Features

Some Hope Amidst the Agony

6 November 2020

Philip Fisher spots some rays of light in the latest coronavirus legislation.

Insurance—The Missing Link

30 October 2020

Philip Fisher reviews some recent developments and suggests that with coronavirus returning at worrying levels, theatres badly need an insurance scheme to protect against forced closures.

Panto 2020: the season in stats

30 October 2020

Simon Sladen brings you Pantoland's vital statistics in a season where less is more.

Arts Council England: £75 million divided by 35

25 October 2020

This week £75 million from the Culture Recovery Fund was shared out between thirty five cultural organisations and venues.

David Toole OBE obituary

23 October 2020

Vera Liber pays tribute to dancer David Toole OBE, 31 July 1964 to 16 October 2020.

Arts Council England fiddling while England burns

23 October 2020

This week, we take a look at a series of public funding announcements that may prove a mixed blessing.

Second round of CRF funding from Arts Council England

18 October 2020

The Arts Council has announced the second round of funding in which £76,654,621 of Culture Recovery Fund grants is assigned to 589 organisations.

The Future of Theatre

16 October 2020

Philip Fisher takes a look at how coronavirus has widened the scope of theatre delivery.

Panto Season 2020: Oh Yes It Is!

16 October 2020

Simon Sladen looks forward to Panto Season 2020 and explores how COVID-19 has affected the Industry. (Updated 28/10/20)

Arts Council England First Round Funding

13 October 2020

The top 20 winners and a breakdown by region of the initial distribution of the Arts Council's £825m share of the Cultural Recovery Fund.

Could it be magic?

13 October 2020

The Arts Council-commissioned CEBR report, which attributes an expedited recovery for the cultural sector to government funding, has left National news editor and London reviewer Sandra Giorgetti contemplating the power of magic.

Please Close Us Down!

10 October 2020

Boris Johnson might be the next Feydeau or Frayn, judging by the problems that theatres might suffer under his latest cunning plan.

Saving panto? Huh!

9 October 2020

While a small part of the theatre industry celebrates Operation Sleeping Beauty, Peter Lathan is far more cynical.

Operation Sleeping Beauty: Pantoland's Kiss of Life?

9 October 2020

Simon Sladen reports on the National Lottery initiative to purchase pantomime tickets to seats unable to be sold due to 'social distancing' under Operation Sleeping Beauty.

Parliamentary Debate on Culture Sector 8 October 2020

9 October 2020

The House of Commons debated spending by the Department for Digital, Culture and Media and Sport on support measures for the DCMS sectors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whodunnit or Didn’t

2 October 2020

Philip Fisher compares and contrasts the entertainment industry's responses to coronavirus in London and New York.

Has Sunak Saved the Theatre? – Not Yet

24 September 2020

Rishi Sunak's latest jobs and loans package offers little comfort for the arts community.

The wisdom of reopening theatres

18 September 2020

Philip Fisher is concerned that running shows at a loss could further damage the finances of theatres that are already struggling.

Pandemic Panto-monium!

17 September 2020

Simon Sladen reports on the latest industry activity ahead of Panto Season 2020 including strategies companies are taking to produce COVID-secure productions. Updated 23/09/20.

Favourite theatres on death row and an extra-terrestrial solution

11 September 2020

Philip Fisher highlights the plight of the Finborough Theatre in London and some of Edinburgh's finest, while remaining cynical about the government's Moonshine project.