The Week in Light & Sound
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In his statement on Sunday, the singer said his "relief" at being able to return to performing was "tempered by the knowledge that the Berlin audience were so inconvenienced".
"There was an amazing atmosphere in the house, it was going to be one of those unforgettable nights but not for this reason. We can't wait to get back there on 13 November," the statement added. It was the second night of the European leg of U2's Experience + Innocence tour, which had kicked off at the same venue on Friday night.
Zero Tolerance - Kevin Hart has split opinion as a "zero tolerance" mobile phone ban at his UK gigs left some people out of pocket. Fans were left frustrated with the US comedian's strict policy as some claimed they were removed from the venue for as little as sending a text.
It is not the first time phones have been banned at gigs - but it might be the dawning of a new age of enforcement. Chris Rock fans will recall a similar ban as they were forced to keep their mobile phones in a locked pouch while at his shows last year. But Hart's ban does not include any such technology - instead relying on so-called "cell phone security" to police the venue and enforce the rule. Fans were warned in advance of the ban, which has applied to Hart's entire UK tour.
Desert Song - Jason Donovan is moving into theatre producing and has teamed up with Mark Goucher to launch a new tour of musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Donovan starred in the show when it played in the West End and went on to appear in two UK tours. Joining him and Goucher as producers are Gavin Kalin and Matthew Gale. It will be directed by Paul Kerryson, former artistic director of Curve in Leicester.
The tour kicks off in 2019, opening at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford on 5 September. It then plays at venues including the Alhambra in Bradford and the New Wimbledon Theatre. The tour concludes at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, on November 30. Donovan said: “Having spent years performing and always harbouring the desire to become more involved in the creative process, I am delighted to be joining Mark Goucher as producer on this wonderful show.”
Re-Opening - Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre is to reopen six months after it was forced to close following a fire – with management estimating the total cost of closure and cleaning to be more than a £1m. The 114-year-old venue was cordoned off and shut by the council after a fire devastated a nearby nightclub on 22 March. It is to reopen on 5 September with Celtic – The Musical, which was previously cancelled due to the closure.
Impact Centre - A 200-seat studio theatre space is to be included in a new concert and performance venue being planned in Edinburgh’s New Town. The £45m Impact Centre, situated behind the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Dundas House on St Andrew Square, is being built as a new home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
The main 1,000-seat auditorium will also serve as a new venue for the Edinburgh International Festival. Funding includes £25m from Edinburgh’s City Deal alongside substantial philanthropic donations, notably from the Dunard Fund, which is a major backer of the EIF. The news comes as design images of the complex have been released and a full planning application is made to the city of Edinburgh council.
(Jim Evans)
4 September 2018
