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…
COVID-cancelled show Moment of Grace searches for streaming partner
Moment of Grace, a new drama exploring the monumental action taken by Princess Diana when she visited a London AIDS ward, has been transformed from an award-winning stage show into a film in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Producers are hoping to bring it to screens soon.
‘In a year’s time, we would hope every theatre in the country is open & thriving’: SOLT chief executive Julian Bird on the way forward
‘The major question is that the majority of theatres cannot open with social distancing in place – it’s impossible, for economics, for the business case let alone the experience, it just doesn’t work.’
‘This has been a moment of privilege & I think it will be the making of us’: Out of Joint on the challenges & opportunities for touring after lockdown
‘The real unknown is when people are going to want to go back into the theatres, regardless of government advice. We don’t know that. It will be a long road.’
‘Phoebe Waller-Bridge is an inspiration to my generation’: FLEABAG – Soho Theatre (Online review)
“Fleabag Live”, creator Phoebe Waller Bridge’s on-demand performance of her original stage hit, brilliantly mirrors the comedy and unique factors of the hit television show it spawned.
‘There are going to be some pretty sad stories that will come out of this period’: Baby Reindeer writer/performer Richard Gadd on his Corona cancelled West End run
‘I actually managed to be quite philosophical about it in the end. There’s a sense that we’re all in it today, and there are much bigger things at play, like people dying and getting sick.’