The winners have been announced for the annual National Campaign for the Arts’ (NCA) Hearts for the Arts Awards 2021. The awards celebrate the unsung heroes of local authorities who are championing the arts against all odds.
From Waterloo to Wales: Welcome headlines feature groundbreaking creatives of past & present
Mark Shenton welcomes headlines featuring Stratford East, the National, the British Library and community involvement from Waterloo to Wales.
‘She leaves the space for you to have your own answer’: Playwright Sarah Kane as remembered by friend & fellow writer David Greig
It’s not that Sarah Kane had magical powers, but that she was with total integrity exploring her question. And there were a lot of amazing questions at that time.
‘We were involved in decisions’: Chris Grady pays tribute to influential theatre manager Gordon Stratford
What made theatre manager Gordon Stratford special for me, as a boss, was his passion for the theatre, his quick understanding of potential audiences, and his willingness to give his marketing team the chance to challenge him on proposed prices, deals, and even show choices.
How to find the energy we need in our industry to move forward
I was talking with a client yesterday, who is a theatre-maker and wanting, like so many, to get back in front of a live audience and to work close with fellow creatives to make work happen. We decided to focus on a few areas – not least because we have no idea how long we are going to be in the current state of lockdown and reliance on digital platforms.
Building up to the Olivier Awards 2020 – the virtual way
Do fill your glass, glam up and get ready to join host Jason Manford in saluting the Olivier Awards 2020 winners and nominees. Oh and why not take a look at the social media build-up to the big night too.
‘At the darkest moments I have to believe there is a future for our industry’: Why the arts are viable
At the darkest moments I have to believe there is a future for our industry. I have to believe we will defy our government and prove to be viable. I absolutely believe the way that this will happen is through the invention and enterprising energy of creative producers making stuff happen.
‘Beautifully shot & sensitively told’: MOMENT OF GRACE – Backstory Ensemble – The Actors Centre (Online review) ★★★★
Moment of Grace is beautifully shot and sensitively told, treating the issues of HIV raised at the time – ignorance, prejudice and lack of medical knowledge in how to treat it – with compassion and sensitivity.
New opportunities in the world of Zoom Zj-ing
Over the last few months I have moved so much of my life and work online, often using Zoom, as so many of us have. Yesterday someone decided I should now call myself a Zj…which sounds fun.
FEATURED SHOW: The ★★★★★ reviews are in for “outstanding” Moment of Grace
“Sensitive and engaging,” “beautiful,” immensely thoughtful”: Take a look at the incredible reviews for new online play Moment of Grace, then watch for yourself at The Actors Centre website until 9 August.
‘Every element of the story beautifully unfolds’: MOMENT OF GRACE – Backstory Ensemble – The Actors Centre (Online review) ★★★★
Three character play Moment of Grace, based around Princess Diana’s visit to a London’s hospital’s first AIDS unit in 1987, is immensely thoughtful and emotional.
NEWS: Moment of Grace to be streamed by The Actors Centre
Moment of Grace, a new drama inspired by the monumental action taken by Princess Diana when she visited a London AIDS ward in the 1980s, will be streamed by The Actors Centre later this month. The production premieres on 31 July and will be available to watch until 9 August.
‘If our pub landlord closes, where will the theatre go then?’: Artistic director Lisa Spirling on dual threats to Theatre503
‘In terms of the future, we want 503 to be resilient and it feels like our community of audience and artists believe in the necessity of an organisation such as ours. At the same time, there are no guarantees.’
WATCH: Moment of Grace releases evocative new teaser trailer
When to touch was to heal. At a time when shaking hands feels like a distant memory, Bren Gosling’s play, inspired by a symbolic act of taboo-breaking compassion, has defied its own challenges to transform from acclaimed stage production to film. Watch the trailer and find out more.
‘We have to do something else indefinitely but keep the keys to the building & look after them’: Royal Lyceum artistic director & playwright David Greig in Edinburgh
The more you think about the invitation to the audience – as you say ‘come, be blocked off behind screens, we will spray you and present shows where actors stand apart, and we will try to encourage you not to sing along’, it’s like an anti-theatre.
‘I don’t want to bank on a saviour that might not come’: Hartshorn-Hook producers on their plans to reopen The Great Gatsby
‘It feels to me like, with The Great Gatsby, we had an opportunity, and resulting from that a duty, to use the show to work out some of the key things that might help the industry as a whole.’
‘We want to spread love, support & solidarity’: Tori Allen-Martin & Sarah Henley on launching Burn Bright
Emma Clarendon chatted to Tori Allen-Martin and Sarah Henley about their new not-for-profit organisation, Burn Bright.
‘We don’t have an indefinite ability to keep going’: Park Theatre’s Jez Bond on the importance of the government’s furlough scheme
‘We’ve spent seven years building to this point and three years to open the thing, changed the area and culture of the place, and in the snap of the fingers, it’s a ghost town.’
How does a couple manage the work/life balancing act in lockdown?
Work is something that every single on of us is thinking about at the moment. Charlie & Jeff are having entirely different Lockdown work experiences under the same roof. Is it possible to balance the workload, balance the books AND balance married life?
“Moment of Grace is a play about a pandemic, and here we are in the midst of another one” Bren Gosling on his new drama
“We have grabbed this opportunity with both hands to make something original – not a film of a staged version of the play BUT a new hybrid production.” When COVID-19 ended hopes of a London season for new HIV drama Moment of Grace, writer Bren Gosling set about recreating it for the screen. Find out more in his fascinating interview…