New South Wales Company proposed
Welsh-born director Michael Bogdanov has proposed the setting up of a new South Wales Theatre Company based at the Grand Theatre, Swansea, as part of his alternative plans to those proposed by the Arts Council for Wales. "The creation of a Welsh National Theatre should not be at the expense of existing provision," he said. "New monies must be indentified."
The plan has the support of Swansea City Council, who contacted Bogdanov in an angry reaction against ACW's plans to invest heavily in the north at the expense of the south.
Hackney Empire appeal reaches £10m
Hackney Empire has reached two thirds of the total it needs to refurbish the theatre. £10m has been reached by fund-raising events and grants from the Single Reegeneration Budget (SRB) (£3m), the National Lottery (£5m), and bodies such as English Heritage.
New performing arts qualification from Guildford
Guildford School of Acting and Guildford College have combined to offer a new National Diploma in the Performing Arts, which will be offered in September 2000. The two year course will comprise three programmes: theatrical production, drama and dance.
The course sits alongside BTEC and Advanced GNVQ as a preparation for degreee-level vocational training, and students will be able to go on to a higher diploma or a degree course at the GSA.