The Week in Light & Sound
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The local authority has released the guidelines, called the Edinburgh Festivals Workers’ Welfare Commitment, as part of a report on how best to promote fair working conditions at the city’s festivals. This follows recent news that unions are to crack down on “exploitative” unpaid work placements at the Fringe and a survey in January in which a third of workers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe said they had worked without pay.
The local authority has committed to paying the Scottish local government living wage of £8.51 per hour to its own employees, and expects other employers to “align to the same commitment where possible” and to pay no less than the UK government national living wage of £7.83, regardless of the worker’s age.
Papal Move - Classic Irish sitcom Father Ted, which last aired more than 20 years ago, is set to make a musical comeback. The show's co-writer Graham Linehan revealed on Twitter that a stage version of the comedy is "nearly written". The play, named Pope Ted - Father Ted Musical, has been created by Linehan and the show's other original co-writer, Arthur Matthews. It will reportedly see Ted move from his home to become Pope in Vatican City. Linehan has not confirmed when or where the musical will debut, but said he hopes it will be on the stage in 2019.
West Country Venue - Exeter could be home to a new 1,200-seat multi-purpose venue, according to plans that are being put to public consultation by the council. Residents are being asked to give their views on a study commissioned by Exeter City Council on the need for a new venue in the city. The study concluded that there is potential for a multi-purpose venue, which would include provision for theatre and performance, in the city centre. However, the report emphasised that a key requirement for any new facility would be to ensure it is financially sustainable and it “does not become a burden on the public purse”.
Circus School - One of London’s leading circus schools is opening a new training facility in the south-east of the capital. AirCraft Circus, which has rebranded as AirCraft Circus Academy, has announced an opening weekend of workshops, tours and performances to take place at the centre in Thames-Side Studios, Woolwich, on 9 and 10 June.
Designed and built from scratch, the facility includes three training studios as well as a stretching area, sauna, changing rooms and a kitchen and lounge area. The academy runs classes for adults and young people in various disciplines including acrobatics, trapeze, silks and rope.
(Jim Evans)
5 June 2018
