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Dateline: 15th June, 2003

News from the Midlands

Autumn/Winter in Bristol

The New Bristol Old Vic has announced its autmn/winter season.

First up is The Caretaker by Harold Pinter, which runs from Sept 4-27 and which is directed by Lindsay Posner (who directed Sexual Perversity in Chicago in the West End with Matthew Perry and Minnie Driver and Nick Dear's forthcoming Power at the NT with Robert Lindsay). He has worked extensively at the RSC and Royal Court Theatre.

From Oct 3-25 there's a production of Shakey's early comedy The Comedy of Errors, directed by David Farr, one of the two artistic directors at the Vic. It reunites the team (Farr and designer Ti Green) behind the acclaimed Coriolanus, currently showing at the Old Vic in London, formerly at Stratford and touring.

And from Oct 31 until Nov 22, there's a production of Sam Shepherd's 1981 play, True West, directed by Wilson Milam whose previous productions include The Lieutenant of Inishmore (RSC/West End and tour), and Sam Shepherd's A Lie of the Mind (Donmar Warehouse).

Pete Wood

Arts Council probe into Haymarket closure

Arts Council England are to conduct a "full and detailed" examination of the financial crisis which led to the closure of Leicester's Haymarket Theatre.

The Haymarket announced last month it would close in July because of debts of £450,000. Board members made an emergency bid to the Arts Council for extra funds.

Now Arts Council bosses will decide whether to put up cash to clear the theatre's debts. If they do, the Haymarket will reopen in the middle of next year until a new £31m city-centre venue opens in 2006.

But if the Arts Council refuses to help, the theatre will remain closed, with only a small team remaining to prepare productions for the new theatre.

Haymarket bosses blamed rising costs, the withdrawal of £100,000 county council funding and a strike by the BECTU union which represents backstage staff. There were also low audience figures for some shows.

More than seventy staff are being made redundant. About 3,000 people signed a petition calling for the theatre to be kept open.

Silver Sword brings curtain down on season

Nottingham Playhouse concludes its spring/summer season with a stage adaptation of Ian Serraillier's book The Silver Sword.

Generations of students have studied the book and thousands know this classic tale through a BBC TV adaptation. It is still on many school syllabuses.

The Playhouse will be presenting The Silver Sword from Thursday, June 26th until Saturday, July 12th.

Steve Orme

 

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©Peter Lathan 2003