The British Theatre Guide: News for 2nd March, 2003

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Dateline: 2nd March, 2003

Regent's Park 2003 Season
The Regent's Park Open Air Theatre has announced its 2003 season, which will run from 2nd June to 6th September:

A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Michael Pennington, opens on 9th June (previews from 2nd)
Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, opens on 13th June, previewing from 4th
High Society, directed by artistic director Ian Talbot, opens on 24th July (previews from 22nd)
Granny And The Gorilla, written by Stuart Paterson and presented by the New Shakespeare Company and Unicorn Theatre for Children, opens on 30th July

There will also be a number of Sunday in the Park concerts.

Variety Club Awards
The Variety Club of Great Britain announced its Showbusiness Awards last week. Of interest to theatregoers were:

Musical Theatre : Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Outstanding Performance in a Stage Play : John Hurt and Penelope Wilton for Afterplay
Bernard Delfont Award for Outstanding Contribution to Showbusiness : Producer Bill Kenwright for his thirty years in the business

Congestion Case Withdrawn
Samantha Bond and the group of Smithfield market traders who have joined together to mount a legal challenge to the traffic congestion charges introduced by Mayor Ken Livinstone on 17th February have withdrawn their case. The reason for the withdrawal is said to be the fact that they could only raise one tenth of the money needed to bring the case to court. In addition, many of the traders have decided to pay the charge because of the mounting penalty fees they will have to pay.

The Mayor has said that shortly a reduced charge for those on low incomes will be brought in, which Bond claims as a partial victory for the campaign, although Livingstone responds that it had always been the intention to do so.

Opponents of the congestion charge claim that it will have a seriously deleterious effect on the West End.

Cheap Ticket Scheme Extends
The Get into London Theatre ticket scheme, a joint initiative from the Mayor of London's office and the Society of London Theatre, has extended by a week. Tickets will now be bookable until 7th March. Under the scheme, tickets for West End shows will be available at £10, £15 and £20. Already 70,000 tickets have been sold.

Northern Broadsides on Tour
Halifax-based Northern Broadsides has begun its spring tour at its home theatre, the Viaduct, after which it is due to visit Coventry, Kingston upon Thames, Stoke, Scarborough, Bradford, Wellingborough, Skipton, Liverpool, Bury St Edmunds, Salford, Leeds and Nottingham. There are two plays in the repertoire, Henry V and A Woman Killed with Kindness (Thmas Heywood), both direcetd by the company's artistic director Barrie Rutter.

New York Fails to Take Mendes to Its Heart
According to a report in The Guardian, New York critics have not welcomed Sam mendes' successful double bill, Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya. Although playing to 90% houses, the critics have not been kind. Simon Russell Beale is particularly disliked, with one critic calling his performance "histrionic and shallow, intent on impressing" and another saying, "Give me a thin Vanya! You cannot take a man seriously who looks as if he's pining for a sticky bun."

Grimm Fantasies at the King's Head
The King's Head Theatre is to premiere Grimm Fantasies by US writer John Michael Heuer from 30th March to 4th May (previews from 25th March). The show will star Susannah Doyle and Brian Protheroe.

The Boyfriend to Tour
Sandy Wilson's The Boyfriend, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, is to tour from 24th March. Starring Oliver Tobias and Roy Barraclough, it opens at the Theatre Royal, Windosr, and then gopes on to Manchester, Bradford, Edinburgh, Eastbourne, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Darlington, Bath, Sheffield, High Wycombe and Torquay. Other venues are expected to be announced later.

Kelly: No Action, Say Police
No action is to be taken against TV presenter and actor Matthew Kelly over allegations of sexual abuse against a young boy. He was released after questioning last week as the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insuffient evidence against him. He did, however, receive a formal police caution after a quantity of a Class A drug, believed to be cocaine, was found in his house during a search.

In a statement after leaving Staines police station, Kelly said, "I am delighted but not surprised that after an extensive and thorough police investigation, which included inquiries abroad, it is clear that there is no truth in the single allegation that was made against me. I strenuously denied the allegation when interviewed by the police and have given them all possible assistance with the investigation which they were under a duty to carry out."

Kelly is currently playing Lennie in a touring production of Of Mice and Men and, at the first performance after he was cleared, he was given a standing ovation by the audience at Darlington Civic Theatre.

Extending
The Lion King (Lyceum) has announced an extension to 28th September and Grease (Victoria Palace), which announced a short extension a few weeks ago, has announced that it si now booking until 6th September.

Taboo to Close
Taboo, the musical based around the work of 1980s pop star Boy George, is to close on 26th April, the end of its current booking period. It will transfer to Broadway later this year.

Top Soaps Too Violent, Says BSC
Britain's top two soap operas, EastEnders and Coronation Street, have been criticisd for being too violent by the Broadcasting Standards Commission.

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