Tim Eyles, Theatres Trust Chair, says, "With our renewed strategy for protecting theatres in our 40th anniversary year, we're delighted that our HLF Sharing Heritage grant award will help more people discover our country's fantastically rich built theatrical heritage. The project also offers an excellent paid opportunity for those seeking a career in archive and heritage work to gain valuable skills and contribute to the development of the Theatres Trust Archive."
Storm Warning - The third and final day of the sell-out Rock am Ring music festival in Germany was cancelled after lightning hurt at least 80 fans, organisers say. Performances were suspended on Saturday during continued thunderstorms, forcing many of the 92,000 fans at the open-air event to shelter in cars and tents. Organisers were forced to cancel it after local authorities revoked its licence early on Sunday morning. They said on Facebook that they regretted the decision but accepted it was necessary because the safety of fans was of paramount importance. Critics on Facebook had accused organisers of not cancelling the event quickly enough.
Black in Business - The Woman in Black will launch a new UK tour in September, as the West End production marks 27 years at the Fortune Theatre in London. Opening at the Garrick Theatre in Lichfield, the tour will begin in September and continue until June next year, when it ends at the New Theatre in Cardiff. Other venues it will play in include the Lowry in Salford and Cheltenham Everyman Theatre. Based on Susan Hill's novel, Stephen Mallatratt's adaptation is directed by Robin Herford and produced by PW Productions.
Winning Work - Academic Gordon McMullan has been awarded the 2016 Sam Wanamaker Award for his work celebrating the quarter-centenary of Shakespeare's death. The award, run by Shakespeare's Globe, celebrates work that has increased the understanding and enjoyment of Shakespeare, and has been running since 1994. McMullan is professor of English at King's College London and was the brains behind Shakespeare 400, which has seen cultural organisations across the UK celebrate the 400th year of the playwright's death this year.
Farewell Dave Swarbrick, best known for his work with influential folk group Fairport Convention, has died at the age of 75. "Swarb" performed mainly on the violin and wrote many of the group's songs.
(Jim Evans)
