The Royal Shakespeare Company has been given the Freedom of the City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in recognition of its 21 seasons in the city. Adrian Noble received the parchment granting the Freedom on behalf of the Company in a ceremony at the Civic Centre On Friday of last week.
Newcastle is, effectively, the RSC's third home, the only city in the UK in which it runs a full season of plays in a number of theatres (The Theatre Royal, the Newcastle Playhouse and the Gulbenkian Studio) outside of Stratford and London.
The TMA has refused to respond to Equity's claim for a £250 a week (plus a rise in touring allowances) in the commercial sector, because of the Union's pre-emptive action in instructing members not to sign new contracts.
ROH quarter million loss predicted
A Royal Opera House spokesperson has refused to deny that the company has lost nearly a quarter of a million pounds in the first four weeks of its current season. It is, the company announced, "too early to say". Sources within the House continue to predict even greater losses as the season progresses.The Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, has announced a net income of £3m and audiences of 315,000 for last year, its best ever figures. The venue has also been awarded a £850,000 Lottery grant for a feasibility study for a £15m redevelopment.
Cardiff Arena attacked over Di show cancellation
The Cardiff International Arena is under attack for refusing to refund booking fees on tickets for its concert in aid of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. 5000 seats had been sold on the strength of the advertised line-up including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Shirley Bassey. Now the show has been cancelled and the booking fees of between £1.75 and £3.25 charged to those who paid by credit card will not, the venue says, be returned.
SAC to help Lottery applicants
The Scottish Arts Council is to hold two one-day conferences for theatre managers and others who wish to apply for grants from the National Lottery. They will be held at the Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, on 27th October and the Tron, Glasgow, on the 30th. The conference fee is £47 and would-be attenders can obtain tickets by ringing Lynsey MacKenzie on 0131 226 6051.