy Full Circle.

The rest of the new season at the Regent includes:

• Crazy For You starring Melanie Stace and Christopher Beeny from February 10th to 14th;
• the musical Slamdunk from February 17th to 21st;
• Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down The Wind from February 23rd to March 6th;
• The Full Monty from March 9th to 20th;
• Linda Nolan in Blood Brothers from April 26th to May 8th.

Reporter: Steve Orme

Index A-F
Index G-K
Index L-Q
Index R-Z

News Archive A-L
News Archive M-Z
Production News Archive

Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.

©Peter Lathan 2003