NewsAmbassador Theatre Group has bought its first theatre on Broadway – the Foxwoods, which is currently home to Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark.
ATG buys Broadway's biggest theatre
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X Factor musical I Can’t Sing to open at the Palladium next year
Producers of The X Factor musical have confirmed that the show, called I Can’t Sing!, will open at the London Palladium in February next year. It will preview from February 27, 2014, with press night…
Debenhams becomes first retailer to sign code of conduct for models
Department store Debenhams has become the first retailer to sign up to a code of conduct aimed at improving the treatment of models on photo shoots. The code has been created by Equity’s models committee,…
Equity president labels culture secretary “an ass”
Equity president Malcolm Sinclair has branded Maria Miller an “ass” in his keynote speech at the union’s conference, rounding on the culture secretary for her recent calls for the arts to make an economic case…
Funding cuts are politically motivated – Equity’s Brown
Equity has hit out at the “political vindictiveness” that has resulted in many local councils being forced to cut their arts budgets. The union has claimed that the government is passing on bigger cuts to…
Pegasus Theatre appoints Jonathan Lloyd as artistic director
Jonathan Lloyd has been appointed as artistic director and chief executive of Pegasus Theatre in Oxford. He begins his new role this September and replaces Euton Daley. Lloyd leaves his position as artistic director of…
Actors concerned that nudity requests are ‘on the increase’
Fears have been raised about the increasing number of acting jobs that require nudity, and the possibility that actors refusing to take their clothes off at castings are being denied work. Members of Equity called…
James Cameron to direct 3D live Swan Lake
James Cameron, whose film credits include Titanic and Avatar, is to direct a worldwide broadcast of Swan Lake from the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg in what is being described as “the first ever global…
Equity to back campaign against double taxation of artists abroad
A campaign against the double taxation of artists performing abroad should be “endorsed and supported” by Equity according to union members. Christie Clifford, a member of Humberside variety branch put forward the motion at Equity’s…
Campaign to fight late payments needed, say Equity members
A campaign to tackle late payments to Equity members working as freelancers has been proposed at the union’s Annual Representative Conference. Peter Rylands, chair of the north Lancashire and Cumbria general branch, put forward a…
Low Pay/No Pay campaign needs reigniting, say Equity members
Union members have urged Equity to relaunch its Low Pay/No Pay campaign due to increasing cuts to funding, which is causing companies to pay employees reduced rates. Henrietta Branwell, a member from the south east…
Equity members call for investigation into fees charged by recruitment websites
An investigation into job advertisement websites that charge entertainers money to see basic information about work has been called for by Equity members. Speaking at the union’s Annual Representative Conference, Michael Mackenzie, a member of…
ExclusiveATG’s Panter: Foxwoods purchase will act as ‘springboard’ for US expansion
Ambassador Theatre Group joint chief executive Howard Panter has said that the company’s purchase of Broadway’s biggest theatre, the Foxwoods, will serve as a “springboard” for further expansion in North America. ATG this week made…
Morecambe and Wise writer Eddie Braben dies
Eddie Braben, the writer who provided comedy duo Morecambe and Wise with some of ther most famous sketches, has died at the age of 82. The Liverpool-born writer passed away earlier today (May 21) following…
Actors urge BBC to produce and cast more dramas regionally
Lobbying body the Performers’ Alliance Parliamentary Group – which includes Equity and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain – is being urged to pressure the BBC to produce and cast more dramas in the nations…
Members reject calls for union to be dissolved
Calls for Equity to be dissolved have been rejected. The walk-on and supporting artists’ committee called for the “dissolution of the union” at the Annual Representative Conference, claiming forthcoming changes to the union’s democratic structure…
Equity to increase subs to £120
Equity’s annual subscription rate will increase to a minimum of £120, after representatives voted in favour of 3.45% hike to rates. The percentage increase, which comes into effect from January 2014, was passed by a…
Lottery generates £390m for arts in 2012/13
A record-breaking annual spend of almost £7 billion on the National Lottery’s portfolio of games saw donations to the arts growing to £390 million in the year to the end of March. The 6.9% increase…
Matilda triumphs at Drama Desk Awards
Matilda the Musical has won five times at the Drama Desk Awards in New York. The show took home outstanding musical and four other awards. Also winning for the show were Bertie Carvel, who was…
Tom Hiddleston to play Coriolanus at Donmar Warehouse
Tom Hiddleston is to star in the title role of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus as part of the Donmar Warehouse’s autumn season. Joining Hiddleston in the production, which will be directed by artistic director Josie Rourke, is…
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