Record Breakers - Taylor Swift continues her world domination by making history as the first person to win best artist three times in the 30-year history of the Europe Music Awards (EMAs). The other winners at the event broadcast from Manchester on Sunday included Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyla and Benson Boone.
Beyoncé has added to her all-time record number of Grammy nominations with 11, followed by Kendrick Lamar, Charli XCX and Billie Eilish with seven nods each. Beyoncé now has a career total 99 Grammy nominations - more than any other artist - but she’s not yet won the Recording Academy’s top prize, album of the year. Winners will be revealed at the event in Los Angeles on 2 February.
Theatre Funding - Departing Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan has expressed his regret at never managing to make the case for "serious targeted public investment" to safeguard and improve the UK’s theatre buildings. Morgan, who steps down from his role after eight years next month, expressed dismay that there remained "no dedicated fund" for venue maintenance, as he warned it was "a lottery as to which theatres get the investment they need".
Morgan, who will be replaced by Joshua McTaggart at the helm of the advisory body, was writing in a blog post shared to Theatres Trust’s website. The original article was released in Theatres Magazine. He wrote: "And my biggest regret? I never managed to make the case for serious, targeted public investment to protect and improve our nation’s theatre buildings. In spite of working with a number of expert colleagues, internally and externally, to create a strong evidence base and to make the case, there is still no dedicated fund to support the maintenance and improvement of theatres. “While some theatres have been successful in raising funds from national and local government without a dedicated and significant central fund, it will always be a lottery as to which theatres get the investment they need and which ones don’t."
Bath Time - Robbie Williams will perform at the Royal Crescent in Bath in one of only a few concerts ever hosted at the historic location. The open-air concert on 13 June 2025 is part of the singer's UK tour and will see the "coming together of a truly iconic artist and venue", promoters have said.
The Royal Crescent was built 250 years ago and was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1987. The Royal Crescent Society said: "A special artist like Robbie Williams deserves a special venue and we can’t wait to bring this concert to the wonderful supportive people of Bath." The show will take place on the private lawns of the Royal Crescent, against the backdrop of the 30 Grade I Listed terrace houses.
Capital News - A purpose-built 620-seat ‘state-of-the-art’ theatre is to open in west London next year. The Capital Theatre will be a permanent new venue based in Westfield London in Shepherd’s Bush. It is a joint venture between producers Karl Sydow and Adam Kenwright, through Kenwright’s company Kindred Partners. The venue will open next year with Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story Live on Stage.
The venue will include rehearsal rooms, backstage facilities including offices, dressing rooms, creative and technical facilities alongside management offices. It will also offer a foyer cafe serving food and drink throughout the day, and an on-site box office and merchandise store open seven days a week.
(Jim Evans)
12 November 2024
