Miriam Margolyes and Jimmy Carr among acts affected after crumbling concrete forces theatre closures

Published

9 months ago

September 7, 2023

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Jimmy Carr, Miriam Margolyes and Shrek The Musical are among the acts to have been affected by theatre closures linked to RAAC concerns.

Several venues around the UK have gone dark for the next few weeks as investigations take place into the use of RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) – the building material at the centre of a government row that has been found to be potentially dangerous.

Thousands of pupils in England are already facing disruption at the start of term this week after RAAC was identified at more than 100 schools.

Now, several performance venues have been forced to close their doors around the UK as a result of the snowballing crisis.

In Northampton, the Royal & Derngate Theatre has been forced to close its doors until at least the end of the month so repairs can be carried out, affecting shows from the likes of comedians Jimmy Carr, Ivo Graham and Seann Walsh, as well as broadcasters Gyles Brandreth and Miriam Margolyes.

Carr and Margolyes’s shows have also been postponed in Cardiff, at St David Hall, which has closed after recent changes in advice surrounding RAAC, while Shrek The Musical’s tour has been forced to miss out The Sands Centre in Carlisle.

Shows at the Core Theatre in Solihull have also been cancelled due to closures, as have performances at the Forum Theatre in Romiley, in Greater Manchester.

The Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh, East Lothian, closed back in March after “structural issues” were discovered at the venue due to RAAC, but repairs have not yet been made.

The National Theatre in London has said RAAC is present in a small number of areas backstage, but will safely remain open after it was decided no remedial work needed to take place.

RAAC has caused political headaches for the government, with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan accused of opening “Pandora’s Box” by setting standards for schools that other sectors are being forced to follow.

Entertainment

Sir Rod Stewart defends support for Ukraine after being ‘booed’ by German crowd

Published

5 hours ago

June 17, 2024

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Sir Rod Stewart defends support for Ukraine after being 'booed' by German crowd

Sir Rod Stewart has defended his support for Ukraine after he appeared to be booed as photos of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were shown at a concert in Germany.

The 79-year-old was met with loud boos, shouts and whistles from the crowd in Leipzig’s Quarterback Immobilien Arena on Friday, before performing his 1991 hit Rhythm Of My Heart – which he calls a war song and has dedicated to Kyiv in recent shows.

Sir Rod then saluted the Ukrainian leader, while images of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian flag were projected on screen.

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Reacting to the jeers from the crowd on Monday, Sir Rob said he has supported the Ukrainian people since Russia invaded the country in February 2022.

“From arranging for members of my family to take supplies to the country, to renting a house in the UK for a Ukrainian family, as well as employing two Ukrainians as part of my touring crew,” he said.

“So yes, I do support Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine, and I will continue to do so.

“Putin must be stopped.”

The singer ended the statement by saying he is having “the time of my life playing for German audiences, sharing some special memories” and is looking forward to playing his remaining dates there.

Sir Rod has regularly condemned Russia, and recently called Vladimir Putin an “arsehole” during an interview with Sky News.

He is due to return to Germany for a show at Hamburg’s Barclays Arena later this week, before performing in Cologne on 25 June and Munich on 28 June.

Entertainment

First wins for Daniel Radcliffe and Angelina Jolie at Tony Awards

Published

8 hours ago

June 17, 2024

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First wins for Daniel Radcliffe and Angelina Jolie at Tony Awards

Daniel Radcliffe has won his first Tony Award and admitted it was “one of the best experiences” of his life at a ceremony in New York which saw big wins for The Outsiders and Stereophonic.

The 34-year-old star of the Harry Potter movies picked up the award at the 77th annual event, which recognises excellence in Broadway theatre, for his role in the revival of Merrily We Roll Along.

After performing with the cast of the show on stage at the Lincoln Centre’s David H Koch Theatre, Radcliffe appeared shocked to win the award for best actor in a featured role in a musical.

“This has been one of the best experiences of my life,” Radcliffe said.

He thanked the late George Furth and Stephen Sondheim “for writing this unbelievable show” in 1981, the songs of which he described as “a gift to get to sing every night”.

He also said it was an “honour” to share the stage with co-stars Lindsay Mendez and Jonathan Groff in the musical, which charts the turbulent relationship between three lifelong friends.

The Outsiders, based on the SE Hinton book about rival gangs in 1960s Oklahoma, won three awards including best new musical – and landed producer Angelina Jolie her first Tony.

Stereophonic, the play about a Fleetwood Mac-like band recording an album over a turbulent year, won best new play and scooped the night’s most total awards with five.

The star-studded ceremony also saw Nick Jonas, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel, and Cynthia Erivo among the attendees, while there was a surprise performance from Alicia Keys and Jay-Z.

Radcliffe’s Merrily We Roll Along co-star Groff won best actor in a musical – while British director Maria Friedman collected the gong for best revival of a musical alongside her producer sister Sonia.

The ceremony kicked off with a first-time win for Succession’s Jeremy Strong, who triumphed in the best actor in a play category for An Enemy Of The People.

Sarah Paulson won best actress in a play for her role in Appropriate, a dark family drama-turned-comedy from playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

Theatre veteran Kecia Lewis picked up her first Tony for best featured actress in musical Hell’s Kitchen.

In an emotional speech, Lewis recalled how she “walked into the Imperial Theatre to begin my Broadway career at 18 years old”.

She added: “This moment is the one I dreamed for most of those 40 years, so I say to everyone who can hear my voice – don’t give up.”

To win a Tony – short for Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre – means a winner is a quarter of the way towards becoming among the few to gain an EGOT, the so-called “grand slam” of American show business, achieved by those who also win an Oscar, Emmy and Grammy.

The West End of London’s equivalent awards are the Olivier Awards, which were presented this year in April.

Entertainment

Sir Rod Stewart ‘booed’ by German crowd while making show of support for Ukraine

Published

17 hours ago

June 17, 2024

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Sir Rod Stewart 'booed' by German crowd while making show of support for Ukraine

Sir Rod Stewart appeared to be booed as photos of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were shown at a concert in Germany.

The 79-year-old singer, who has spoken out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was playing at Leipzig’s Quarterback Immobilien Arena on Friday.

Before performing his 1991 hit Rhythm Of My Heart – which he calls a war song and has dedicated to Kyiv in recent shows – the Ukrainian flag was projected on screen behind Sir Rod.

Images of Mr Zelenskyy were then shown, prompting loud boos, shouts, and whistles from the crowd.

Videos from social media show the crowd appearing to jeer as Sir Rod salutes the Ukrainian president.

The singer has regularly condemned Russia since 2022, and recently called Vladimir Putin an “arsehole” during an interview with Sky News.

He told Sky News’s Friday Night With Niall Patterson in February: “We have to support Ukraine right to the end.”

In October 2022, Sir Rod also revealed had rented and furnished a home for a family of seven Ukrainian refugees.

“Words couldn’t describe what we were watching,” he told the Daily Mirror at the time. “The bombing of innocent children, the bombing of hospitals and playgrounds.

“Like everyone else, we were completely beside ourselves. I don’t wish that on anyone. This is evil, pure evil.”