Theatre

Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory has announced it will stop producing plays after 21 years.

Sited at Bristol's Tobacco Factory Theatres, the theatre company received £50,000 from the first round of DCMS' Culture Recovery Fund but says can no longer produce without further grants.

The grant enabled the theatre to present a new production of Shakespeare's Sonnets and develop a podcast, What Would Shakespeare Do in a Pandemic?

It will use its remaining funds to establish a small annual bursary for theatre students, expected to launch before the end of the year.

"Whilst it is with a heavy heart that we have taken this decision to bring our touring productions to a close, we are delighted that our new bursary will continue to support actors and creative practitioners in Bristol and its surrounds," Chair of Trustees Kerrie Hunt said.

"We are indebted to the talented and dedicated actors, freelancers and management teams with whom we have worked so closely during this time and proud to have helped to foster the next generation of Shakespearian theatre professionals."

Donmar Warehouse plans to recruit 13 paid trainees under a new career development programme.

Catalyst trainees will work in either creative or administrative roles. Special focus will be given to talent currently underrepresented in the industry, such as working class and D/deaf and disabled artists.

Trainees will be mentored by leading creatives and members of the Donmar Warehouse team.

Director Nadia Latif said most theatre artists understand the importance of opening access to people "who look like us or share our backgrounds".

"Theatre making should be transparent, accessible, and our rehearsal rooms should bustle with a multitude of people with totally different life experiences feeding each other creatively and taking care of one another."

Manchester’s Grange Theatre has been closed with immediate effect after safety inspectors found faulty electrics and wiring in the building.

A statement from the theatre says it will remain closed until it is deemed safe to reopen.

All events in October and November have been cancelled, with ticket holders set to be refunded.

Located on Oldham College campus, the theatre’s annual pantomime has been transferred to nearby Queen Elizabeth Halls.

Two creative producers have officially launched an independent production and artist development company.

Charlie Bunker, who has worked for Kerpow and WildWorks, and Gabby Vautier, formerly of Young Vic, Barbican, Kneehigh and Punchdrunk, have been running workshops and retreats for imPOSSIBLE since May 2020.

Based in Cornwall, the company will support artists to create new work and get it made in front of audiences.

"We are challenging the rules about producing and articulating what creative producing might look like in the future," Bunker said.

"Our approach blurs the lines between production and artist development."

Vautier added: "We take time to talk with artists, working out what is possible and what might be blocking people from making their ideas a reality."

PACE Theatre Company will not produce a Christmas pantomime this year because it is too financially risky. 

The company's home of 30 years, Paisley Arts Centre, is experiencing delays to its £2.8m refurbishment and won't reopen in December as planned.

"Coupled with the ongoing impact of the pandemic and the uncertainty about any future restrictions, we feel the risks are too great to commit to staging a production this year."

READ MORE: Danger for small pantos as sales lag by £23m

It will not pursue an online panto either. Last year's production was only possible because of an emergency grant.

"Without this additional funding, the model is not sustainable," a statement from the company said.

PACE has produced the pantomime at Paisley Arts Centre since 1988.

The loss of the panto has left "a massive hole" in its funds and it is seeking donations.

The Scottish Parliament has voted to make vaccine passports mandatory at nightclubs, concerts and other large events.

The nation's model is expected to provide the blueprint for an English certification system.

Negative testing will not be accepted in lieu of a vaccine passport, prompting criticism from some Scottish politicians and health officials who say the passport alone won't prove whether people are passing the virus on, but will adversely affect businesses.

However, Scotland has removed a rule that performers within one metre of each other must wear face masks or use protective screens.

First reported in ArtsProfessional, the restriction provoked alarm among theatres and Creative Scotland.

The Scottish Government changed the rule "in response to concerns about the performing arts sector’s ability to resume work".

New guidance says the exemption will only apply when there is a partition or distance of at least one metre between performers and the audience.

"Because of the continuing risk of transmitting the virus indoors, these exemptions from wearing face coverings without one-metre distancing or partitioning should be the exception rather than the norm."