The Week in Light & Sound
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Other shows to take part this year include Eugenius!, Brief Encounter, Little Shop Of Horrors, Heathers the Musical, Knights Of the Rose, Six, Circolombia, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure, and Kiss Me, Kate.
Julian Bird, chief executive of SOLT and UK Theatre, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with the City of Westminster to bring the casts of London’s great shows to Trafalgar Square, giving theatre fans the chance to see exclusive performances for free. West End Live is a unique celebration of our world-leading theatre industry, and this year promises to be as diverse and entertaining as ever.”
Paved with Gold - A contactless payment scheme is to be introduced for buskers in London in what is being described as a world first. Performers will be handed readers that allow them to set a fixed amount of money to donate and accept contactless payments from passers-by. The Busk in London project, a Mayor of London initiative that has partnered with tech company iZettle, will allow street musicians across the capital to accept payments via cash, contactless cards, wearable technology and chip and pin.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said: "London is a powerhouse of music, having produced artists from Adele to Stormzy, and The xx to Dua Lipa. For London to maintain its status as a global capital of music, it's vitally important that we support the stars of tomorrow. Busking helps emerging artists to hone their talent and gives them the chance to perform in front of huge numbers of people. Now, more Londoners will be able to show their support to the capital's brilliant, talented street performers."
Full-time London busker Charlotte Campbell has been trialling the project. She said: "I believe if street performers like myself don't adapt to the cashless society we are edging towards, we're at risk of becoming a dying art. I've only trialled Repeat Payments for two weeks and it's already had a significant impact on the contributions I've received.”
Birthday Suit - Kylie Minogue has marked her 50th birthday with a sexy snap of herself posing nude with a diamond encrusted guitar. The Australian pop star, who first found fame playing Charlene in Neighbours in 1986, has been sharing pictures reflecting her life and career. She released her debut single, a cover of Little Eva's The Loco-Motion, in Australia in 1987 and has gone on to sell more than 68m records around the world.
In Liquidation - Immersive theatre company Differencengine has gone into liquidation, owing substantial sums to cast and crew. The company, which is behind shows such as Heist, had just opened its latest production, The Hollow Hotel, when it announced the company’s closure to cast members. The Hollow Hotel also closed with immediate effect, just before press performances were due to begin and having run for just a few weeks in previews. The move left ticket buyers out of pocket.
Conquering Anxiety - A free workshop for performers suffering from anxiety will be held at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe and explore how breathing can help them overcome their nerves. Conquering Performance Anxiety will take place on 20 August at Fringe Central. It is being run by GP Pippa Wheble in association with Equity. Wheble is also a trainer in a technique known as Transformational Breath which helps performers “open up the full potential of their breathing system for better physical and emotional well-being”. The workshop comes after performers opened up about the impact anxiety has had on their careers, including Broadway star Patti Murin.
(Jim Evans)
29 May 2018
