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Following a six-month hiatus, welcome back to the Theatre News E-zine – featuring a round-up of the latest news, comment and debates around theatre, dance and performance in the UK press brought to you by the British Council's Drama and Dance Department.
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL:
1.Making the match for a turn on the world stage
Sally Cowling has had plenty of experience getting people across borders. As the British Council's director of drama and dance and instigator of the Council's Edinburgh Showcase, which has run bi-annually during the final week of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the past decade, she's used to the 3am phone calls from theatre companies attempting to bridge frontiers on the other side of the world.
Read more in The Herald
2.Stand-up under fire at the Fringe
Once upon a time, the Edinburgh festival fringe was all about finding the next big thing in Hungarian experimental theatre. Now, its integrity has disappeared as commercialism reigns, personified by big-name performers familiar from TV, such as Jimmy Carr, Ricky Gervais and Frank Skinner.
Read more in The Guardian
3.Found in translation
David Greig's latest play, Damascus, draws once more on his Middle Eastern experiences. It opens the Traverse's festival season, and is his sixth collaboration with the company's outgoing director, Philip Howard. Greig, a leading light among Scotland's younger playwrights, has a wry sense of humour and an uncanny knack of getting under the skin of his characters.
Read more in The Independent
AWARDS & PLAUDITS:
1.Home Office backtracks over huge visa increase for overseas artists
A crippling increase in the cost of visas for visiting artists has been reversed by the Home Office. The price of visas rose from £85 to £200 in April, leading to fears that venues with strong international programmes would be forced to cancel events. But following campaigns by industry groups, the figure has been reduced to £99 for artists who do not require a work permit to enter the UK, with immediate effect.
Read more in The Stage
2.London 2012 outlines culture plans
London 2012 outlines culture plans for a UK-wide Cultural Festival to form part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad were outlined recently at a business briefing for the arts sector.
Read more on the Visiting Arts Website
3.Theatrical Management Association Awards 2007
The full list of winners and nominees have been announced.
Read more at the TMA website
STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
VENUES:
1.London’s best dance venues
Timeout gives a guide to what they consider to be London’s best dance venues.
Read more in Timeout
2.The Place is expanding
Two new studios are going to be added to the top of the existing building, making space for extra classes and workshops for professional dancers, students, adults and children.
Read more in London Dance
3.Reopening of Royal Festival Hall
Over a quarter of a million people took part in The Overture, 48 hours of free opening celebration for the Royal Festival Hall
Read more in London Dance
4.Crowning glory
As Brighton's Theatre Royal celebrates its 200th birthday, Maev Kennedy peeks backstage, where Marlene Dietrich once scrubbed the floors and ghosts are reportedly in residence.
Read more in The Guardian
DANCE:
1.Interview: Siobhan Davies
‘I think we should just begin.’ That’s how choreographer Siobhan Davies chose to kick off the first ever performance in the stunning main studio of her company’s new purpose-built home. So, as Davies’s eight dancers walked into the space, the christening got underway.
Read more in Timeout
2.Q & A: Lea Anderson
Founder and Artistic Director of The Cholmondeleys and The Featherstonehaughs, Lea Anderson has choreographed over 100 original works for her companies since founding the Cholmondeleys over twenty years ago. In 2002 she received an MBE for her services to dance. Her latest show 'YIPPEEE!!! (2006)' arrives in London.
Read more in London Dance
DRAMA:
1.Lone Twin circle the Barbican
Performance artists Lone Twin will spend the next few days hauling a table, and anything else you give them, around the Barbican. It's about the kindness of strangers.
Read more in The Guardian
2.Playwrights find inspiration in Iraqi quagmire
A new play about Iraq, with an impressive cast, opened last night, while another had its run extended yesterday and at least half a dozen more productions are on their way.
Read more in The Independent
PREVIEW:
Preview: Spice Festival, Hackney Empire, London
Steven Berkoff leads a workshop adaptation of the classic film On the Waterfront which sits alongside a clutch of emerging theatrical ventures, including Journeyman, a voyage into the heart of heavyweight boxing, set to a rock'*'roll soundtrack.
Read more in The Independent
COMMENTARY:
1.Why Britannia still rules the stage
British theatre has never had it so good. On screen, in plays, and from Broadway to the Oscars, our actors are being feted as never before. We celebrate this remarkable renaissance by bringing together 50 great British actors in a unique portrait, featuring our finest young talents and treasured veterans like Ian McKellen
Read more in The Observer
2.Is ballet elitist?
If we are to realise the ambitions of the Dance Manifesto, all forms of modern dance should be made accessible to the public.
Read more in The Guardian
3.Who is Britain's best theatre director?
There's no shortage of British theatrical talent, but who's our best director? I was discussing the question with an actor recently at a party and we both came up with the same answer. But, before revealing the name, maybe it's worth exploring the ramifications of the question.
Read more in The Guardian
PEOPLE:
1.New leader for The Place
Kenneth Tharp – dancer, choreographer and teacher – is to become the Chief Executive of the Place, taking up the new post in September. His appointment is a final part of a recent management restructuring.
Read more in London Dance
2.Purnell succeeds Jowell as culture secretary
James Purnell has replaced Tessa Jowell as the secretary of state for culture, media and sport. Purnell has been handed the role of culture secretary by new prime minister Gordon Brown as part of his cabinet reshuffle. However, it is understood that Jowell could still retain the portfolio for planning the 2012 Olympics.
Read more in The Stage
3.Tackley takes on English Touring Theatre
Milton Keynes Theatre chief executive Rachel Tackley is leaving the venue to become the new director of English Touring Theatre, as the organisation becomes the UK’s first producer-led touring company.
Read more in The Stage
Online theatre press reviews
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