UK Theatre president Rachel Tackley said: "These are challenging times for theatre around the UK, but we have an incredibly positive story to tell about an industry that is universally acknowledged as the world leader. UK Theatre is talking to politicians with a national brief for the arts and culture, but we also need more theatres and theatre companies up and down the country to be briefing their local candidates and getting their support. I hope the Theatre Matters document will be a useful tool to support those conversations." UK Theatre's advocacy document follows a similar list of demands on a future government published by the Royal Society of Arts.
Grand National - The National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) has unveiled plans for a new £5.8m headquarters in Glasgow. The base at Speirs Wharf will feature one of the largest rehearsal rooms in Scotland, space for technical and costume production and community drama. Work to revamp the former cash and carry building will begin in July. Laurie Sansom, artistic director at NTS, said: "For the first time ever we have the opportunity to create a space that brings together our company, our colleagues and all our communities." The overhaul of the disused building in Glasgow's Craighall Road, in the north of the city, is expected to be completed by spring 2016.
Festival Fever - The opening of the box office for this year's Edinburgh International Festival has seen record sales. More than £370,000 worth of tickets were sold on Saturday for the world-renowned cultural festival. An eclectic range of performers including Juliet Binoche, Berlin's Komische Oper and Franz Ferdinand will take part. This year's event runs from 7 until 31 August and will welcome more than 2,300 participants from 39 countries. Among the keenly anticipated events will be Franz Ferdinand and Sparks performing together. You have been warned.
The Hills Are Alive - The Sound Of Music celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Hollywood screening attended by Julie Andrews and co-star Christopher Plummer. Asked to account for the film's continuing popularity, Andrews suggested: "It could be that it's a family movie, it could be that it's a love story, it could be that the music is so great or the scenery is so beautiful but they all came together to make I guess a joyous family film. That's the best way I could describe it." Plummer added: "It's from an innocent time and with the horrific whole world situation right now it's great for parents to take their children to see something as innocent and pure as this."
Back On The Strip - Celine Dion has announced she will return to her residency in Las Vegas after taking time off since August last year to care for her ill husband who has throat cancer. In an interview with Good Morning America, Dion said, "I am excited to finally tell my fans I am coming back to Caesars Palace . . . It was Rene's wish that I come back. While my family will always be my priority, my fans are just as important to me. I look forward to performing again for all of you starting August 27th, and more importantly having Rene there with me."
Island Music - Blur will headline the Saturday night of this year's Isle of Wight Festival. The Britpop veterans announced last month they were releasing their first album in more than a decade. They join Sunday night Isle of Wight headliners Fleetwood Mac and Friday co-headlin
