The concert - an intimate affair compared to Muse's usual stadium-headlining shows - saw them tone down their show to fit the theatre surroundings. Before the gig bass player Chris Wolstenholme told BBC's Newsbeat, "You don't want to be spending all the money on pyramids and flashing lights - that's money that could be going to charity."
Awards News - Opera magazine is to have its first annual international awards, presented at a ceremony in London on 22 April. The Operas, the brainchild of the long-running publication and businessman Harry Hyman, hope to raise awareness of opera as it struggles with budget cuts. Opera magazine editor John Allison said, "Artists put their life and soul into their work but a lot of good performances.. are not recognised. Hopefully these awards will raise opera in everyone's conscience...Opera houses all over the world are in a lot of difficulty at the moment as everything is being cut and everyone is feeling the pinch." The awards will celebrate winners in 23 categories, including best female singer, best male singer, best conductor, best opera company, and best chorus.
Ticket Fraud - The Metropolitan Police's specialist ticket fraud unit has called on the government to introduce legislation around the resale of tickets to gigs and sports events. Operation Podium was set up with the specific remit to tackle ticket fraud around the 2012 Olympics, and looked at online ticket fraud for other events as well. Their report concludes that self regulation may not be enough but government intervention could help transparency. The unit is due to disband next month.
Theatre Refurbishment - Glasgow's Citizens theatre has announced the first step in a £10m redevelopment to its public and backstage areas. Architectural practice Bennetts Associates, which worked on Stratford-Upon-Avon's Royal Shakespeare Theatre, is to create the plans for a feasibility study for the project, which is anticipated to start in 2016. Citizens artistic director Dominic Hill told The Stage, "I knew when I got the job that the theatre needed refurbishment. Over the last year I have been very much aware of that need in action and understanding how the building doesn't work."
The planned work to the Glasgow City Council-owned building is comprehensive. The dressing rooms and facilities for actors will be improved. The foyer will be refurbished to make it more functional, with the possibility for catering. The wing containing staff accommodation, which is leaking, will be rebuilt with added facilities and areas to support the theatre's community learning projects.
(Jim Evans)
