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Dateline:
10th January, 2002
Hall Quits RSC
Edward Hall, son of Sir Peter, has resigned as director of the Royal
Shakespeare Company production of Edward III over difference
about casting and rehearsal times. No one at the RSC is making any comment
about his actions, but there is no doubt that it is a real blow to the
company which is, if reports are correct, riven with internal strife
at the moment.
RSC Spring/Summer
Season
Details of the Royal Shakespeare's sping/summer season have been announced.
In addition to the productions of Antony and Cleopatra and Much
Ado About Nothing in Stratford and at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket
(story), there will also be productions
of
- Massinger's The Roman Actor and Webster and Marston's The
Malcontent, both starring Antony Sher, and Edward III (starring
David Rintoul) at the Swan;
- The Tempest (directed by Michael Boyd and starring Malcolm
Storry as Prospero), The Winter's Tale (directed by Matthew
Warchus and starring Douglas Hidge and Rolf Saxon) and Pericles
(directed by Adrian Noble) at London's Roundhouse;
- David Farr's Night of the Soul (starring Tom Mannion and
Zoe Waites) at the Barbican Pit.
West End Pay Deal
Agreed
Actors' union Equity and the Society of London Theatre have agreed a
new pay deal for actors and stage managers in the West End, which replaces
the former agreement which expired in January.
The new minimum will be £320 (formerly £303), with a maximum
for rehearsals of £416. Pay will increase annually by the RPI
(retail price index) plus 1% for the four years which the agreement
covers. Allowances will also increase by inflation plus 1%.
Also in the agreement is the stipulation that only eight shows a week
can be scheduled, except over the three week Christmas and Near Year
period, when up to ten shows can be worked in any one of these weeks,
so long as the total number of shows over the three weeks does not exceed
24.
The new agreement is backdated to 14th January, when the old one expired.
Courtyard Development
Underway
The first stage of the redevelopment of London Fringe venue The Courtyard
was completed this week, after five weeks of building work. The theatre,
which will eventually expand to three times its current size and become
aa wide-ranging arts complex, is part of the redevelopment of the whole
King's Cross area, a art of London which is run-down and crime-infested.
£35m is being invested in the area.
Funds for further development of the Courtyard are currently being
raised and there will be a gala evening at the theatre on 29th April,
wich will be attended by Chris Smith, the former Culture Secretary.
Kushner Premiere at
Young Vic
Tony Kushner's Homebody/Kabul is get its European premiere at
the Young Vic in May in a co-production with Cheek by Jowl. The play
will be directed by Declan Donnellan and stars Kika Markham.
More Proof
Casting
Joining Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow in David Auburn's Proof
at the Donmar Warehouse (9th May to 15th June) will be Ronald Pickup
and Richard Coyle.
Billy Elliot
Musical Rumoured
According to a report in the "Daily Mail", Elston John and
Lee Hall are collaborating on a stage musical version of Hall's hit
film Billy Elliot.
Joe Egg
for Broadcast
BBC4, the new digital channel, is to broadcast Peter Nichol's A Day
in the Death of Joe Egg on 13th March at 9pm. The cast will feature
Victopria Hamilton, Eddie Izzard and Prunella Scales, who were all in
the original cast of the revival at the Comedy Theatre.
Mamma Mia! Extends
The Abba-based hit musical Mamma Mia! has extended its booking
until 15th March, 2003.
Blood Brothers
Extends
Willy Russell's long-running musical Blood Brothers has extended
its booking until 28th September.
Rumours
Two interesting rumours are circulating at the moment:
- a revival of Funny Girl with Maria Friedman some time in
the next twelve months;
- a rock 'n' roll version of Romeo and Juliet by Don Black
for later this year.
Daisy
Lead Unveiled
Hannah Yelland, daughter of actor David Yelland, is to play Daisy in
the revival of Daisy Pulls It Off, which opens at the Lyric in
April.
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.
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