The Stage / Features

Radio review - Drama

2008-10-06T13:30:00Z

Like leaves on the line or finding a missing item the minute you buy another, blind faith is one of those intractable mysteries immune to reason or analysis. It's also pretty difficult to portray except by contrast to its polar opposite. When the setting for these gradations of unbelief is the Vatican City, as in Roger Crane's The Last Confession, adapted by Martin Jenkins, things become interesting.

TV review

2008-10-06T13:25:00Z

Once you have got over the shock of realising that the late nineties are now considered fertile ground for nostalgia, there is a great deal to enjoy about the new BBC sitcom Beautiful People.

Backstage: Lighting the torch

2008-10-06T12:45:00Z

Lighting designer Durham Marenghi specified individual i-Pix BB4 LED cells to up-light the performers onboard the special double decker London bus in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics closing ceremonies.

Backstage: Boys on film

2008-10-06T12:30:01Z

XL Video is supplying MiTrix and SoftLED video surfaces, cameras, control and crew for video director Blue Leach on the current REM Accelerate tour.

Backstage: Fat sounds

2008-10-06T12:20:00Z

HSL supplied all lighting equipment and crew to Loudsound Productions for Fatboy Slim's Beach Boutique 4 show, which recently attracted some 20,000 fans to Brighton's beach.

Backstage: Rock out

2008-10-06T12:00:00Z

ADLIB Audio recently supplied full audio production for the Ibiza Rocks 2008 season, a musical concept launched three years ago.

Chit chat - Battle for West End

2008-09-30T11:55:01Z

Sir Ian McKellen, meanwhile, has - Tabard hears - taken time out of his own busy schedule to lend a hand in Equity's negotiations for an improved deal in the West End.

Chit chat - Connie up close

2008-09-30T11:55:00Z

Ever wondered what happened to Connie Fisher post-The Sound of Music?

Obituary: Robert Randell

2008-09-30T10:40:01Z

TV writer and producer Robert Randell worked on a variety of light entertainment programmes, notably Beadle's About, The Basil Brush Show, and The Generation Game. He was also involved in several science programmes including Horizon.

Obituary: John Ankers

2008-09-30T10:40:00Z

In 1983 my father, John Ankers, became the stage manager at the Theatre Royal Hanley and was a permanent fixture for the next 15 years.

Obituary: Joy Harris

2008-09-30T10:40:00Z

My wife, Joy Harris was born in Leyton and started singing in clubs at the age of nine, often alongside her father who was a semi-pro entertainer. When she was 12, she won a silver medal for girl's solo in the Stratford and East London Music Festival. After singing in local clubs and cabaret and for a short time, appearing with the band of Billy Merrin, she joined the chorus of Waltz Time which was touring the country.

Obituary: Richard Wright

2008-09-30T10:40:00Z

Richard Wright, keyboard player, singer and founding member of influential rock group Pink Floyd, died from cancer on September 15. He was 65 years old.

Letter: Embarking on entertainment

2008-09-30T11:45:00Z

Reading the review of You Lucky People by Patrick Newley (page 18, September 18) reminded me of my close encounters with Tommy Trinder.

Letter: iPlayer pay

2008-09-30T11:40:01Z

The Stage Online mum who enquires how much artists get paid when their programmes are shown on BBC iPlayer (Letters, page 9, September 18) can do no better than contact the British Equity Collecting Society Limited.

Letter: Talent drain

2008-09-30T11:40:01Z

I read the letter from Bryn Hughes headlined American Dream (Letters, page 8, September 25) with interest. Keira Knightley and Kate Winslet aside - lovely as they are - I'd like to mention the names of a few more actors that have left the UK to work in the US. Idris Elba, Eamonn Walker, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Treva Etienne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, David Oyelowo... I could go on.

Letter: Showing support

2008-09-30T11:40:01Z

As a regular weekly subscriber to The Stage, I am really disappointed of late with the constant critical remarks regarding Andrew Lloyd Webber and his West End shows (Chit Chat, page 9, September 25).

Letter: Printing plates

2008-09-30T11:40:00Z

We at Samuel French Ltd were surprised and excited to see an illustration from an old T H Lacy Acting Edition adorning the Training page (page 14, September 25) in reference to a one-day symposium on 19th-century plays.

Letter: Pages of history

2008-09-30T11:40:00Z

Wanted: Good home for a collection of more than 500 theatre programmes dating from 1937 to 1995, in chronological order. Mostly straight plays. Many London theatres, and Manchester touring venues, but about 50 from various reps etc. around the country. Any library or other organisation interested, please contact me.

Backstage: Green panels

2008-09-29T16:35:00Z

Auralex Acoustics is to introduce EcoTech, the company's first 'green' acoustical panel, at this year's AES show in San Francisco. Manufactured with a formulation of 100% recycled polyester fibres, the EcoTech panels are said to reduce the ecological footprint of acoustic treatment and dependence on fossil fuels, including foreign crude oil. They are available in the same colour choices and cuts as its original panels.

Backstage: Heavy duty hoists

2008-09-29T16:25:01Z

Summit Steel is supplying production rigging, plus two automation systems and control for the European and UK sections of Coldplay's current Viva la Vida world tour. Summit's Jay Call has coordinated the project, liaising with a touring crew that includes head rigger Gabe Wood and production manager Craig Finlay.

Backstage: Electric event

2008-09-29T16:10:01Z

More than 200 Robe units were employed site-wide at the 2008 Electric Picnic Art and Music Festival, set in the picturesque environs of Stradbally Hall, County Laois.

Backstage: Professional catalyst

2008-09-29T15:35:00Z

The Chemical Brothers' We Are the Night tour has just finished its second summer run on the international festival and touring circuit. The show's impressive visuals were by Adam Smith and were stored and played back via a Catalyst digital media server.

Radio - Light programme

2008-09-29T12:05:00Z

In the new wave cinema of the sixties, Lindsay Anderson was the proverbial rebel without a cause. His film trilogy - If, O Lucky Man and Britannia Hospital - made a virtue of anarchy and dissent yet nobody really understood why.

TV review

2008-09-29T11:20:00Z

The format for Hole in the Wall comes from Japanese TV - where else? - and invites teams of celebrities to contort their bodies into the shape of a hole in an oncoming wall. If the posture assumed is correct the wall passes harmlessly around them, they score points and earn money for charity. If they fail, they are shunted into a swimming pool.

Obituary: Celia Gregory

2008-09-23T10:51:06Z

We first met Celia Gregory when we joined the Tyneside Theatre Company, Newcastle, in 1973. For us, fresh from our respective drama schools, Celia seemed the seasoned pro, having completed a whole season at Lancaster rep.

Backstage: A solution found

2008-09-23T13:41:05Z

Global Design Solutions has appointed Andy Duffield in the newly-created position of business development manager.

Backstage: Bright students

2008-09-23T13:41:04Z

White Light's installation team has supplied the Richard Challoner School in New Malden, Surrey, with a comprehensive lighting installation for its newly created drama studio.

Backstage: It's not unusual

2008-09-23T13:36:05Z

Unusual Rigging is to open a new office in Dubai early in 2009, focusing on specialised project rigging, rental of equipment and sales of rigging accessories.

Backstage: Five star guests

2008-09-23T13:31:05Z

Wisbech-based manufacturer, 5 Star Cases, celebrated its 17th consecutive year exhibiting at PLASA this year.

Backstage: A massive impact

2008-09-23T13:26:05Z

Blackburn-based lighting rental specialist HSL recently supplied designer Nick Jevons of Electric Fly Productions with lighting and rigging equipment for the main stage and site-wide architectural highlighting at the 2008 Beck's Fusion Festival. The event was held at the Castlefield's Arena, Manchester.

Backstage: Invincible Herbert

2008-09-23T13:26:05Z

The first Gold Award for innovation - for a new lighting device - was presented to the RSC recently at a special awards ceremony held during Plasa 08.

Obituary: Peter Glossop

2008-09-23T10:51:06Z

The baritone Peter Glossop, who has died at the age of 80, was in the vanguard of a generation of post-war British singers who made their name on international stages, much to the incredulity of their European counterparts.

Chit Chat - He stoops to conquer

2008-09-22T18:16:08Z

The phrase "shameless publicity stunt" popped into Tabard's head this week, upon reading the news that Andrew Lloyd Webber is planning to offer free theatre tickets to bankers who have just lost their jobs in the current financial meltdown.

Radio review - drama

2008-09-22T11:41:08Z

You clearly get a better class of joke on painting holidays on the Greek islands than, say, a Costa package with poolside games and cheeky cabaret.

TV review

2008-09-22T11:41:08Z

Beware of cads carrying strawberries.

Letter: Palace history

2008-09-22T18:11:08Z

May I through the pages of The Stage, ask readers for any memories or information concerning the recent history of the Palace Theatre Plymouth and for any information on the adjoining hotel - the Grand Western Hotel, which was purpose built for patrons of the theatre at the same time as the theatre.

Letter: Embrace or withdraw

2008-09-22T18:11:08Z

There's one major snag with Ewan Spence's vision for Eurovision (September 11, page 11), the BBC is only one of its 120 members and the Song Contest is not a BBC production.

Letter: Gospel truth

2008-09-22T18:11:08Z

Having recently seen the Last Choir Standing competition on BBC1, I am amazed that the ACM Gospel Choir, who appear more like a rock group, back one of the judges in a Stevie Wonder number and then, as if by magic, appear with him a few days later in a concert, all at a time they release an album. Aren't these usually winners' perks and shouldn't a judge be impartial?

Letter: Host with the most

2008-09-22T18:11:08Z

There must be numerous solutions to the current dissatisfaction with the voting procedure in the Eurovision Song Contest (Ewan Spence column, September 11, page 11).

Letter: That's entertainment

2008-09-22T18:11:08Z

I read with interest your article on producer Duggie Chapman (September 11, page 27). I was surprised to see there was no mention that he was asked by the Isle of Man tourist board in the early eighties to come over to run the Gaiety Theatre Douglas, the 1,000-seat Matcham theatre, following the retirement of manager Bob Wilkinson.

Letter: American dream

2008-09-22T18:11:07Z

Liz Thomas makes valid points in her column "Losing Britain's best to the US" (September 11, page 25), but Keira Knightley is far from being "the most obvious case in the past decade". The pirate movie trilogy aside, her highest-profile screen roles have been in a British milieu.

Wordplay's the thing

2008-09-19T13:06:17Z

Shakespeare's words can be interpreted in many ways, especially when they exist in several versions. Jonathan Bate examines how various readings of the text can result in a radically different production and why that may be one of the reasons for the Bard's enduring appeal

Obituary: Peter Snow

2008-09-16T14:46:25Z

Leading British theatre designer and painter Peter Snow made his name with his set and costumes for the original production of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot (Arts Theatre, 1955) and later with a variety of productions for Joan Littlewood at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East.

Obituary: Vernon Handley

2008-09-16T12:16:26Z

Admired by orchestras, adored by audiences, Vernon Handley, one of the most committed and articulate champions of British music, has died at the age of 77.

Obituary: George Hume

2008-09-16T12:16:25Z

George Hume was, from 1948, general manager for ten years of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre (now the RSC) at Stratford-upon-Avon. Later in his career, he became head of drama at Rediffusion Television.

Obituary: John Esmonde

2008-09-16T12:16:25Z

John Esmonde, together with his writing partner Bob Larbey, wrote some of British television's most popular comedies, including The Good Life, Please Sir!, Ever Decreasing Circles and Get Some In!. They also wrote Bowler, The Fenn Street Gang, Brush Strokes, Hope It Rains and Down to Earth.

Radio review - Light programme

2008-09-16T11:06:25Z

Entertainment without electronic media is unimaginable nowadays, given that in most households it is possible to access radio, television, music and internet when and where it suits.

TV review

2008-09-15T18:11:27Z

The Dark Side of Fame with Piers Morgan purports to explore the downside of celebrity through in-depth interviews with the stars, starting with former Playboy centrefold, Baywatch babe and tabloid favourite Pamela Anderson.

Chit chat - What the Dickens?

2008-09-15T10:56:34Z

Whether Bogarde was a fan of the late Ken Campbell is anyone's guess but he would no doubt have approved of Campbell's anarchic antics off-stage.

Chit chat - Man of the cloth

2008-09-15T10:56:33Z

One star that Bogarde did not slag off was our own drag queen supreme Danny La Rue, once a neighbour of Bogarde's in France. Bogarde describes him as "a smashing gentleman".