Writing on her website, the singer said, "I have a request for all of you who are coming to the shows. We have purposefully chosen an intimate theatre setting rather than a large venue or stadium. It would mean a great deal to me if you would please refrain from taking photos or filming during the shows. I very much want to have contact with you as an audience, not with iPhones, iPads or cameras. I know it's a lot to ask but it would allow us to all share in the experience together."
Country Music - Pet Shop Boys have made a cameo appearance on Radio 4's rural soap opera The Archers, appearing as last-minute headliners for fictional music festival Loxfest. The duo recorded their contribution at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios in London last month. BBC 6 Music's Steve Lamacq also appeared in the episode, having helped the Archers team put together the Loxfest line-up.
Motown Magic - Producers of Motown The Musical have confirmed that the show, currently running on Broadway, will come to the West End in 2015. The production, which will close in New York next January with plans to reopen in 2016, will move to the UK next summer for a run at the Dominion Theatre. Producer Kevin McCollum said. "By closing in January, 2015, we have an opportunity to use the production assets from Broadway for the UK production next year." Featuring more than 60 songs from artists such as Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, Motown The Musical opened in March 2013 at Broadway's Lunt Fontanne Theatre.
Saigon Celebration - Cast members from both the original West End production of Miss Saigon and the current revival of the musical at the Prince Edward Theatre are to appear onstage together in a gala performance this September. To celebrate the show's 25th anniversary, performers from the original production - which opened on 20 September 1989 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane - will join for its finale. Tickets for the show will be available for the same price as they were in 1989 - ranging from £13.50 to £22.50. The evening will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on 28 September. Miss Saigon is currently booking until April 2015.
Hardy Premiere - The world premiere of a new musical adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbervilles will take place at the New Wimbledon Studio Theatre next month. The adaptation of Thomas Hardy's novel, which has music and lyrics by Alex Loveless and is directed by Chris Loveless, will run at the south London theatre from 2-27 September.
On The Fringe - The Edinburgh Fringe has broken the two million ticket barrier for the first time in its 67-year history. The festival, which closed on Monday night, said it issued an estimated 2.18m tickets across 299 venues over 25 days. That is a 12% increase on the same point last year, which was itself a record. The three-week Fringe saw 49,497 performances of 3,193 shows in venues across Scotland's capital city,
(Jim Evans)
