Ravenhill play out of the Fringe
Mark Ravenhill's new play, Some Explicit Polaroids has been pulled from the Fringe programme. It was due to be performed at the Traverse by the Out of Joint company. According to director Max Stafford Clark, the writing schedule has fallen behind because he has been on tour but, according to The Stage, it is thought that Ravenhill is unhappy with the script and wants more time to work on it.
It is now expected that the play will open at the New Ambassadors (London) in October and Out of Joint will present another premiere at the Traverse, Simon Bennett's Drummers.
The Arts Council of Wales has confirmed that, after a period of consultation, its plans for future funding of theatre in Wales are to go ahead almost unchanged. The only change of any note to emerge from the seven weeks of consultation is the rescue of the Hijinx company (announced some weeks ago), which specialises in work with people with learning disablities.
The proposals will create two national theatres, one in English and one in Welsh. The English lanuage theatre, which is to be Herry Hands' Clwyd Theatr Cymru, is particularly contentious and even ACW admits that it met with little support. In addition, there will be new Theatre in Education provision, which has yet to be specified but we do know that eight companies will have to close. Finally ACW will support one "experimental" company, which will be Swansea-based Volcano, and one mainstream touring company, the Torch at Milford Haven.
The reasoning behind the reorganisation of its funding is that ACW faces cuts in its drama budget of £100,000 a year.
More money for Scotland On Stage
The Scottish Arts Council will increase its Scotland On Stage funding by £100,000 from April of next year, bringing the total to half a million.
The Palace, Wescliff-on-Sea is to reopen in December with a new rep company headed by Roy Marsden. The company will produce five plays a year and the theatre will also host other professional as well as amateur work.