The group plans to take one major show annually to six high street locations close to each venue, which will be free for audiences to attend. For its first year, Circulate has commissioned London-based Emergency Exit Arts, which specialises in site-specific work, to create a new production. Called Spin Cycle, the promenade piece - described as a "musical on the move" - will include circus aerialists, dance, comedy and audience participation. Five core performers will lead the show, while up to 40 young people trained by EEA will help to guide audience members. The piece, which is inspired by game shows, will also feature a 10-metre moving tower.
As Tears Go By - Marianne Faithfull has been forced to cancel several concerts in the US and Lebanon after an accident in which she broke a bone in her back. The 66-year-old singer spent four weeks in hospital after fracturing her sacrum while on holiday. The accident happened in July but only came to light after she announced she could no longer perform. In a letter to fans in Beirut, she said: "I broke my back in July and hoped and prayed I would be better enough to be able to do the performance on 17 August, although it's not very long, but my recovery was going well. Alas. I have never been to the Lebanon though I know it through books. It looks like one of the most beautiful places in the world
Noises Off - Winning a classical music competition is not just down to the performer's musical prowess, a new study suggests. An artist's stage presence could be even more important when it comes to evaluating a recital. The research, published in the PNAS journal, found that people shown silent videos of piano competitions could pick out the winners more often than those who could also hear the music. It underlines the dominance of our sense of vision, say scientists. Their study concludes that the best predictor of a winner's musical performance was the visible passion they displayed, followed closely by their uniqueness and creativity.
In Cabaret - London's cabaret scene is set to be boosted by the opening of a new 125-seat space that will also host rehearsed play readings and other live events. The space, called the Oak Room, is part of private members' venue the Hospital Club in Covent Garden, and will open next month. It follows the launch of spaces including the Crazy Coqs, part of Brasserie Zedel, and the Matcham Room in the London Hippodrome.
When it has opened, the Oak Room will be used to launch the London Festival of Cabaret. As part of that festival, the new space will also play host to singer Barb Jungr on 1 November for an event called the New American Songbook, during which Jungr will talk about curating and interpreting popular US songs. This will be open to the public, but most of the Oak Room's events will be for the club's members only.
(Jim Evans)
