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Dateline:
14th April, 2002
Strike Off
A planned strike by West End memebrs of BECTU, the technicians union,
has been called off after 71% of the membership agreed to accept new
proposals from the Society of London Theatre (SOLT). The 11.1% rise
will increase the average hourly rate by 82p to £7.15. SOLT has
originally offered 1.6%.
Chichester Season
Announced
The Chichester Festival has announced the programme for its 40th anniversary
season:
- The Front Page (by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur) runs
from 15th May to 13th July and stars Michael Pennington
- Wild Orchids (Anouilh), will star Patrica Routledge (from
29th May to 20th July)
- Cabaret (25th July to 5th October)
- Romeo and Juliet (21st August to 5th October), with Paul
Shelly and Una Stubbs
- The Lady's Not for Burning (Christopher Fry) runs at the
Minerva Studio from 22nd May to 15th June (directed by Samel West)
- Up on the Roof, a new comedy, from 19th June to 20th July
(Minerva)
- Blunt Speaking, one-man show written and performed by Corin
Redgrave, also at the Minvera from 23rd July to 10th August
- Song of the Western Man by Christopher William Hill (world
premiere, also at the Minerva) runs from 14th August to 7th September
- Dead Funny (Terry Johnson): 11th September to 5th October
(Minerva)
Elton John Joins the
Old Vic
Pop singer Elton John is the new chairman of the Old Vic Theatre Trust.
"I am proud to join the Old Vic Theatre Trust as the new chairman,"
he said, describing it as "one of the most important theatres in
Great Britain." As chairman he will, said a spokesman for the Trust,
be leading the theatre into "a new phase of its development and
growth".
Massive Grant
for the Barbican
The City of London has made a £31m grant to the Barbican Centre
for capital works, part of which will be a major refurbishment of the
foyer areas. The Barbican, of course, houses not just the theatre, but
also a concert hall and cinema.
RSC to Revive The
Hollow Crown
The Royal Shakespeare Company is to revive The Hollow Crown,
John Barton's compilation piece on the history of the monarchy which
was a major success over forty years ago. Starring Derek Jacobi, Ian
Richardson and Donald Sinden, it will tour Australia and New Zealand
from 15th April, and will then play at Stratford from 15th July.
In the cast for the tour will be Diana Rigg, but it is not known yet
whether she will appear at Stratford.
Broadcasting Press
Guild Awards
The Broadcasting Press Guild has announced the winner of its annual
awards. Drama-related awards are:
- Best Actor: David Suchet for The Way We Live Now (BBC1)
- Best Actress: Lesley Sharp for Bob and Rose (ITV1)
and Clocking Off (BBC1)
- Best Drama Series: The Way We Live Now (BBC1)
- Best Single Drama: Othello (ITV1)
- Best Entertainment Show: The Office
- Best Writing: The Office
New
Galactic Musical for Pleasance
The Pleasance, London, is to lay host to a new musical with an outer
space theme. The Space Family Robinson will play there from3rd
to 26th May. Inspired by the old TV sci-fi series, which was in turn
inspired by the novel The Swiss Family Robinson, the new musical
will star star Hannah Waddingham, who co-starred in The Beautiful
Game.
New Monologues Cast
A new cast consisting of Honor Blackman, Sarah Alexander and Josette
Bushell-Mingo will take over the Vagina Monologues from 22nd April to
18th May.
Henshall on Tour
Ruthie Henshall is to tour The Magnificent Musicals, a tribute
to music theatre. The show opened on Thursday 11th at the Churchill,
Bromley, and will run until 28th September, calling at Northampton,
Glasgow, Belfast, Southend-on-Sea, Manchester, Plymouth, Richmond, Milton
Keynes, Malvern, Basingstoke, Cambridge, Croydon and Sheffield.
Lieutenant Returns
The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Martin McDonagh's play which played
to full houses at the Barbican Pit earlier this year, is to have a West
End outing at the Garrick in June, where it begins previews on 17th.
Madness at the Cambridge
Our House, a new show based on the music of pop group Madness,
will open at the Cambridge Theatre on 15th October, previewing from
the previous month. Following the pattern set by Mamma Mia!,
Our House will consist of a storyline accompanied by the band's
music.
Boy George to Join
Taboo Cast
Boy George is to joing the cast of the musical about his own life, Taboo,
for a short run from 6th may to 15th June. He will not, however, play
himself. Rather he will play Leigh Bowery, a performance artist, and
that part will be taken over on 17th June by Australian Mark Little.
Madonna Pulls
Them In
Up for Grabs, Madonna's West End debut at Wyndham's, has already
sold out, and now tickets are changing hands for £150, according
to reports in the press.
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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