The Week in Light & Sound
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Following an initial year, the students will have the opportunity to progress to a master of fine arts qualification. This will be followed by an optional second year of study. “With actor-musicianship very much part of the established theatre scene, in the UK and America, it’s a natural step for professional theatre makers. They will see an intensive and in-depth exploration of how musical and acting processes can interrelate and feed each other,” Harrison said. Rose Bruford is holding information days about the course on 20 February and 6 March.
Fame on the Road - Fame – The Musical has announced a 30th anniversary UK tour. After opening at the Manchester Palace Theatre on 26 July, Fame will visit locations including Glasgow, Blackpool, Bradford, Sheffield and Birmingham. The tour runs until February 2019, with the final date at the Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury. Fame the Musical has seen seven West End runs since opening in Miami 1988.
Brit Award Nominees - Dua Lipa, the breakthrough pop star who scored a huge summer hit with New Rules, has earned the most nominations at the 2018 Brit awards – even beating Ed Sheeran, despite his spectacular year-long assault on the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
She was nominated in the British female solo artist, breakthrough act, single and video categories, along with the night’s biggest award, British album of the year. Without being able to be nominated in the breakthrough category, Ed Sheeran is the runner-up with four nominations, for British male solo artist, video and single (each for Shape of You), and the album award for ÷, the biggest-selling album of 2017 in the UK. Rapper J Hus and platinum-selling songwriter Rag’n’Bone Man each received three nominations.
Farewell - Dolores O’Riordan, the lead singer with the multi-platinum band the Cranberries, has died aged 46. The news was confirmed by her publicist in a statement, but no cause of death has yet been announced. O’Riordan, who had to cancel a tour with a reunited Cranberries in 2017 because of a back problem, had been in London for a recording session. The statement described the death as sudden, and added: “Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
Cranberries’ Noel, Mike and Fergal tweeted, “We are devastated on the passing of our friend Dolores. She was an extraordinary talent and we feel very privileged to have been part of her life from 1989 when we started the Cranberries. The world has lost a true artist today.”
Irish president Michael D Higgins said he learned of the news with “great sadness”, adding: “To all those who follow and support Irish music, Irish musicians and the performing arts, her death will be a big loss.”
(Jim Evans)
16 January 2018
