The Week in Lighting & Sound
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Off The Wall - Roger Waters has said he would consider performing on the border between the US and Mexico as an act of defiance. The veteran Pink Floyd frontman and bassist has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump's plans to build a security barrier along the Mexico border. In a rare public appearance alongside drummer Nick Mason, promoting the forthcoming Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains exhibition at the V&A Museum, the two former Pink Floyd members discussed their new exhibition as well as what would happen when Donald Trump visits the UK. "I'm quite sure if President Trump comes to this country there will be an enormous taking to the streets," Waters said. "I think we would see demonstrations in London bigger than any demonstrations than have ever been seen."
Profiteering - Secondary ticketing website Viagogo has been criticised for "profiteering at the expense of teenage cancer sufferers". The website is advertising seats at vastly inflated prices for next month's Ed Sheeran concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, which is a fundraiser for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Seats have reportedly been advertised for up to £5,000, with the most expensive on the website currently costing about £1,500. Viagogo admitted on its website that the original face value for each ticket was between £49.50 and £110.
In a statement on their website, the Teenager Cancer Trust said: "The only people who should profit from Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall are young people with cancer." They added: "ID will be rigorously checked and anyone with tickets purchased on the secondary market will not be admitted."
Ticket reform campaigners Fan Fair Alliance said, "Teenage Cancer Trust have gone to huge lengths and expense to prevent resale and profiteering of their tickets. To all intents and purposes they are non-transferable, with buyers needing to provide photo ID on the door. And yet, not only are Viagogo encouraging touts to sell these tickets at vastly inflated prices, none of which goes back to the charity, they attempt to circumvent the terms and conditions by advertising that the buyer will be accompanied into the venue by the seller.
"Leaving aside the moral repugnance of profiteering at the expense of teenage cancer sufferers, this appears a flagrant breach of consumer law and yet another reason why Government intervention is so desperately needed."
Eurovision Discord - The Eurovision Song Contest has hit a snag, after 21 top-level staff organising the event resigned. The Ukrainian Eurovision team say they were stripped of major responsibilities in December, when a new boss was appointed to the organising committee. According to their resignation letter, they were "completely blocked" from making decisions about the show. The EBU, which founded Eurovision, told Ukraine's public broadcaster to "stick to the timeline" despite the upheaval. It insisted the event would go ahead as planned in Kiev this May.
Together Again - The last two living members of The Beatles have come together for the first time in seven years to record a new studio album. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr shared a photo together over the weekend, reportedly working on Starr's latest album - a follow-up to his 2015 Postcard From Paradise.
Let The Sun Shine In - An immersive production of rock musical Hair is to run at the Vaults in London, in celebration of the show's 50th anniversary. The production originated at the Hope Mill Theatre last year and is the first transfer from the Manchester venue, which specialises in musicals.
The Vaults, beneath Waterloo railway station, will be transformed into a "fully immersive 60s venue" for the show, and will also feature themed pop-up restaurants and vintage stalls. It will also host a post-show programme that includes club nights and film screenings. The production will be staged in a performance space for an audience of 200. The show's producers said they had been overwhelmed by the reaction to the show in Manchester, and added, "We knew the Vaults and knew this continually topical and moving musical needed to be celebrated in London as it hits 50."
(Jim Evans)
21 February 2017
