Guildhall School of Music and Drama makes significant cuts to audition fees

The Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) has reduced the UK application fee for its Acting programmes by 47%.

Coming into effect when applications open for 2021 entry, the fee will be reduced from £66 to £35 and will cover all three rounds of auditions.

Orla O’Loughlin, vice-principal and director of drama at Guildhall School says:

‘As one of the world's leading conservatoires, Guildhall School has a responsibility to ensure our world class acting training is accessible to as many potential students as possible. To this end, we already provide free applications for eligible undergraduate applicants alongside a number of dynamic access initiatives designed to encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds. 56% of acting students receive some form of financial support. This ongoing commitment to ensuring access to our programmes has resulted in our most representative cohort of actors on record, with 46% of our current intake identifying as BAME and a 50/50 gender balance across all our courses. Our ongoing partnerships with a range of external organisations, in particular Open Door and the Diversity School Initiative, have proved powerful catalysts for change, and I would like to acknowledge their invaluable support.

I hope that by substantially reducing the application fee and significantly increasing the geographical reach of our auditions we make a clear statement that Guildhall School continues to dismantle the long-standing barriers that exist for many when accessing drama school training. I recognise that there is still a long way to go and that, as a sector, we still have much work to do, but I am resolute that, in this sea-change moment for our industry, we ensure the opportunity for the brightest and most representative talent to flourish.’

GSMD will also offer auditions in more cities across the UK, now covering Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, and Nottingham alongside London and Newcastle where auditions already take place. The first two rounds of its nationwide auditions will take place on the same day, helping auditionees with travel costs.

To find out more, visit: https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/

Drama and Theatre Education Alliance launches Drama manifesto

The Drama and Theatre Education Alliance – comprised of organisations who want to champion arts education and opportunities for young people – has launched the Drama and Theatre Young People Manifesto that looks to make drama and theatre education available for every child. The manifesto was launched on Friday 13 March at an event at the National Theatre and calls for:

• High quality drama teaching to be made a curriculum entitlement for every child and young person
• High quality theatre experiences to be made a cultural entitlement for every child and young person
• Young people to be supported to enter the theatre workforce
• A world class education workforce and infrastructure in drama and theatre education.

Speaking out about the cruciality of the manifesto, Steve Ball, chair of the Drama and Theatre and Education Alliance says: ‘Making drama and theatre is an essential part of being human and taking part helps us to express what we care about, and why; reminding us of who we are and what we can be. Now, more than ever we need drama and theatre to thrive in our schools and theatres.’

The manifesto has been developed alongside several drama and theatre organisations, including: Action for Children's Arts; London Drama; London Theatre Consortium; National Drama; Theatre Workout; SCUDD (The Standing Conference of University Drama Departments); Theatre Education Forum and TYA UK.

To find out more, visit: https://dramatheatremanifesto.co.uk/

Drama Centre London set to close

Last year Drama Centre suspended intake for two of its courses but now University of the Arts London (UAL), has announced its decision to stop running all courses at the drama school, which is based at the Central Saint Martin's Campus in King's Cross. The courses include: Foundation Studies in Performance, BA Acting, MA Acting, MA Directing, MA Screen: Acting, and MA Screen: Directing. The courses, will however, continue to run for those already enrolled.

UAL's decision to close the drama school has come after Drama Centre received a poor assessment in a review carried out by the collegiate university.

The findings revealed that Drama Centre's main acting courses ‘differ significantly’ and ‘enduringly’ from the ‘pedagogy and values of UAL and wider contemporary creative arts education. It was also said to have ‘significant compliance issues’, including a resistance to ‘fully engage with institutional processes and standard method and approaches to higher education academic development and quality assurance.’

In the review, its course committee meetings were described as ‘poorly managed’, creating ‘a clear and worrying picture of issues and conflicts that have arisen with the acting courses, with students not ‘equally supported in access’ to provisions due to issues relating to audition and selection process, course fees and limited availability of grants and bursaries.

To find out more, visit: https://www.arts.ac.uk/

© MANUEL HARLAN

National Theatre announces productions for 2020 – 2021 season

The National Theatre has announced new work for its 2020 – 2021 season, including adaptations of Phaedra and Wuthering Heights.

Among the newly announced programme is Simon Stone's adaption of Phaedra which will feature Kristin Scott Thomas in her National Theatre debut, as a British politician. The production will be broadcast via NT Live. Another adaption of a classic text will be Emma Rice's Wuthering Heights – a co-production with Wise Children in association with York Theatre Royal – which will open at the National's Lyttelton Theatre in September before heading on a UK tour including dates in Canterbury, York and Bristol with further venues to be announced.

Other works included in the 2020-21 season are Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Roy Williams’ Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads which will play in the National Theatre's Dorfman Theatre from September on wards; April de Angelis’ new play Kerry Jackson directed by Indhu Rubasingham, which will open in November at the Dorfman theatre; and musical, Standing at the Sky's Edge, a co-production with Sheffield Theatres in association with Various Productions, which will transfer to the National's Olivier Theatre in January 2021, following a return to the Sheffield Crucible this Autumn.

The 2020 – 21 season will also see the return of some of the National Theatre's successful 2019 – 2020 productions. Helen Edmundson's adaption of Andrea Levy's Small Island will run from late October with casting to be announced, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, will transfer to the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End from 31 October.

The National Theatre is also increasing the number of low-price tickets on offer at the South Bank by 25% with 250,000 available across the year at £20 or less.

To find out more about the National Theatre's 2020-21 programme and discounted tickets, visit: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/

All Party-Parliamentary Group for Theatre holds first oral evidence session

Coming together to discuss how ‘British theatre works’, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Theatre gathered at the House of Lords on Wednesday 4 March and covered topics such as theatre industry trends, how APPG officers and fellow parliamentarians could better support the theatre sector, and an examination of legislation affecting theatre industry issues.

Among those representing the theatre industry were: Stella Kanu (executive director of London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT)) and Robert Noble (deputy managing director for Cameron Mackintosh) who represented the international sector; producer Eleanor Lloyd (of Eleanor Lloyd Productions) and Nick Salmon (Director of Playful Productions) who spoke on behalf of the commercial centre, Stephanie Sirr, CEO of Nottingham Playhouse, who represented the subsidised sector, and producer Joanna Crowley (of 1927) who acted as spokesperson for small and medium companies.

Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre chief executive Julian Bird, who contributed an overview of the theatre industry in 2020 for the event has said the ‘session was lively and engaging’ and thanked ‘the industry for their support in making this happen.’

He added that the event ‘provided the Theatre APPG with a sound, up-to-date understanding of theatre in the UK including how it operates, the trends we are seeing, the things theatres can achieve, current challenges, and future opportunities. The report we're collating from all four sessions will act as a stepping stone to further make the case for our thriving and world leading theatre industry in the UK and its crucial role as one of the Creative Industries, which contribute £111.7bn GVA to the UK economy.’

The was the first 2020 oral evidence session to take place since the APPG for Theatre launched in October 2019. The sessions aim to give parliamentarians a better understanding of the theatre industry, bringing them into direct contact with the those who work within it. In Summer 2020 evidence collected throughout the sessions will be gathered into a report.

To find out more visit: https://uktheatre.org/theatreappg/

University of Cambridge to launch Writing for Performance MSt

The University of Cambridge is to launch a masters in Writing for Performance. The qualification will cover writing for performance across theatre, radio, performance poetry, and stand-up comedy, with modules in the first year including: ‘Beginnings: Themes, Scenes and Voice’; ‘Dramaturgy: Structure, Character, Dialogue’; ‘Collaboration Production, Direction, Performance’ and ‘Professional Engagement.’ The second year of the course will see students focusing on a chosen genre, producing a full-length 90-minute script alongside a reflective and critical commentary on their work.

Running from September 2020 onwards, the course is the newest of three masters programmes to be rolled out as part of the university's Centre for Creative Writing.

To find out more visit: https://www.cam.ac.uk/

Touring theatre announcements: School of Rock to embark on 2021 UK tour

Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock will embark on a UK tour from February 2021, playing at the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre, Edinburgh Playhouse and elsewhere.

Based on the film of the same name and featuring songs by Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes, the tour will begin at the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre (13 – 27 Feb) before heading to His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen (2 – 6 March); King's Theatre, Glasgow (8 – 13 March); Edinburgh Playhouse (23 – 27 March); New Wimbledon Theatre (29 March – 4 Apr); Regent Theatre, Ipswich (5 – 10 Apr); Wales Millenium Centre (12 – 17 Apr); Milton Keynes (19 – 24 Apr); the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin; (26 Apr – 8 May); Grand Theatre, Leeds (17 – 22 May); Theatre Royal, Newcastle (24 – 29 May); Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (31 May – 12 June); Bournemouth Pavilion (14 – 19 June); Palace Theatre, Manchester (21 June – 3 July); Hull New Theatre (5 – 10 July); Theatre Royal, Plymouth (13 – 17 July); Bristol Hippodrome (19 – 24 July); Regent Theatre, Stoke (26 – 31 July); Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (2 – 7 Aug); Congress Theatre, Eastbourne (10 – 14 Aug); Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (16 – 21 Aug); Norwich Theatre Royal (23 – 28 Aug); Wolverhampton (20 – 25 Sept), Victoria Theatre, Woking (27 Sept – 2 Oct); New Orchard Theatre, Dartford (2 – 9 Oct); Cliffs Pavilion, Southend (11 – 16 Oct); Liverpool Empire (18 – 23 Oct); Royal & Derngate, Northampton (1 – 6 Nov); Venue Cymru, Llandudno (22 –27 Nov); Sunderland Empire (29 Nov – 4 Dec); and New Theatre Oxford (13 Dec – 1 Jan), among others.

The production will be directed by Laurence Connor, with choreography by JoAnn M Hunter; set and costume designs by Anna Louizos; and Matt Smith as musical director.

To find out more, visit: https://schoolofrockthemusical.com/

Love Never Dies to tour UK for the first time

The Phantom of the Opera's sequel will be touring the UK from September onwards.

Featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and based on Frederick Forsyth's book, The Phantom of Manhattan, the musical follows the Phantom as he arrives in New York and attempts to win Christine's affections once more. Directed by Simon Phillips, who also directed the 2012 film, this is the first time the show will tour the UK, having previously been staged in both Australia and North America.

The dates announced so far include performances at the Leicester Curve from 26 September – 10 October, and Manchester Opera House from 14 – 24 October, with more dates and venues to be announced soon.

To find out more, visit: www.loveneverdies.com/uktour

Matthew Bourne's The Nutcracker announces 2020/21 UK and Ireland tour dates

Ahead of a Christmas season at Sadler's Wells, Matthew Bourne's production of The Nutcracker, performed by his New Adventures company will tour the UK and Ireland from November onwards, including dates at Theatre Royal Newcastle and the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin, among others.

Featuring Tchaikovsky's original score, Bourne's adaption of The Nutcracker follows protagonist, Clara on her journey from the Dr. Dross’ Orphanage to Sweetieland, via a winter wonderland. Paying homage to 1930s Hollywood film, the production features sets and costumes designed by Tony Award-winner, Anthony Ward.

The tour will begin at Theatre Royal Plymouth (16–21 Nov) before heading to the Lowry Salford (24 – 28 Nov); the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin (1 – 5 Dec); Sadler's Wells Theatre, London (8 Dec – 21 Jan); New Victoria Theatre, Woking (26 – 20 Jan); Milton Keynes Theatre (2 – 6 Feb); The Hippodrome, Birmingham (9 – 13 Feb); Theatre Royal Norwich (16 – 20 Feb); The Hippodrome Theatre, Bristol (23 – 27 Feb); The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (2 – 6 March); Liverpool Empire (9 – 13 March); Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (16 – 20 March); Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (23 – 27 March); The Mayflower Southampton (30 March – 3 Apr); Theatre Royal Nottingham (6 – 10 Apr); Theatre Royal Newcastle (20 Apr – 1 May) and Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (4 – 8 May).

For more information and to book tickets, visit: www.new-adventures.net

© SIMON ANNAND
Matthew Bourne's The Nutcracker

Cbeebies to host pop-up experience

CBeebies are hosting an interactive pop-up experience for young children that will feature themed rooms based on popular children's programmes.

Entitled ‘CBeebies Rainbow Adventure’ the experience will give young children, in hosted groups of up to 37, the opportunity to explore a bespoke CBeebies garden and five themed rooms based on CBeebies shows.

The themed rooms will offer an interactive and sensory experience for young visitors, including flowers that make sounds, colour changing rocks, light-up walls, oversized fruit, and inflatable hedges and clouds. The rooms will be based on shows including: Hey Duggee; Something Special; Sarah & Duck; Go Jetters; and Andy's Dinosaur Adventures.

‘CBeebies Rainbow Adventure’ has been designed, built and will be operated by Step Inside Productions, whose founder Dan Marks, said: ‘Compelling entertainment experiences are about stepping into and experiencing new worlds. Step Inside Productions is delighted to be partnering with BBC Studios to create CBeebies Rainbow Adventure and we look forward to bringing the channel and its programming to life in a new and compelling way and taking it to young fans across the UK.’

The event will open on 9 April at Ealing Common in London where it will run until 19 April, it will then go on to Brent Cross, London (24 April – 31 May); Hull, Victoria Square (5 June – 14 June); Ipswich, Suffolk Food Hall (19 June – 12 July); Richmond, Deer Park, London (17 July – 9 August) and York, Clifford's Tower (11 September – 4 October), with more locations to be announced soon.

To find out more, visit: http://www.cbeebiesrainbowadventure.com/

The Royal Shakespeare Company to stage musical adaption of The Magician's Elephant

© SAM ALLARD © RSC
Sarah Tipple in a workshop for The Magician's Elephant

An adaption of Kate DiCamillo's children's novel will be included as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)'s 2020 Winter season.

Commissioned as the RSC's family Christmas show, the production follows the story of orphan Peter Augustus Duchenne who is taken on a journey to find his long-lost sister, thanks to an elephant conjured from the sky. The show will feature book/lyrics by Nancy Harris, music/lyrics by Marc Teitler and will be directed by Sarah Tipple who acted as the associate director on the RSC production of The Boy in the Dress. Peter will be played by Jack Wolfe whose previous credits include Sweeney Todd (Lyric Theatre), Pinocchio (National Theatre) and The Witcher (Netflix).

Nancy Harris and Marc Teitler said: ‘We were hugely excited by the epic world Kate DiCamillo created in The Magician's Elephant – its fluid, unexpected leaps, larger-than-life characters and darkly comic, fairy tale quality immediately suggested a highly musical and visual approach to the story-telling. And while we're thrilled at the prospect of creating a mesmerising theatrical experience for RSC audiences, it's the emotional truth and compassion at the heart of the story that really resonates with us and is what makes it an urgent and hopeful one for our time.’ rsc.org.uk

Free online dance courses available amid Covid-19 crisis

CLI Studios has announced a series of free online courses in order to support the dance industry as it deals with Covid-19 related studio closures. Featuring instruction by the likes of tWitch and Teddy Forance, the courses will be streamed live. To find out more, visit: www.clistudios.com/keepdancing

Graeae's Ensemble programme becomes accredited course

Graeae's Ensemble programme for D/deaf and disabled theatre makers and performers has become an accredited course thanks to a partnership with Rose Bruford College.

‘Cert HE Graeae Ensemble: Theatre Making and Leadership’ is a level four qualification that will now cover four modules including: ‘The Skills of the Theatre Maker’; ‘Approaches to Performance’; ‘Think, Share, Reflect’ and Platform (a showcase of student's work developed throughout the course.)

Jodi-Alissa Bickerton, creative learning director at Graeae, said: ‘Nothing yet exists like Ensemble. It is an utter dream to train a new generation of talent who in turn drive our ambition and learning as a company. With talented alumni underpinning its success, Ensemble gets stronger with every new cohort and growing artistic and social investment from drama schools.’

This year's Ensemble artists are Jamie Green, James Greenhalgh, Jamie Hale, Jennifer Gambles, Katie Watson, Sophie Tennison and Stephen Reeder, who as part of the course will train for onand off-stage theatre roles. From May on wards the group will begin devising work for a public performance in July.

The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA); Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD) will remain partners of the programme. Ensemble 2020 is supported by Arts Council England, The Stage, the Backstage Trust and the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.

To find out more, visit: https://graeae.org/

© CALLUM GRAHAM
Graeae's 2020 Ensemble artists