The Stage / News Headlines

Shoreditch Town Hall to become major arts hub

2012-05-25T10:34:17Z

Shoreditch Town Hall is to be transformed into an arts centre, which will see the building host regular, ticketed cultural events for the first time since the 19th century.

Equity to fight "stuffy, ineffective" image

2012-05-25T10:32:13Z

Equity has agreed to engage with its critics after warnings that the union is seen as "stuffy, ineffective, disconnected, impotent" by some parts of the industry.

Michelle Ryan to play Sally Bowles in West End Cabaret

2012-05-25T09:26:09Z

Former EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan is to star as Sally Bowles in the forthcoming West End revival of Cabaret.

Equity to increase focus on video games

2012-05-25T10:32:15Z

Equity is to campaign to improve the pay and conditions of performers working in the video games industry.

Plans for child licensing overhaul revealed

2012-05-24T15:25:01Z

Proposals to change "outdated" licensing laws for children working in entertainment have been unveiled by the government today, and include axing the requirement for young performers to supply a medical certificate and creating a standardised application form.

The future "looks bleak" for the arts, warns Equity president

2012-05-24T13:29:20Z

President Malcolm Sinclair has warned of "storm clouds ahead" for Equity, as it faces "one of the most difficult periods in the union's history".

Roundhouse and Sky Arts win at A&B Awards

2012-05-24T11:25:44Z

The winners of the 33rd Arts & Business Awards "offer a blueprint to a new generation of engagement" between arts organisations and supporters from the business sector, claim organisers of the annual event.

Channel 4 defends arts commitment

2012-05-24T11:26:13Z

Channel 4 has defended its arts output against criticisms made by Melvyn Bragg, with its chief creative officer Jay Hunt claiming the station has a commitment to the genre that "no other broadcaster would make".

Exclusive: Olivier Awards viewing figures near one million

2012-05-24T10:33:59Z

Almost one million people watched this year's Olivier Awards through various media revealing a "strong demand" for the ceremony to be broadcast on mainstream television, the Society of London Theatre says.

Early Ibsen to premiere at Jermyn St

2012-05-24T10:33:53Z

Jermyn Street Theatre is to stage the UK premiere of Henrik Ibsen's first publicly performed play, St John's Night.

Equity highlights work shortage for regional TV talent

2012-05-24T10:36:00Z

Concern was expressed over the lack of local opportunities for TV talent and crew in the UK's nations and regions.

Top of the Pops Live to tour theatres

2012-05-23T14:33:46Z

A new theatre production based on BBC TV show Top of the Pops is to premiere this autumn.

Belfast Lyric wins tourism award

2012-05-23T13:53:15Z

Belfast's Lyric Theatre has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to tourism during its first year of operations in the newly announced Northern Ireland Tourism Awards.

Scottish Opera unveils 50th anniversary season

2012-05-23T12:21:54Z

Scottish Opera is to mark its 50th anniversary season with four fully-staged, full-length operas in a programme of 11 productions playing 133 performances in 63 venues.

Equity restructure plans gain conference go-ahead

2012-05-23T13:13:39Z

Controversial plans to revamp Equity's democratic structure will be able to progress unimpeded, after motions enabling the radical streamlining of the organisation to proceed were passed at the union's annual representative conference in Birmingham.