The Week in Light & Sound
- Details
At each of the designated performances, audiences will be seated with an empty row in front of and behind them, and with one empty seat between parties to ensure one-metre-plus social distancing. Audience members attending these shows will also be asked to wear a face mask throughout their visit unless exempt. The RSC is currently only staging shows at its outdoor theatre, which is running at full capacity. It has made face masks optional in all settings, including inside the parts of its main building that are open to visitors.
Immersive Theatre - An arts hub hosting immersive theatre and offering affordable rehearsal space is launching in London’s Elephant and Castle this September. Founder and artistic director Sarah Davey-Hull took over the building, which was formerly an office block and originally a brewery, in March 2020, just before the pandemic began. She has been running some activities – including producing a series of short films, from the building during the pandemic – but will officially open the arts hub, which is called BOLD, to the public in September.
Kiss Cancel - Kiss have cancelled a gig after lead singer Paul Stanley tested positive for COVID-19. They were supposed to perform in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania last week. Stanleyhas received both vaccines, as has "everyone on the entire tour, both band and crew", Kiss said in a statement. The band said they would release more information about future dates as soon as possible. The statement said: "The band and their crew have operated in a bubble independently to safeguard everyone as much as possible at each show and in between shows. The tour also has a COVID safety protocol officer on staff full-time that is ensuring everyone is closely following all CDC guidelines."
The United States has seen a spike in COVID cases due to the Delta variant. At the beginning of the summer, the virus appeared to be on the retreat but the daily average of new cases as of 25 August was 152,341, according to official figures. Other musicians including Stevie Nicks, Garth Brooks and Nine Inch Nails have all axed performances for the rest of the year due to concerns over the variant.
Farewell - Tributes have been paid to the legendary Jamaican singer and music producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, who has died at the age of 85. Perry is known for his pioneering experiments in dub, which revolutionised not only reggae, but also hip hop, dance and other genres. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness called him "unforgettable" and praised his "sterling contribution" to music.
(Jim Evans)
31 August 2021
