Holiday let plans 'compromise viability of Blackpool Grand'

The interior of the Blackpool Grand Theatre
19 Jun 2023

Proposals to allow short stay accommodation to be developed next to historic theatre are rubberstamped despite concerns they could jeopardise the future of the venue.

Trafalgar Theatres seal Fareham Live contract

19 Jun 2023

Trafalgar Entertainment has been awarded the contract to operate Fareham Live by Fareham Borough Council. 

The company, which launched its Trafalgar Theatres division in 2021, now operates a total of 18 venues.

Currently under construction on the site of Ferneham Hall, Fareham Live will launch next year as part of the council’s multi-million-pound plans to redevelop the civic quarter and regenerate the Town Centre.

The new venue will feature a larger main auditorium with seating for around 800 people. A secondary performance space, new bar and cafe area, and studio space supporting community groups and organisations will also form part of the new building. 

Sue Walker, Executive Member for Leisure and Community at Fareham Borough Council, said: “I am very pleased that Trafalgar Theatres has been selected as the new operator at Fareham Live. 

“They bring with them a wealth of experience and they pride themselves in gathering an in-depth understanding of the locations in which they operate, respecting local priorities while delivering innovation and adding value. We are really looking forward to working together.”

Dame Rosemary Squire, Joint Co-Founder and CEO of Trafalgar Entertainment, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Fareham Borough Council has awarded Trafalgar Entertainment the contract to operate Fareham Live in this beautiful part of the country. 

"We admire the council’s ambitions for the town and look forward to working in partnership with the Leisure and Community team on the future development of Fareham Live.”

Northamptonshire theatre at risk of closure

15 Jun 2023

A theatre in Northamptonshire is under threat of closure after being deemed as no longer financially viable by its operators.

Kettering’s Lighthouse Theatre is part of KLV complex, which also includes Kettering Conference Centre, a gym and a sports arena. 

According to local press, the complex is sublet to Compass Group Services, which has made the decision to close the site due to rising costs. The leaseholders remain North Northamptonshire Council, who pay an £1 annual peppercorn rent.

The complex was originally set to close at the end of May, before the date was pushed back until 3 July to give more time for alternative solutions to be found.

Meanwhile, a petition to save the complex has reached almost 15,000 signatures.

The theatre’s imminent closure comes after it was awarded Northamptonshire’s best theatre and arts venue in the 2023 Muddy Stilettos Awards earlier this week.

“It’s the best theatre or arts venue in the county but with just three weeks to go they’re still looking to close it,” said Mike Balderson, who launched the petition.

“It just seems to be madness.”

Campaigners are calling for North Northamptonshire Council or a management company to step in, but Council Leader Jason Smithers said in a public meeting in May that he could not promise any extra money to bail out the complex on top of the £337,000 a year the council currently splits between the theatre and indoor sports courts.

Former NPO gets funding for digital theatremaking 'laboratory'

14 Jun 2023

Theatre company curious directive has received financial backing from the Department for Culture Media and Sport to explore digital theatremaking.

The former National Portfolio Organisation, based in Norwich, was one of scores of grassroots organisations outside London to be affected by Arts Council England investment decisions for its 2023-26 investment programme.

The Stage reports that it will receive £25,000 towards a digital theatremaking 'laboratory' project that will allow creatives and the public to experiment with technologies including those that merge digital worlds with reality.

Jack Lowe, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of curious directive, said: "Since 2008 we have, in our own understated way, been committed to searching out the future of theatre-storytelling. 

"Be it Frogman (with live performance and VR) or Gastronomic (which used AR in a live theatre setting) we’ve consistently performed a sort of midwifery for digital technology in the ensemble devising theatremaking process."

"Despite this significant heritage, this is our first mainstream grant to support our exploration of digital technology and, like everything in our analogue making space in Norwich, the funds will also be used to secure resource, which will be shared with other artists."

Initiative to diversify dramaturgy launched

13 Jun 2023

Tamasha theatre company has announced a three-year national programme aiming to support new writing and rebalance a Eurocentric approach to dramaturgy.

It will build on Tamasha’s Developing Artists programme, enhancing regional commissioning, providing targeted support for writers, exploring creative engagement to transform communities and looking at how to better support the needs of Global Majority writers and audiences.

It is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, which is granting £305,000 over three years.

Tamasha will work with producing venues across the UK on artist development initiatives and engagement programmes that respond to the specific needs of local artists and communities.

A new Tamasha Regional Associate role will be shared by Director Gitika Buttoo and Director and Dramaturg Beth Kapila, who will lead on devising and delivering the programme with regional partners.

“At a time of seismic challenges across the sector, this new initiative aims to redress systemic injustices in access to development and producing opportunities,” Tamasha’s Artistic Director Pooja Ghai said.

“Decolonising our approach to dramaturgy for our Global Majority writers is both long overdue and necessary. By embracing the multiple forms of storytelling from around the world we will empower Global Majority artists to play a dynamic, leading role in the recovery of our national arts ecology.”

Sonia Mehta, Grants Manager at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, said the new programme “promises to interrogate and reset the structures in place that shape how theatre is made and programmed and by whom – making for a richer and more inclusive sector”.

Liverpool theatre to close after loss of council funding

External view of the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool
12 Jun 2023

Liverpool City Council says it can no longer afford to provide financial support to Epstein Theatre, resulting in venue operators taking 'heartbreaking' decision to close at the end of the month.

The Mono Box announces closure after 10 years

08 Jun 2023

The Mono Box, a training organisation for the performing arts, is set to close later this year.

According to a statement released on its website, the organisation, which focused on supporting emerging talent and championing diverse new voices, has felt the effects of the pandemic, the energy crisis, the high cost of living and cuts to arts funding.

The statement continues by stating the organisation has engaged over 30,000 people in person and over 40,000 digitally worldwide since its launch in 2013.

Executive Creative Director Blayne George, who took over from co-founders Polly Bennett and Joan Iyiola in 2021, says the decision was not taken lightly.

“I am deeply proud of our work to be a catalyst for new ideas, an incubator for new work and a network where new connections and creative collaborations could flourish,” George added.

“I know it is through this beautiful community and all the connections made that the legacy of The Mono Box will continue long into the future.”

Ahead of its closure in September, The Mono Box will host a series of events and workshops, with details available on its website.

Workplace guides address sexual harassment in theatre

06 Jun 2023

Two "vital" and "long-needed" guides addressing sexual harassment in the performing arts have been launched as part of efforts to support organisations and individuals working in the sector.

Published by the Federation of Scottish Theatre, the guides have been informed by the Harassment in the Performing Arts (HiPA) Working Group, an independent working group convened by the federation.

The first guide, Navigating Sexual Harassment at Work: A Guide to Support Freelancers and Individuals, hopes to help those experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment in the workplace.

The second, Tackling Sexual Harassment at Work: An Action Guide for Theatre Companies and Arts Organisations, aims to support organisations in their response to complaints of sexual harassment.

The guides' author Lisa Sangster, who was also co-chair of the HiPA working group and is a trained sexual violence support worker, said: "The new HiPA guides are an important contribution towards supporting a culture change in the sector.

"They aim to empower individuals to take action when they witness harassment, and support people experiencing it to feel reassured that they have options and deserve support."

She added: "Having resources that are easy to read, jargon free and open to all is critical in improving responses to incidents of sexual harassment.”

Three essential trends for theatre managers

31 May 2023

With many conflicting demands on theatre managers’ time, Robin Cantrill-Fenwick identifies three key trends to help keep theatres on track.

Mercury Theatre extends talent development programmes

31 May 2023

Mercury Theatre Colchester is extending three dedicated talent development programmes for promising and innovative playwrights, producers and directors from the east of England.

The programmes enable creatives to work with leading theatremakers and gain experience working in the industry.

Each programme is designed to nurture future talent. Evaluation statistics from the previous cohort show that programme beneficiaries have enhanced employability of up to 60%.

The Mercury Playwright Programme will mentor a group of writers through the process of creating a full-length play or piece of theatre, under the guidance of stage and screenwriter Kenny Emson.

The Mercury Directors Programme will support mentees through the through page-to-stage directing process under the guidance of Mercury’s Creative Director Ryan McBryde.

And the Mercury Producers Programme will provide an overview of the skills and craft of theatre producing, including setting up companies, pitching, planning, budgeting, fundraising, audiences, marketing, touring and press, led by Dilek Latif, Mercury’s producer.

“The success of our [Playwrights, Producers, Directors] PPD scheme has proved to us how vital it is that regional theatres support local artists and so we’re extending and reaching out for the applications from playwrights, producers and directors at any stage of their career who have a strong link to Colchester and or the wider Eastern region having originated, studied or lived here,” said McBryde.

“This year, our PPD offer will be enriched by unlocking additional expert knowledge from guest session leaders from our new Associate Companies: Graeae, English Touring Theatre, Paines Plough and Frantic Assembly,” he added. 

“Partnering with these extraordinary, world-renowned theatre companies will allow us to broaden the scope of our work and provide further opportunities to springboard artists across our region.”

The nine-month-long programmes are set to run from July 2023 to March 2024.

Antony Stuart-Hicks, Talent Development Producer for the Mercury, said the theatre is looking for “creatives who are bold, ambitious and theatrically daring”,  particularly those underrepresented in the industry, “whether this be by class, disability, ethnicity, gender or sexuality”.

What are patrons for?

Contact Manchester
31 May 2023

Many arts organisations list patrons on their website but do we really understand their role? Megan Bennett shares her work building a patron portfolio at Contact.

Equity secures pay rise for West End actors and stage managers

A view of London's West End at night
30 May 2023

Three-year deal struck by Equity and the Society of London Theatre following 'difficult and challenging' negotiations.

Theatre apologises for ‘encouraging poor etiquette’

30 May 2023

Norwich Theatre has apologised for “inadvertently encouraging poor theatre etiquette” after sending a newsletter with the subject line “Something to sing along to”.

Subscribers to the theatre’s mailing list received the email this week as part of promotion efforts for the venue’s upcoming musicals, including Heathers, Blood Brothers and Annie.

After recipients expressed concerns that it might encourage people in the audience to belt out the songs themselves, the company sent a follow-up email apologising.

“In trying to emphasise the fun and joyous nature of the musicals, we inadvertently appeared to endorse poor theatre etiquette,” the email said.

“Of course we don’t mean for people to literally sing along while they are in the theatre (just when booking their tickets or in the car on the way home!).

“We’re really sorry for any misunderstanding, upset and the careless language.”

The apology coincides with an ongoing debate within the theatre sector about the appropriateness of live audiences singing along to musicals.

Last month police were called to a performance of The Bodyguard in Manchester last month when audience members refused to stop loudly singing and dancing, resulting in the show being stopped 10 minutes early.

Actor, playwright and director Ben Elton, who penned the script for Queen musical We Will Rock You, weighted in on the debate on BBC Breakfast, saying that audiences “should apply good taste and good manners”.

“Nobody’s paid to sit next to somebody [singing],” he said.

West End actors and stage managers to receive 16% pay rise

30 May 2023

Actors and stage managers working in the West End will receive a 16% pay rise over two years, under new rates agreed by Equity and the Society of London Theatre.

The updated SOLT/Equity Agreement for West End Theatre Artists will run from April 2023 to April 2026, covering performers and stage managers.

It agrees an increase of at least 10% to minimum rates across all pay brackets year-on-year for the period of April 3, 2023, to March 31, 2024.

For the year beginning April 1, 2024, all pay brackets will increase by around 5% of the 2023-24 rate, marking a total increase of 16% over two years.

Rates for the final year of the agreement have yet to be calculated but they are set to increase in line with the consumer price index figure published by the Office for National Statistics in February 2025, plus 0.5%, subject to a minimum increase of 2% and a maximum of 5%, The Stage reported.

Equity had initially campaigned for a 17% pay rise in the first year of the agreement, with an additional rise of 10% in the second year.

The final new agreement will see rates of pay for performers and stage managers rise in line with theatre sizes, based on an eight-show minimum week with increased rates for 12-show weeks.

Rates for workers at theatres with a capacity of 1,100 or more will rise from £757.84 per week to £880.10 by April 2024.

Rates at theatres with a capacity of 800 to 1,099 will rise from £689.37 to £800.58 and rates at theatres with up to 799 seats will rise from £620.29 to £720.36.

The agreement also includes a 33% increase to swing fees of up to £120 a week and a 12.5% increase to dance captain fees up to £135 a week.

“Given the current economic difficulties facing both SOLT and Equity members, these negotiations were always going to be difficult and challenging,” said Robert Noble, chair of the SOLT negotiating committee. 

“However, through constructive dialogue and a professional approach by all those involved in in the negotiation process, a settlement has been reached that acknowledges the commitment and support shown by Equity members during the pandemic and seeks to address, as far as is possible, the continuing economic challenge that we all continue to face.”

He added that the settlement has received “the very strong support of members of both organisations”.

Paul W. Fleming, General Secretary of Equity, said the “excellent deal” marks the start of a process that will see trials of a five-day rehearsal working week.

“Our strong, constructive, but robust industrial relations have delivered a meaningful shift in pay and conditions at a time of extraordinary pressure for bosses and workers alike,” he said.
 

Equity General Secretary: “We need to win bigger”

23 May 2023

Equity leader warns industry bosses of £1m strike fund in speech calling on sector management to cooperate with union to progress workers' rights.

Theatre's planned 'Black Out' performance proves divisive

An external photo of Theatre Royal Stratford East
23 May 2023

Stratford East attracts criticism for designating a performance for a Black audience, prompting messages of support from the theatre community.

Hampstead Theatre announces first post-NPO programme

Hampstead Theatre
18 May 2023

Despite loss of Arts Council funding, theatre is continuing to commission new plays in a new era driven by ticket sales, commercial income and philanthropic support.

Oldham Coliseum to play 'key role' in future culture provision

17 May 2023

Oldham Council confirms plans for Oldham Coliseum theatre company to be involved in delivery of three-year cultural programme for the town ahead of becoming anchor tenant for new theatre.

Worthing College to close performing arts department

Worthing College building, captured from a distance across a field.
17 May 2023

More than 2,000 people have signed an online campaign to save the department after its planned closure was announced.

Battersea Arts Centre makes redundancies in face of rising costs

The main entrance to Battersea Arts Centre
16 May 2023

Increasing costs, inflationary pressures and changes to funding have led to the National Portfolio Organisation taking 'tough decisions', including six redundancies.

Pages

Subscribe to Theatre