The Stage / Features

Deal makes theatre history

2009-11-06T15:35:00Z

ATG's growth into the largest theatre operator in the UK represents a remarkable achievement, writes Alistair Smith

Chit chat: Tweeter labelled twit by Tory types

2009-11-03T10:55:00Z

A nice little spat is developing between culture secretary Ben Bradshaw and his opposite numbers on the Tory shadow culture team.

Chit chat: Taken to task for ignoring the tusks

2009-11-03T10:50:00Z

Last week, the great and the good of the National Skills Academy gathered in Shakespeare's Globe. They were there to enthuse invited employers and others, whom they hoped to engage as 'ambassadors' for the project.

Chit chat: Folk singer suffers hoax stinger

2009-11-03T10:50:00Z

Meanwhile, some troubling news reaches our ears that folk singer Charlie Landsborough - a regular performer on the BBC's Songs of Praise - appears to have been hit by a malicious hoaxer.

Obituary: Troy Kennedy Martin

2009-11-02T18:20:04Z

Troy Kennedy Martin changed the tone and temper of television crime dramas overnight in 1962 when he created the groundbreaking Z-Cars. Two decades later, Edge of Darkness exploited the Scottish-born writer's signature grittiness to revive the spy thriller by imbuing it with the dark complexities of contemporary life.

Obituary: Nicky Bentley

2009-11-02T18:20:03Z

Dance teacher and choreographer Nicky Bentley died of cancer at her home in Frensham, Surrey, on August 31.

Obituary: Patrick Swayze

2009-11-02T18:20:03Z

Few ballet dancers become Hollywood heart-throbs, but Patrick Swayze's co-starring role as the eponymous Ghost alongside Demi Moore in 1990 earned him an adoring legion of fans. The following year People magazine declared him to be the "sexiest man alive".

Obituary: Frank Deasy

2009-11-02T18:20:02Z

Frank Deasy's Emmy Award in 2006 for his valedictory script for the Prime Suspect series created by Lynda La Plante gave international recognition to a writer whose profile in the UK and his native Ireland was already solid, secure and growing.

Letter: It pays to be unresponsive

2009-11-02T16:30:02Z

Your article on the £940,000 lifeline to the Royal and Derngate in Northampton caught my attention (October 8, page 5).

TV review

2009-11-02T16:15:02Z

Yvette Fielding has discovered the existence of life after death, in her career if nowhere else. The former Blue Peter presenter currently enjoys fresh popularity thanks to Living TV's spookfest Most Haunted.

Backstage: Making waves

2009-11-02T16:05:02Z

A.C. Special Projects has supplied a colour changing LED lighting system for the Wave, a striking contemporary sculpture in Blackpool's new look town centre plaza. Designed by Somerset artist, Lucy Glendinning, it forms an integral part of the £4.7m makeover of St John's and Cedar Squares, having been officially unveiled by stylist, Laurence Llewellyn Bowen. The sculpture features an illuminated colour changing pattern in cast resin, reflecting the stained glass windows in St John's Church and which also ties in with Blackpool's famed Illuminations heritage. Having been approached to specify and supply a suitable LED lighting system for the sculpture, A.C. Special Projects chose the Philips ColorGraze Powercore, an IP66 low maintenance fixture tough enough to withstand the elements while also requiring minimal servicing once the piece was in position.

Backstage: Olympic interest

2009-11-02T16:00:02Z

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are now actively inviting interest from live events production companies to provide the production services for the opening and closing ceremonies of both 2012 Olympic events. The companies will provide administrative and production services to the creative directors of the four ceremonies, the directors being recruited directly by the organising committee through a separate process, meaning that creative content proposals are not being sought. Companies can register their interest at www.competefor.com Successful companies will be asked to present in early January 2010, while the operational structure is expected to be operational from 1 April 2010.

Backstage: Explosion of sound

2009-11-02T15:40:02Z

This year's Reproduced Sound conference, staged by the Institute of Acoustics, takes place from 19th-20th November at the Thistle Hotel, Brighton. The conference's 25th anniversary event, dubbed The Audio Explosion, will look subjects such as audio quality, intelligibility, loudspeaker design, and immersive audio etc. Delegates, especially those new to RS, state the event organisers, are invited to join an informal workshop tutorial on the evening before the main sessions, which will feature practical demonstrations of fundamental acoustic conditions from industry experts, along with a Q&A opportunity with a panel of experienced electroacousticians.

Letter: Why is it curtains?

2009-11-02T15:40:02Z

Is there any particular reason why the theatre house curtain has become an endangered species? It is an almost certainty that on arriving in the auditorium the stage set will be in full view of the audience. If the idea is to get the spectators in tune with the performance beforehand then I submit this does not happen. A vast majority take one look and revert to chatting, reading the programme and opening their sweets and chocolates. The goods have been exposed and there is no build up of expectation before the start. It is rather like receiving an unwrapped Christmas present.

Backstage: Stately domes

2009-11-02T15:25:02Z

Johannesburg-based, In2Structures, (part of the Gearhouse South Africa Group) has launched two new dome structures at a special, three-day launch event at its head office in Bezuidenhout Valley, Johannesburg, South Africa. The 36 metre wide SupaDome (SP) and the more intimately proportioned 18 metre wide AliDome are designed, states the company, to augment either end of In2Structures' current range of MaxiDome and Flat Truss Dome portable structures. The new In2Structures flagship product retains the shape of the MaxiDome, but with an increased width and height. The demonstration SupaDome was built with six bays plus two Dome ends, giving an internal size of nearly 2000 square metres, measuring 68.70 metres long by 32.70 wide, with headroom of 16.23 metres. The AliDome design evolved in conjunction with the development and manufacture of the SP Dome, in recognition of the need to offer marquee style spaces with vastly improved facilities, as part of a full range. An 18 metre diameter AliDome was built inside the SupaDome for the launch, featuring a variety of different skins, including a printed Johannesburg skyline combined with sky projections and transparent 'window skins'.

Backstage: Spiritual illumination

2009-11-02T14:50:02Z

Blackburn-based, lighting rental company HSL has supplied all the lighting and necessary rigging for a DVD and holiday TV special performance by Sting at Durham cathedral. Lighting designer for the two shows was Manfred Olma of mo2 Designs, based in Cologne, Germany. According to HSL project manager Mike Oates, the project entailed huge challenges, as this was the first concert of this scale to be staged there. When commissioned to light the show, HSL states that Olma specifically wanted to use Falcon searchlight and flower effects to accentuate the cathedral's architecture, both for the benefit of the cameras and live TV audience. Apart from rigging a large quantity of fixtures into an unusual venue, other challenges included the fact that as a place of worship the cathedral was open to the public throughout the get-in, and technical and rehearsal periods. The stage was positioned below the crossing, right at the heart of the church, key lighting being achieved using Robe ColorWash 1200s which were attached to the columns around the crossing and those nearest to it in the nave on custom brackets. To illuminate the nave and aisle, more ColorWash 1200s were rigged on top of their flight cases along to the edges of the nave, and where possible concealed behind the pillars on both sides. Olma and programmer Markus Janning ran the show on two grandMA full size consoles and four NSPs. Sting: A Winter's Night... was directed and produced by Jim Gable and Ann Kim of Graying & Balding Inc.

Desktop theatre: downloading live performances

2009-10-30T16:40:00Z

A new iTunes-style website will soon make filmed productions by the RSC, Royal Court, Young Vic and others available as downloads. Its founders tell Alistair Smith how the process works

Letter: Remembering a Lupino legend

2009-10-30T11:35:00Z

As director of the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America, I am delighted to inform your readers that to mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of the late great Lupino Lane, a memorial service is to be held at St Paul's Church (the Actors' Church), Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London, on Tuesday (November 10) at 2pm.

Letter: Desperately seeking photos

2009-10-30T11:35:00Z

Do you have any photographs of Eric Morecambe's first Rolls Royce? (it's the silver one).

Letter: Churchill's a bit of woof

2009-10-30T11:35:00Z

Your recent photo of Linda Lusardi and the Churchill dog (October 8, front page) made me smile.

Letter: Female focus

2009-10-30T11:30:01Z

I have to congratulate BBC executive producer Hilary Salmon for her excellent production of Criminal Justice transmitted five nights in a row from October 5 to 9.

Letter: The mane attraction

2009-10-30T11:30:01Z

I am amazed that The Lion King has been running for 10 years. When I was taken to see it many years ago, I thought the production, staging, costumes, scenery and choreography were stunningly brilliant. But the script was mediocre and the music utterly forgettable. Will it run to a revival?

Letter: Small but perfectly formed

2009-10-30T11:30:00Z

Sean Aita asks if there might not exist smaller venues which could benefit from the Peter Brook Awards (October 15, page 8, Reward Smaller Venues).

Obituary: Clinton Ford

2009-10-27T13:30:00Z

Between 1958 and 1970 versatile singer and popular entertainer Clinton Ford released some three dozen records, and achieved a modicum of chart success.

Obituary: Freddy Bienstock

2009-10-27T13:25:00Z

Freddy Bienstock began his career in the music industry as a stockroom clerk and ended it as the founder and chairman of one of the most powerful independent music publishing companies, Carlin.

Obituary: Mary Allin Travers

2009-10-27T11:50:02Z

Singer-songwriter and political activist Mary Allin Travers was a member of the popular folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary.

Obituary: Iain Cuthbertson

2009-10-27T11:50:01Z

Iain Cuthbertson had dealings with the police long before he became a household name as the dapper gangster Charlie Endell in the crime series Budgie and as the eponymous procurator fiscal in Sutherland's Law in the seventies.

Obituary: Hildegard Behrens

2009-10-27T11:50:00Z

As one of the great actor-singers of her generation, Hildegard Behrens seared herself onto the imagination as a Brunnhilde without equal, while claiming ownership of another Wagnerian heroine, Isolde, as well as Richard Strauss' Salome and Elektra, Beethoven's Leonore and Marie in Berg's 20th century masterpiece Wozzeck.

Chit chat - Abi's vaulting ambition

2009-10-27T11:40:00Z

Tabard has seen some odd casting over the years. Pamela Anderson cropping up in Wimbledon's panto this Christmas was a pretty surprising piece of news, but we think this tops it.

Chit chat - Backer to the front

2009-10-27T11:40:00Z

Meanwhile, a little way down the strangeness spectrum, Tabard has spotted on old theatreland face popping up on the wrong side of the curtain.

Backstage: Rigged up

2009-10-26T17:25:00Z

A new grandMA2 light console has been installed at Jersey Opera House, specified by technical manager Simon Francklin, said to be an advocate of the grandma Series 1 since its release in the UK some years ago.

Backstage: In the Roundhouse

2009-10-26T17:25:00Z

On the eve of staging the BBC Electric Proms 2009, the Camden Roundhouse has commissioned a Martin Audio dedicated cinema system for its 102-seat studio theatre.

Backstage: Got it covered

2009-10-26T17:15:01Z

Drapes specialist Cover It Up has moved to new, purpose designed and built premises in Camberwell, south-east London.

Backstage: Opera on track

2009-10-26T16:55:01Z

Triple E's Chaintrack has formed an integral part of the design of the Winspear Opera House, part of the At&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas, Texas, which opened recently.

Backstage: Wall of light

2009-10-26T16:35:01Z

Adlib Lighting is supplying lighting equipment and crew for English post-hardcore band Enter Shikari's current UK tour.

Letter: Tax panic attack

2009-10-26T16:30:03Z

The possibility that stage managers could lose their Schedule D status (October 22, front page) is of concern. Of more concern are the comments by Dave Morris, an accountant who states that there would be extra tax bills "as much as £4,000 a year". This statement is highly emotive and bound to cause unnecessary alarm. An extra £4,000 tax bill equates to £20,000 expenses, which is equivalent to gross earnings of about £60,000. I do not know too many stage managers earning at that level...

Letter: Local benefits

2009-10-26T16:30:02Z

I have been interested to read the correspondence regarding part-time training for children in your recent columns. However, I feel I need to respond on behalf of the thousands of independent speech and drama teachers who were already doing this sort of work long before franchising of the subject was invented.

Letter: Birthday Barrie

2009-10-26T16:30:01Z

Barrie Stacey recently celebrated 83 years of age and is one of the oldest producers still operating.

Letter: Smoke and daggers

2009-10-26T16:30:01Z

Poor Charles Spencer, he does seem to be taking some stick of late, even to the point of making Dame Judi blaspheme in fury at his bold criticism of her. One less fan club member there then Charles.

Letter: Pens and Needles

2009-10-26T16:30:01Z

If you were touring the country in the sixties and seventies and went to the New Theatre, Oxford, the chances were that you would come away with a copy of a brilliant cartoon of your company in action which had been drawn by Jim Needles, the head flyman. I still have my treasured copy of The Ghost Train Company's visit in 1971. I am interested in tracing further examples of his work and wondered if any readers could help. Does anyone know if Jim is still drawing and how I might get in touch with him or members of his family?

Letter: Tongue in speak

2009-10-26T16:30:01Z

As producers of Speaking in Tongues, currently playing at the Duke of York's Theatre, we're delighted that Tabard has noticed our efforts to harness the full power of 'citizen journalism' with the Write a Review competition that's being run on the play's Facebook fan page (October 22, page 9). Much as we too believe that you should never let the facts get in the way of a good story, there are a couple of points that we feel need to be cleared up. Even though Speaking in Tongues isn't a musical, it does get a lot of repeat business, so we created the competition as a way of rewarding our many loyal fans who are posting their reviews after seeing the show. The competition isn't based on the winners writing the best reviews but names being picked out at random from the reviews that are being posted by the fans anyway. It is entirely normal for fans on Facebook to interact in this way and we wanted to show our appreciation for their continued support.

TV review

2009-10-26T12:10:00Z

Alan Cumming, star of Cabaret on Broadway and in the West End, was narrator and host of The Real Cabaret, a documentary exploring both Kander and Ebb's groundbreaking musical and also the pre-war Berlin nightclub scene that inspired it.

Audiences have a role

2009-10-26T11:00:00Z

In response to Roger Foss' argument against interactive theatre, artistic directors David Micklem and David Jubb explain why they are acknowledging and celebrating audiences' creativity in a season at Battersea Arts Centre

Radio review - Light programme

2009-10-26T10:45:00Z

In a week that saw the contemptible Nick Griffin given the oxygen of publicity by the BBC, it was somehow reasssuring to hear the actor, writer and comedian David Schneider striking a blow for Jewish culture and heritage in My Yiddisher Mother Tongue.

Obituary: Simon Dee

2009-10-20T11:45:02Z

In the second half of the sixties, Simon Dee was television's equivalent of a Beatle and created - and shattered - the template for the smart-talking talk show host who was as famous (and more so in many cases) as his guests.

Letter: Open to criticism

2009-10-20T10:15:00Z

I contest the claim that Arts Council England's "natural reaction is to resist speaking openly" as stated in Alistair Smith's piece Secret Service (October 15, page 10).

Richard Herring: The power of free

2009-10-20T13:20:00Z

Famous in the nineties for his double-act with comedy partner Stewart Lee, Richard Herring is now producing his own weekly comedy revue, As It Occurs To Me, and giving it away for free as a podcast. He explains all to Scott Matthewman

Chit chat: Not just a musical smash hit

2009-10-20T12:40:00Z

Tabard often wonders at the backgrounds of some of the talents who have risen to the top in the theatre world.

Chit chat: The king of reminiscences

2009-10-20T12:40:00Z

A rather grand gala event was held last weekend to celebrate the tenth anniversary of West End musical The Lion King. The matinee performance was attended by a strange mix of famous faces ranging from Cherie Blair to Gok Wan, the fashion chap, and even James Earl Jones - the voice of Mufasa in the film version - turned up.

Chit chat: Tongue-tied

2009-10-20T12:40:00Z

Meanwhile, we've stumbled over the most bizarre competition to win tickets to a West End play. It's for Speaking in Tongues and is being run on Facebook.