The Society of London Theatre (SOLT), the organisation which represents the West End's commercial sector, is proposing that member theatres should consider closing on Monday evenings and having Sunday afternoon matinees instead, following the example set in recent years by most Broadway and off-Broadway theatres.
SOLT is currently having discussions with all the unions - BECTU, Equity and the MU - and says that negotiations are at a very delicate stage. There are many problems to be overcome, not least that of payment for Sunday working, so a spokesperson has said that it could be up to a year before trials start.
Some years ago the retail sector faced the same problems when Sunday trading became allowable under law. Sunday working was made voluntary and many shops now employ people specifically for Sunday working (often students). because of the nature of the theatre business, of curse, that is not an option and SOLT recognises that, to get union agreement, Sunday working will have to be financially worthwhile.
Sainsbury's to fund new writing for youngsters
ACE and supermarket chain Sainsbury's are to jointly fund a new writing deal for children aged 10 to 14. Called Checkout Theatre, it will fund eight new productions aimed at this age group over the next three years, at a cost of £600,000. Sainsbury's are to provide £500,000 and ACE will chip in with £100,000 from the New Audiences programme.
There will be two pilots in the next three months: a musical version of Apristophanes' The Frogs by the Nottingham Playhouse, and Edinburgh's Traverse will produce David Greig's Danny 306 + Me (4 ever). Both shows will also tour.
The plan is for six proposals annually to be selected and scripts commissioned, and three of these will get up to £45,000 for a full-scale production.
The Stage is to sponsor a new prize as part of the Vivian Ellis Awards for musical theatre. It will be the Award for the Most Promising Bookwriter.
In spite of the fact that Hijinx Theatre, which specialises in theatre for people with disabilities, has been reprieved by the Welsh Arts Council (ACW) in an unexpected U-turn, the whole row about theatre in Wales and ACW's proposals continues to grow. Almost every response to the proposals has been condemnatory, and not only from the ten companies which could close as a result. The only positive reaction has come from Clwyd Theatr Cymru, whose own fnding will receive a massive boost under the proposals.
Much of the row centres on the fate of TIE companies and the proposals to establish "franchises" in this area. To follow the progress of the campaign against the proposals, take a look at Keith Morris' Theatre in Wales/Theatr yng Nghymru site, which is putting online every document and every response. It makes interesting - and very depressing! - reading.
It will be business as usual at Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms during this year's Fringe after a compromise was reached between the management and Edinburgh City Council over debts. The venue will not open for a fourth week this year: it was that extra week which "killed us", according to Assembly Theatre Ltd chairman Iain MacDonald.
The City Council will, however, go ahead putting the venue's management out to tender for the 2000 Fringe.
Peter Brook's The Threads of Time, his autobiography, has won the 1998 Society for Theatre Research's Annual Book Award.
Lionel Bart dies
Lionel Bart, who created the musical Oliver! has died in hospital (Saturday 3rd April) at the age of 68. He had been suffering from cancer.