Shadow Arts Council launches manifesto
The Shadow Arts Council, set up by Sir Peter Hall and a number of big names in the arts world, has announced its manifesto for the arts in the run-up to the General Election on 7th June.
It calls for candidates to commit themselves to "a major revival of Government support for the arts" and for the arts to "have a conspicuous place in curricular activities" in schools. It also calls for arts funding to be doubled by the end of the next parliament and for "local cultural strategies" to replace the RABs.
The manifesto welcomes the incraaesed funding for theatre but says that, until it becoems available in 2003, many orgaisations will continue to struggle.
The cash-strapped Actors Centre, which recently lost the sponsorship of online casting company Talentspot, has had its financial problems eased by Sir Anthony Hopkins, who has converted a £135,000 loan he had some years ago into a donation. The Centre's Tristan Bates Theatre needs almost three quarters of a million pounds for essential refurbishment so that it can get back the entertainment licence which has been refused by Camden Council because of health and safety concerns.
Glasgow City Council has agreed to reinstate in full its annual grant to the theatre, whcih would otherwise have closed. The theatre is also in discussions with the Scottish Arts Council over increased core funding.
A motion is to be put to Equity's annual conference this weekend calling for the "devolution" of the National Theatre. The London Area proposes that the present NT should become the administrative centre for a series of national theatres "at strategic points around the country".
No NT Cherry Orchard for Broadway
American Equity has banned the transfer to the National's production of The Cherry Orchard, starring Corin and Vanessa Redgrave, because, it claims, there are more than three times as many British actors working in the US than there are American actors in the UK.. This is in contravention of an agreement which allows one for one swapping.
The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and the Theatrical Management Association (TMA) are pleased to announce that Richard Pulford will be stepping into the role of chief executive early next year, a position currently filled by Rupert Rhymes who has headed both organisations for the last 13 years. He will bring many years of invaluable industry experience gained through a number of high profile positions which include his most recent involvement with the Arts Council of England where he is acting as advisor in the restructuring of the arts funding system.
Playwright Peter Shaffer was knighted by the Queen on Friday 18th May.
Great actors of the 20th century
The Theatre Museum in Covent Garden will celebrate some great British actors of the last century in a series of talks which begins on 3rd June. The actors are Sir John Gielgud, Dame Edith Evans, Sir Michael Redgrave and Sir Laurence Olivier. Each talk will include a presentation by the theatre historian Frances Hughes and a discussion chaired by writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth. Special guests joining these discussions include Corin Redgrave, Dulcie Gray, Barry Morse, Bryan Forbes, Peter Barkworth, Alan Strachan and Edward Petherbridge.
The earliest portrait of Shakespeare?
It is claimed that a portrait of a man with a goatee beard and dressed in a green tabard, discovered in Canada, may be the earliest ever portrait of Shakespeare. However chairman of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stanley Wells, thinks that it differs too much from authenticated pictures to be genuine.
Stratford Circus to open in June
The latest performing arts venue, Stratford Circus, situated in Theatre square alongside the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, will open to the public in June. The new venue, which has four performance spaces, plans to offer over 2000 events a year, from performances to workshops.