George Lucas, the director of Star Wars has promised to donate the proceeds of a screening of the new episode, The Phantom Menace, to the Almeida's roof repair fund. It is expected that the screening, at the Odeon West End on 15th July, after the UK premiere but before the film's general release will attract a full house of around 850.
The theatre has been told that its licence will not be renewed in three years time uless its roof is repaired.
The Almeida's co-artistic director, Ian McDairmid, appears in the film.
You signed it: now deliver, Smith told
The Arts Day Trust has challenged Culture Secretary Chris Smith to stand by an Early Day Motion he signed in 1991, whilst in oppostion, to endorse a National Arts Day. The motion stated that such national recognition would demonstrate that "the arts do not belong on the periphery of daily life but at its centre." A letter to Smith from Al Weil, administrator of the Trust, was answered with a suggestion that he approach the Arts Council.
Matthew Bourne, artistic director and choreographer for Adventures in Motion Pictures, has won a special award for the "Concept, Direction and Choreography of Swan Lake" at the Annual Astaire Awards in New York. Adam Cooper won Best Dancer for his work on the ballet.
Michael Frayn's Copenhagen has been voted Best New Play at France's prestigeous Nuit des Molieres, the top French theatre awards.