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Dateline:
26th May, 2002
Council Takes Over
as Operating Company Folds
The Entertainment Team (Durham) Ltd., the operating company of Durham's
new £14m Gala Theatre, was wound up on Wednesday 22nd May, just
hours after the theatre's owners, Durham City Council, terminated its
contract for running the theatre.
The company, a Council spokesman said, was "not in a position
to fulfill its contract" because of "financial difficulties.".
The spokesman, environment director John Jennings, claimed that the
theatre itself was in a "healthy position" and would continue
to trade with the current management and staff of thirty. However the
local newspaper, the Sunderland Echo, says it has been in contact with
a number of local businesses which have not been paid by the theatre.
The theatre opened in January of this year.
Brown Is New WYP Director
Ian Brown, currently associate director, is to take over as artistic
director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse when Jude Kelly leaves in the
autumn. He became the Leeds theatre's associate dirctor last spring
after a career which included being artistic director of the Traverse,
Edinburgh, for eight years and work for the RSC.
Gill Retrospective
at Sheffield
On Thursday (23rd) Sheffield Crucible launched a major, month-long retrospective
of the work of playwright and director Peter Gill.
Gill directs his new play Original Sin, which will play in repertory
with four of his other plays, Kick for Touch, Small Change,
Mean Tears and Friendly Fire. In addition to these productions
(all in the Crucible Studio), there will be discussions, readings and
seminars.
Pericles
Casting Announced
The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced the casting for the third
and last of its productions at the current season at the Roundhouse,
Camden. Ray Fearon will play Pericles and will be joined by Kananu Kirimi,
Myra Lucretia Taylor, Lauren Ward, Jude Akuwudike, Keith Bartlett, Tom
Beard, Geoff Francis, Roger Frost, Simon Gregor, Brian Protheroe, Rolf
Saxon and James Telfer. The production, which will be directed by Adrian
Noble, runs from 5th to 13th July, previewing from 28th June.
RSC Announces Winter
Stratford Season
The autumn/winter RSC season at Stratford will consist of :
- The Merry Wives of Windsor (Swan: 23rd October to 25th January)
- Coriolanus (Swan: 14th November to 25th January)
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (RST: 21st November
to 9th February)
First RSC Academy
Production Announced
The first production of the new RSC Academy, one of the new ideas in
Adrian Noble's revamp of the entire company, is to be King Lear.
It will run at the Young Vic from 23rd October to 9th November and is
likely to feature the youngest ever Lear.
Total Theatre Awards
Assessors Wanted
The Total Theatre Network, devoted to "physically inspired or non-text
based performance", will hold its fourth annual Total Theatre Awards
at the Edinburgh Fringe in August. The group is looking for people who
will be in Edinburgh up to 15th August to act as official assessors.
They get a free ticket for the shows they assess and an invitation to
the awards ceremony at the end of August in the Assembly Rooms.
Anyone who is suitably qualified beause of their knowledge of this
kind of theatre and who would like to act as an assessor, should contact
the Total Theatre Network director Annabel Arndt by phone (020 7729
7944) or email (awards@totaltheatre.org.uk).
Mamma Mia!
at the Jubilee
The cast of Mamma Mia! will perform extracts from the show at
Buckingham Palace on 3rd June, as part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations,
as part of the pre-concert entertainment for the "Party at the
Palace". The cast will perform Money, Money, Money, Gimme!
Gimme! Gimme!, I Have A Dream, Mamma Mia and Dancing
Queen.
Mamma Mia! will be the only West End show to perform at the
Palace.
Daisy Pulled Off
The new production of Daisy Pulls It Off (Lyric) will close on
8th June, after a seven week run. It had been booking up to 2nd November.
The first production, in 1983, ran for three years.
Sleuth
West End Revival
Peter Bowles is to star in a revival of Anthony Shaffer's Sleuth
at the Apollo, starting on 9th July (previews from 2nd). The West End
run will be preceded by a short season at the Theatre Royal, Windsor
(11th to 19th June).
Glee Club
to Close Early
The Bush's production of Richard Cameron's The Glee Club, which
transferred to the Duchess on 22nd April, will close on 1st June. The
play, which had an extended sell-out run at the Bush, had been booking
to 12th October.
Fame
to Transfer
The long-running hit musical Fame is to transfer to the Aldwych
on 4th September. It is currently playing at the Cambridge.
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