The Really Useful group has announced that it is in negotiations with the Chinese authorities to take Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals to China. Initially the idea is that a showcase of extracts from the shows, possibly starring Elaine Paige, will tour major cities, including Beijing, where they hope to play the Great Hall of the People in Tienanmen Square.
The joint project by RTE (the Irish broadcasting company), Channel 4 and the Irish Film Board to film all of Samuel Beckett's 19 plays has been completed. Included are Catastrophe with John Gielgud and Harold Pinter, directed by David Mamet, Endgame with Michael Gambon and David Thewlis, and the very short (45 seconds) Breathe, directed by Damien Hirst. Channel 4 expects to show a selection of the films later this year.
UK Theatre Web, the online database of all things theatrical, will be six years old on Valentine's Day. Founded (in 1995) and run by Robert and Frances Iles, it is one of the oldest British theatre sites on the Net.
Composer and lyricist David Heneker has died at the age of 94. After a long career in the army, he left in 1948 and became a full-time songwriter. Amongst his many successes were Expresso Bongo, the English version of Irma la Douce, Make Me an Offer, Half a Sixpence, Charlie Girl, Jorrocks, Phil The Fluter, Popkiss, The Biograph Girl and Peg.