It is reported that London's Vaudeville Theatre has been sold to American producer Max Weitzenhoffer. Weitzenhoffer is understood to have been one of the unsuccessful bidders for the Stoll Moss Group when it was bought by Really Useful theatres. He is currently co-producer of Medea at the Queen's.
Currently showing at the Vaudeville, a 690-seater, is Madame Melville, which has just announced that it will close at the end of the present booking period.
At the insistence of director Deborah Warner, the best seats in the house at the Queen's for Medea will be available to 18-25 year olds for just £10. The play stars Fiona Shaw and Jonathan Cake.
In the last two weeks two major organisations which support playwrights have had their RAB fudning cut. In the West Midlands Stagecoach! which has more than 400 members lost its £27,000 annual grant because West Midlands Arts felt it has "achieved its original aim", whilst in Yorkshire, Yorkshire Playwrights has been told that there is no funding available for it, in spite of being encouraged to apply and even being given suggestions as to what to put into the bid.