The Week in Light & Sound
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Creator and producer Judy Craymer said: “We are so excited to be bringing Mamma Mia! to Scarborough Open Air Theatre next summer. With its heart-warming story told through the wonderful music of ABBA, Mamma Mia! lends itself perfectly to the outdoors.”
Closure Threat - The future of a Manchester music venue which has hosted bands such as Wet Leg, Elbow and the Arctic Monkeys hangs in the balance after a noise complaint. Owners of the Night & Day Cafe will appear in court this month over alleged breaches of statutory noise levels. It comes after Manchester City Council issued the venue with a noise abatement notice last year. If found in breach, the bar - which has been a Northern Quarter staple for more than 30 years - could close.
The row centres on a complaint from neighbours in an adjoining property, which has recently been converted for residential use. Owner Jennifer Smithson, daughter of the late founder and Manchester icon Jan Oldenburg, has said she now "faces an impossible task". Ms Smithson said to comply with the requirements of the abatement notice would effectively ruin Night & Day's business and likewise a court hearing could mean "the closure and the end of the venue altogether".
Lease Dispute - The future of the largest English-language theatre in continental Europe is at risk, as a dispute over a lease renewal could result in the theatre being forced to close or relocate. A petition has been set up to save English Theatre Frankfurt, which has more than 11,000 signatories.
Originally established in 1979, ETF’s 300-seat theatre has been located in the Gallileo building in Frankfurt since 2003. EFT has been housed rent-free by the venue’s previous owner, German bank Commerzbank, as part of commitment from the company to support the arts. The venue runs a programme of English-speaking productions and predominantly hires a UK-based and English-speaking cast and creative team. Commerzbank sold the building in 2015 to CapitaLand Investment but still acts as the theatre’s landlord until its lease ends on January 31, 2024.
Latitude - Pulp are to headline the 2023 Latitude festival as the band reforms and plays live this summer for the first time in a decade. The festival will take place at Henham Park, Suffolk, from 20 to 23 July. Other headliners will be Paolo Nutini and George Ezra, while other confirmed acts include The Kooks and The Lightning Seeds. Pulp, who hinted at a reunion earlier this year, will also play two shows in their native Sheffield. Latitude organisers said the band headline the festival on the Friday night in celebration of the 25th anniversary of their album This Is Hardcore.
Island Music - Robbie Williams, George Ezra, Pulp and The Chemical Brothers are among the headline acts set to play at the Isle of Wight Festival next year. Robbie Williams will make his Isle of Wight Festival debut on the Sunday, bringing the event to a close. He said: "There is something magic about a British festival… us Brits know how to bring the energy. I am thrilled to be headlining the iconic Isle of Wight Festival, it's a real honour. I can't wait."
Degree Course - Adele wants to study for an English Literature degree once her upcoming Las Vegas residency has been completed. During a Q&A session with fans in Los Angeles, she said: "After Vegas I want to get a degree in English Literature. If I hadn't made it singing, I think I would be an English Lit teacher. I definitely think I use my passion for English lit in what I do. I wish I'd gone to university and had that experience, but I will do it online with a tutor. That's my plan for 2025, just to get the qualification.”
(Jim Evans)
1 November 2022
