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Dateline: 15th May, 2003 Berkoff Launches the Nightingale The Nightingale Theatre is a 50-seat fringe venue situated above the Grand Central Bar beside Brighton Train Station. Once Brighton's best loved venue, the Theatre has been dark for the past seven years. Yesterday, however, saw the launch of the Nightingale's new manifesto, written by the resident company Prodigal Theatre, and presented to the press, local theatre companies and community representatives. Patron Steven Berkoff was also there to launch the manifesto and pledged his support to the Nightingale. Speaking in support of Actor-Managers, Berkoff praised the Prodigal Theatre Company's initiative and welcomed the opening of a theatre run by performers. "It is good to see young people setting up a new venture and being prepared to their names and their bodies on the line" he said. His connection with Prodigal stems from his seeing their award winning Edmund Kean biographic The Tragedian at last year's Edinburgh Fringe. With the anniversary of Kean's death on the 15th of this month, it was an appropriate moment for the actor-managers of the Nightingale to be launching their venue - the theatre's Green Room is named the Kean Room in memory of the heroic actor. The Nightingale currently operates as a rehearsal and workshop space, but will be presenting performances from this autumn. The Manifesto opens with the line: "We will programme work based on quality and integrity, not a particular aesthetic." It promises a programming policy that will support up-and-coming companies and individuals, particularly from the local area, and this will reinforce the reputation the Nightingale once enjoyed in Brighton. In addition Prodigal Theatre promise to attract 'masters' and internationally recognised companies to perform in their unique, intimate space. The enterprise is underpinned by an ideal relationship with the owners of the Theatre and downstairs bar - Zelgrain Ltd - whose policy of sponsoring art in the community has made the re-opening possible.
L
to R: Dan Fordini, Miranda Henderson, Alister O'loughlin, Steven
Berkoff, Damian Tanham Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
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