Queen’s Brian May, producer Sonia Friedman and two former chief executives of leading performing arts organisations, Luke Rittner and Julian Bird, are among those celebrating their inclusion in the first New Year Honours list of King Charles III’s reign.
Tag Archives | Julian Bird
New entertainment production company launched by Julian Bird and Nica Burns
Outgoing Society of London Theatre chief Julian Bird is joining forces with multi-award-winning producer Nica Burns to launch a new entertainment production company. Based in London’s Covent Garden, Green Room Ents will work across the UK and international entertainment world in fields including theatre, cabaret, television and new media. The company which will be run […]
After two-year hiatus plans are revealed for the Olivier Awards 2022
Returning after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Olivier Awards 2022 will take place on Sunday 10 April at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Jason Manford. Returning after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, this year’s event will be closely aligned with headline sponsor Mastercard’s sustainability focus, with the aim of […]
End to Plan B measures will mean masks are no longer mandatory in theatres
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that Plan B measures in England, including mandatory Covid passports and face coverings in public places such as theatres, will come to an end from Thursday 27 January 2022. During a statement to the House of Commons, Johnson also added that he would no longer be advising people to […]
Julian Bird to step down as chief executive of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre
Julian Bird has announced that he is to leave his role as chief executive of the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre, leaving in May 2022. Commenting on his decision to leave, Bird said: “It had always been my intention to think about moving on around the 10th anniversary of my time in […]
West End theatres lights will be dimmed in honour of Stephen Sondheim
The Society of London Theatre has announced that all West End theatres will dim their marquee lights at 7pm on 29 November 2021 for two minutes in memory of the composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim who died at his home in Connecticut on 26 November 2021, he was 91. Among those venues paying their respects […]
Budget boost for theatre sector welcomed
The doubling of tax relief for theatres until 2023 is among a raft of measures included in the Government’s Budget 2021 announcement aimed at supporting the UK’s creative industries. In a statement released following Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s unveiling of the full details of the Budget in the House of Commons, Julian Bird, chief executive, Society […]
Theatre pilot events hope as Stage 4 of unlocking is paused
The industry was offered a small glimmer of hope among the gloom of yesterday’s announcement of a delay to step four of the ‘roadmap’ when prime minister Boris Johnson suggested selected theatre productions could be included in a new batch of pilot events as part of the Events Research Programme. The prime minister’s comments on […]
PM gives go-ahead for 17 May reopening plans
Theatres and entertainment venues across England are preparing for the first stage in the reopening process following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s confirmation that the next stage of the ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown will proceed as planned with the return of live socially distanced indoor performances from 17 May 2021. While noting that the third stage […]
PM’s roadmap raises hopes for full theatre comeback this summer
The performing arts industry has given a cautious welcome to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s hopes for the return of live socially distanced indoor performances from 17 May 2021 followed by a return to full capacity operations from 21 June. Announced as part of the four-stage ‘roadmap’ for the phased lifting of lockdown restrictions, the […]
Special show for Oliviers 2020 announced – 2021 awards likely to be shelved
The winners of the 2020 Olivier Awards with Mastercard will be announced on 25 October 2020 during a special programme broadcast from the London Palladium on ITV and Magic Radio. Originally due to be held in April this year, the replacement for the usual red carpet event will be hosted as planned by Jason Manford […]
West End stars and industry figures to unite for Magic With The Musicals at the Palladium
Magic Radio will bring together over 70 leading figures from across the industry for a special Magic With The Musicals day at the London Palladium aimed at raising awareness of the plight of the theatre industry. Produced by Magic and TBI Media, the event on 17 September 2020 will result in a special three-hour show […]
Theatre industry welcomes Government’s £1.57 billion support package
Arts venues, organisations and high-profile industry figures have welcomed the Government’s announcement of a £1.57 billion rescue package for the arts, culture and heritage industries in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. Commenting on the package which includes emergency loans and investments in infrastructure, Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “This news is truly welcome at a […]
Call for timescale following unveiling of Culture Secretary’s five-point plan
Industry professionals are calling on the Government to urgently confirm a timeline for the latter stages of the ‘road map’ to the reopening of theatres. While welcoming last week’s announcement by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden of the basic five-stage route to restarting and rebuilding the industry, many have expressed disappointment about the lack of detail […]
Theatre industry pleads for Government help
Theatre professionals and industry leaders are adding their voices to the increasingly urgent pleas to the Government to find ways to save the performing arts from imminent disaster. Writing in The Telegraph, producer Sonia Friedman became the latest in a number of industry experts to warn that “British theatre is on the brink of collapse”. […]
SOLT and Equity announce deal to support West End performers
The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and Equity have reached an agreement to support actors during the current suspension of West End shows due to the COVID 19 crisis. Aimed at covering everything from long-running musicals to plays with limited runs, productions yet to open and shows which were still in rehearsal when the shutdown […]
UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre 2017 – regional and national winners announced
UK Theatre has announced the 12 regional and national winners of the UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre 2017 in association with Smooth Radio. This award, which is voted for by the public, is an opportunity for audiences to celebrate their local theatre. This year, over 172 theatres competed for the coveted title and more than 40,000 […]
Nominations for UK Theatre Awards 2017 announced
Sheffield Theatres’ Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Chichester Festival Theatre’s Caroline, Or Change and the Royal Exchange Theatre’s Sweet Charity will battle it out for the title of Best Musical Production at the UK Theatre Awards next month. The three hit shows were among the list of nominees for the 2017 awards which will be presented […]
Olivier Awards 2017 – special red carpet access to fans
Audiences across the world will be able to tune in to the Olivier Awards’ first red carpet live show when the stage honours make their debut at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 9 April. Details of the innovative broadcast show, aimed at allowing theatre fans across the world to get closer to the glamour […]
Theatre lights to be dimmed in honour of James M. Nederlander
The lights in the West End and Broadway will be dimmed on Wednesday (3 August) in memory of impresario James M. Nederlander whose death at the age of 94 was announced this week. The chairman of The Nederlander Organization, whose career spanned more than 70 years, will be honoured with the traditional tribute to the biggest […]
Olivier Awards 2016 – plans to celebrate 40th anniversary include new YouTube channel
Plans to celebrate the Olivier Awards’ 40th anniversary have been announced, including a new Olivier Awards YouTube channel at youtube.com. Nicola Grant, head of marketing for MasterCard UK & Ireland said: “MasterCard is hugely proud to continue its partnership with SOLT and to celebrate the 40th year of the Oliviers – Britain’s most renowned theatre awards.” In the UK, ITV will […]
Nominations announced for UK Theatre Awards 2015
UK Theatre has announced the nominations for the UK Theatre Awards 2015, the only awards which celebrate outstanding achievement in theatre throughout the United Kingdom. The Awards will be presented on Sunday 18 October at a ceremony at London’s historic Guildhall, a magnificent medieval Grade 1 listed landmark building situated in the City of London. Details of the compere […]
Kids Week achieves record-breaking first day sales
The annual London theatre initiative Kids Week (www.kidsweek.co.uk) has achieved a 77 per cent year-on-year increase in first-day sales, with 85,336 tickets sold in the first 24 hours since going on sale on 17 June at 10am (compared to the equivalent period in 2013). Revenue from paid tickets surpassed £2 million. Now in its 17th year and […]
