The Week in Light & Sound
- Details
Glastonbury celebrates its 50th year in 2020, and big acts are expected to be booked to appear on the various stages at Worthy Farm. Sir Paul McCartney has hinted he may return to play the festival in its anniversary year.
Emily Eavis, daughter of founder Michael, tweeted: "We have now sold out. Thank you all for your incredible, continued support. Demand was higher than ever, with over 2.4 million people registered. Bring on 2020!"
Carbon Neutral Theatre - Shell’s membership of the National Theatre will come to an end next year, as the arts organisation unveils an accelerated goal of making itself carbon neutral in the face of the climate emergency. The National Theatre lists fossil fuel company Shell as one of its corporate Gold members. Prices for this band of membership begin at £15,000 a year.
It has not been made clear whose decision it was for the partnership to end in June 2020, but a statement from the National Theatre said: “Shell have been valued and longstanding supporters of the National Theatre, most recently as corporate members – this membership will come to an end in June 2020.”
The end of Shell’s association with the theatre follows earlier news that the Royal Shakespeare Company has ended its longstanding partnership with BP, following pressure from young people who claimed they would boycott the theatre if the relationship continued.
London’s Great Theatres - Behind the scenes images of London theatres will feature in a new book co-written by actor Simon Callow and photographer Derry Moore. London’s Great Theatres explores venues from the West End, South Bank, Westminster and Hackney. The book includes photographs and commentary on 28 theatres, including the Old Vic, the Hackney Empire, Wilton’s Music Hall and the Royal Court.
Rapper Recovers - Rapper Krept has said he is "good" and will be "back in no time" after he was assaulted backstage at a BBC Radio 1Xtra live event in Birmingham. The sold-out Saturday night show at the Arena Birmingham finished early after the incident around 22:00 BST. The rapper, one half of duo Krept and Konan, suffered a slash wound. He tweeted on Sunday: "Can't keep a good man down."
Last Drum Roll - Ginger Baker, one of the most innovative and influential drummers in rock music, has died at the age of 80. A co-founder of Cream, he also played with Blind Faith, Hawkwind and Fela Kuti in a long and varied career. His style combined the lyricism of jazz with the crude power of rock. One critic said watching him was like witnessing "a human combine harvester". He was also a temperamental and argumentative figure, whose behaviour frequently led to on-stage punch-ups. RIP.
(Jim Evans)
8 October 2019
