Hilary Hadley, live performance head at Equity, said, "We believe this is a win-win situation for our members and publicans. Pubs get more trade through people enjoying the live entertainment, the community benefits by joining together in a shared activity and Equity members get to do what they do best." Equity has issued a guide as part of its campaign, which informs venues about the best way to introduce live events, including liaising with customers, how to advertise and how to book acts.
Rare Honour - Sting and Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks Sting are among the cultural figures to be awarded this year's Kennedy Centre honours. Singer Al Green, actress Lily Tomlin and ballet dancer Patricia McBride will also receive the decorations at a White House reception on 7 December. It is relatively rare for a British artist, such as Sting, to be recognised. He likened it to receiving an artistic knighthood in the UK. He told the BBC, "It was very unexpected. I'm thrilled. I'm only the 18th British person to receive it, along with Cary Grant and Julie Andrews. I'm definitely the first Geordie ever to get it."
Tapestry - Broadway musical Beautiful - The Carole King Musical will open at London's Aldwych Theatre in February next year. Based on the life and career of singer and songwriter King, the show has a book by Douglas McGrath, with words and music by King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. It is directed by Marc Bruni. The musical has choreography by Josh Prince, set design by Derek McLane, costumes by Aleja Viettii, lighting by Peter Kaczorowski and sound by Brian Ronan. The orchestrations are by Steve Sidwell. King said, "This show is an honest portrayal of my early life with Gerry Goffin and our friendship with our competitors Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil...I love that the next chapter of the Beautiful story is taking place in London's West End."
Green Apple - Ambassador Theatre Group has been recognised for its efforts to be more environmentally friendly. ATG is among a number of organisations to win the Green Apple Environment award, and was given the prize for its Project Blackout initiative which identifies overnight energy waste issues and the costs involved in order to help solve energy wastage issues and input solutions. Juliet Hayes, ATG's safety and environmental advisor, said, "Our main aim was to support a culture and behavioural change for ATG with regard to energy management and efficiency so we're absolutely delighted that our Project Blackout scheme has been selected for a Green Apple Environment award."
Short, Back & Pies - London's oldest pie and mash shop will host a site-specific production of Sweeney Todd next month. Harrington's Pie and Mash shop in Tooting will become the setting for Stephen Sondheim's musical thriller in a production by Tooting Arts Club. The show runs from 21 October 21 to 29 November and will begin with audiences congregating across the road in a traditional barber shop before moving over to Harrington's, which opened in 1908, for the performance.
The production will be directed by Bill Buckhurst, who recently co-directed Shakespeare's Globe's Globe to Globe Hamlet, with Dominic Dromgoole. Rachel Edwards, producer for TAC, said: "It has been a long-held dream to do Sweeney Todd<
