February 2010 Archives

I had a very interesting tour of the backstage at the Royal Court earlier this week.
It's not the first time I've been on a recce of the building (as a judge of the redesign competition we had a good look round), but it was the first time I'd seen things like the massive revolve stage from underneath.

I am so pleased for Karen Gallagher and the team from Merseyside Dance Initiative who are organising the Leap 2010 dance festival.
They used the first night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake (yes, the one I awarded only my FOURTH ever perfect 10 to) at the Empire to officially launch their year of dance.

Voices Across The Oceans come to The Black-E tomorrow.
The major international music collaboration is a touring a cappela theatrical production organised by The Centre for Music and Arts Technology (CMAT).

Choreographer Matthew Bourne has agreed to take part in a Q&A after the performance of his Swan Lake at the Empire next Monday.
The session will be led by Karen Gallagher, director of Merseyside Dance Initiative and coordinator of LEAP 2010, Liverpool's year-long programme of dance which celebrates its 18th birthday this year.

Artists have been given an extra weekend to put in their entries for this year's Johh Moores Contemporary Painting Prize.
The closing date has been extended from tomorrow to Monday at 5pm.

Royal Court producers are on the look out for two new young actors to join the cast of hit musical Our Day Out.
The Willy Russell tale of a class of Liverpool schoolchildren on a day trip to Wales is set to return to the Roe Street theatre in 2010.

He was nominated for an Olivier Award this week for Morecambe, so it's great news Bob Golding and the show about one half of Eric and Ern is coming to Liverpool.
I caught up with the actor on the phone and you can see the results in today's Echo.

Liverpool's Long Night cultural festival is to build on its success by organising a separate "Light Night" this spring.
The event on Friday, May 14 will become one of two night time city centre cultural festivals each year.

Congratulations to Melanie C who has been nominated for a prestigious Olivier Award for her role as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers.
The former Spice Girl took over the part in the Willy Russell hit musical at London's Phoenix theatre last October, marking her West End acting debut.

I see our best known Russian Scouser has been making favourable headlines over in California with his concerts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA.
And reading his latest blog entry (20C in the shade, a thrilling new(ish) venue, no snow-hit transport moans) it's clear the LA love-in is mutual.