The Week in Light & Sound
- Details
The Long Goodbye - Elton John has announced UK dates for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, saying they will be emotional and "incredibly special". The singer, who began his mammoth three-year goodbye tour in the US in September, will continue to play across the world until 2021, with more than 300 shows planned. Two UK dates had already been confirmed for next year, and there will now be more again in November 2020, kicking off at London's O2 Arena. Sir Elton will also play arena shows in Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Leeds in 2020.
"The Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour will take us to many places that have meant a lot to me over the last 50 years, but these UK shows will be incredibly special," he said. "The UK is home, and where my heart will always be. To celebrate some of the incredible moments we've shared with my British fans over the years will be wonderful. These homecoming shows will be very emotional, and a lot of fun."
High Wire Act - Cirque du Soleil has announced the UK premiere of a show inspired by the film Avatar, which has been developed with director James Cameron. Toruk – the First Flight, which is written and directed by Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon, will run at Manchester Arena from 20-23 June 20 to 23 and at London’s O2 Arena from 26-30 June. The show, which uses multimedia projections and puppetry, is an official prequel to the 2009 film Avatar.
Cameron said: “Avatar is really meant to be a celebration of human motion and human emotion and Cirque is able to capture that absolutely perfectly, because it’s all about human performance and physicality. It makes you feel alive to watch these performers.” It is directed by Neilson Vignola, with choreography by Tuan Le and Tan Loc, set and prop design by Carl Fillion, costume by Kym Barrett, sound by Jacques Boucher and lighting by Alain Lortie.
Late Show - Elvis Presley has been posthumously honoured with the Presidential Medal Of Freedom. The award is the US' highest civilian honour and recognises the "meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavours". Presley is joined by baseball great Babe Ruth and Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia in receiving the award posthumously. The others being honoured are the long-time Republican senator Orrin Hatch, the philanthropist and political donor Miriam Adelson and retired NFL stars Alan Page and Roger Staubach. The medals will be handed out in a ceremony at the White House on 16 November.
One Man Band - Ian McKellen has announced plans to raise money for 80 theatres across the UK as part of an ambitious nine-month solo tour in celebration of his 80th birthday. The one-man show, called Tolkien, Shakespeare, others…and you!, will play at theatres from Cornwall to Orkney, including the UK’s largest stages and some of its smallest. The list includes venues with which McKellen has a personal connection. Among them are London LGBT+ venue Above the Stag Theatre, amateur group the Questors, RADA, and small-scale regional theatres such as Wigan Little Theatre and the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis. All profits will benefit specific causes at each theatre.
We Will Rock You - Tim Rice is to host The Best of Rock Musicals at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, featuring songs from shows including Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, We Will Rock You and Hair. The show is the 20th anniversary production from the team behind The Night of 1000 Voices. It is devised by Hugh Wooldridge, with Stuart Morley and Kevin Amos as musical directors. Money from the event will benefit the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.
(Jim Evans)
13 November 2018
