Mary Allen has been forced to resign. New chairman, Sir Colin Southgate, told Allen at a board meeting that the company needs an artistic director, not an arts administrator. This brought to a head what an ROH source described as "a growing difference of views over future plans" for the House.
Edinburgh Festival Programme Announced
The programme for this year's Edinburgh International Festival has been announced. There are five new theatre productions:
New Government Money for the Arts
According to sources quoted in a story in The Stage, Culture Secretary has pledged greater investment in the arts over the coming months. It is expected that this money will be transmitted through the DCMS and will be aimed at regional theatres.
Incoming ACE chairman, Gerry Robinson, has hinted that ACE may insist upon proper contracts between the organisation and its clients in future. Such contracts could give ACE the right to intervene in the internal affairs of clients whom it believes are not performing adequately.
Newcastle Theatre Royal General Manager, Peter Aughton, has taken early retirement after a damning consultants' report (see our story of last week). Two people are being mentioned as possible successors: Tim Flood of the Whitley Bay Playhouse, formerly Administrator of Northern Stage, and Barry Nettleton, formerly of Hull Truck and currently Director of the Customs House, South Shields.