Latest news with #Gillies
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Perth Now
Taser and bullet fail to stop domestic violence suspect
An alleged domestic violence incident has ended with two police cars rammed and a man shot in the arm after a dramatic two-hour ordeal. The 42-year-old man was allegedly seen wielding a knife and arguing with a woman when police were called to an address in San Remo on the NSW Central Coast about 5am on Thursday. Multiple attempts to arrest him were unsuccessful and he got into a car and rammed two police vehicles to flee, police say. Officers tried to use a Taser while the man was in the vehicle and when he drove at the surrounding police cars, an officer fired once. "It appears that he was struck by the bullet in the upper arm area," Detective Superintendent Chad Gillies said on Thursday. "(His) condition is stable, it's certainly not life-threatening." After escaping despite being shot, the man evaded police for more than two hours before being found in nearby Gorokan about 7.30am. Police used a Taser and managed to arrest the man on the second occasion, Det Supt Gillies said. The man, who is known to police, is under guard in hospital. "I anticipate a number of serious charges will be conferred against that male at the earliest opportunity," Det Supt Gillies said. The alleged victim of the domestic incident was taken to hospital with injuries including facial fractures and has since been discharged. The car used by the man to escape has been seized by police and will undergo forensic testing. No critical incident has been declared and the officers involved acted appropriately in trying to detain the man, Det Supt Gillies said. "Police were required to act immediately, which they did and put themselves in jeopardy," he said.
Elle
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Elizabeth Gillies Will Never Sing ‘Suddenly Seymour' Again
Places, please for ELLE's column Showstoppers, where theater's biggest stars reflect upon the moment in their careers when the famous phrase 'the show must go on' became a little too real. When things don't go according to plan onstage, here's how the pros react—and what they take away from it. Elizabeth 'Liz' Gillies is perhaps best known for two iconic television roles: Fallon Carrington on Dynasty and Jade West on Victorious. In both roles, Gillies had notable belt-your-brains-out moments. (Her 'Give It Up' duet with Ariana Grande on Victorious is gay history.) Now, the actress is returning to her theatrical roots. Gillies, who made her Broadway debut in 13 with Grande in 2008, is about to wrap her five-month run as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre. She's been the Audrey to both Milo Manheim and Graham Phillips's Seymours, and for the actress, it has been a welcome return home. Below, Gillies discusses the challenges of the song 'Suddenly Seymour,' her favorite shows, and if she'd ever return for the Victorious reboot. I did the show with the flu a few times, which was just sort of trippy and disorienting. The beautiful thing about this show is [that it's] very self-aware, and obviously, it's funny. Although there are moments of total sincerity and gravitas, it can be very irreverent. It's fun to see where my handicaps that day take me. I've made the choice to do the show instead of calling out [sick]. When I've [gone onstage] with no voice, other parts of my performance have been stronger. It's forced me to make different choices and not rely on a pretty vocal. One time, I went to sing high notes, and I had to talk it. It got a laugh. I've had fun messing around and seeing what I can get out of myself when I'm at my weakest. 'Suddenly Seymour' was my audition and karaoke song for years. After this, I won't touch it with a 10-foot pole. It's not that I don't love it, it's a gorgeous song, there's just something about it. I'm more relaxed once it's over. For a long time, I was completely unable to hit the high note on 'condescend.' I was making a choice in the beginning to sing in head voice and get choked up over it, and now I sing it how it's supposed to be sung—sort of—but I made a sign in the girls' dressing room that says, 'What I lack in condescend, I make up for in vibes.' It's on our wall. So, once I'm gone, they can always remember that. Of course, if I must call out, I totally do. We have such an incredible team of understudies. The show is never in danger. Anytime I've been having a really horrible day or something bad happens, I think [the show] is a lovely escape. Unlike TV, where you really have too much time to sit and think about it in green rooms, the luxury of having two hours of catharsis is unmatched. I love theater. I love it when it's good. I love it when it's messy. I think it's all great, as long as the performance comes through. It's not an opera. As long as the audience feels what they're meant to feel, as long as they feel connected, it's OK. It's been my dream since I saw the show in 2003. I have other Broadway shows that I love very much, but there's really no role for me in them. It's always been Audrey. I was nervous to reenter this space, but also I would be doing myself such a major disservice if I said no. It's really changed my life, not in a corny way. This reminded me of how much I love theater. Going back to my roots kind of reaffirmed my passion for this business. I've been a serial monogamist in TV world. I would have these really tiny gaps of not working, and then it would be two to six years on a TV show. But, my roots are honestly exclusively in musical theater and improv. I'm thankful [coming back to the theater] was kind of was like riding a bike. It's very, very different from TV, in many ways. Wonderful. It's certainly my preference. TV and film both have their charms, but to me, the immediate response of live theater and live performing is unmatched. I love knowing if I succeeded or failed in real time. I love knowing if I moved the audience or if I fell short. I'm a glutton for punishment. My run with Milo was incredible. He had his devout Disney fans. I had my fan base, which is primarily Nickelodeon-lore. I think the combination of the two fandoms sort of blew the roof off the Westside Theatre. Our stage doors were insane. Now, with Graham [who previously co-starred with Gillies in 13], our stage doors are as passionate as ever. They bring their 13 playbills, which is so special. So many 13 fans have been waiting to get our final two signatures for 15 years. They've found everyone else. It's been so rewarding to me, and I really can't even put it to work into words. That's why I wasn't ready to leave just yet. I had actually never heard of Milo [before this]. He had also never watched Victorious, which was surprising to me. Milo was so wonderful, and I think the youngest person I have ever played opposite against romantically, and probably the youngest friend I now have in my life. I was very surprised and impressed by him. He is so professional and talented. He's such a star, and he played the role without any preconceived notions or any comparisons, because he wasn't that familiar with Little Shop. I think that served him really well. He created his own iconic take on the character, he and really made his own stamp. I built my Audrey around his Seymour, because Seymour's the lead. Graham has been my friend for 16 years. I've known him since I was a child. The biggest hurdle with Graham has been that we avoided the romance and kissing of it all until the very last possible minute, because it was just too weird. Imagine having a friend for 16 years non-romantic, and then all of a sudden you have to be dying in his arms, falling in love, and kissing. Now we're fine because we're professionals. It feels like we've been working with each other consistently for the last 15 years, when really the last thing we did together was an episode of White Collar [in 2012]. We've had Ari, Eamon Foley is a good friend of mine, Aaron Simon Gross. I don't know if I'm missing anybody, but we've had we've had people come in and out. One day, I'm going to track everyone down. We're going to have some kind of 13 family reunion. We'll have a barbecue. I know. I think we should do a reunion concert, in a much smaller scale than what they did for Spring Awakening. We don't need to get that fancy, but I do think something like that would be special. I'd love to play Hedwig [in Hedwig and the Angry Itch]. That is one of my all-time favorite shows. I'm probably not going to play Hedwig, but I would, if asked, if that was ever okay. Hair is one of my favorite musicals. I would totally play Sheila, if I can hit it all, because I am an alto. I love Sweet Charity, but I'm not a dancer. I love Ragtime, but I don't want to be Mother. You know what I mean? In Hairspray, I'd love to be Velma von Tussle. That's a dream role. [Annie's] Miss Hannigan is a dream role. And I really, really, really, really, want to play Velma in Chicago. I'm not diminishing how difficult the dancing is, but that type of dancing, I think I can do it. Then, all the 60-and-over roles, which I have to wait a little longer for. If they let me in Death Becomes Her, I'd play Helen Sharp. Yes, I definitely want to do more. I have to do more. I was reminded by doing this show that this is really who I am and what I love. This is probably the most important job I've ever had, just because of where I am in my life. I come from a musical family. My uncles, my hands, my dad, my grandma, everyone sings. I was always around music. I sang in church growing up. I would cantor and do the arm movements. I would wear dresses that made no sense for church. That was my first little taste of it, and I was like, 'Oh, I love it.' Then, I forced my parents to help me get an agent when I was about 10, because we lived so close to the city. Why can't we try? I would find open calls and make them drive me. I was my own little stage mom, and I knew that I had enough to give it a shot. If it made sense, and I was going back with all my friends and 'classmates,' I would totally consider it. I mean, Daniela [Monet] is at the helm of it, and she's wonderful. She's the perfect person to keep this whole legacy alive. Hopefully it's everything our fans, and we alumni of Hollywood Arts, dream of and stand by. If I talk to the team, meaning my Victorious cast mate team, and they say so, we're going on the show. It's trippy. I think I processed it early when Milo left, because that was sort of the end of that era, and I didn't. I don't think I knew at that point that I was coming back. I'll feel it most on my first Tuesday off. This has been eight shows a week since February 25, and it's not a long time, but it is for me. I haven't had theater in a long time, and this has been my whole life. I made such good friends here. The people here are just incredible. I'm going to miss the girls so much, our dressing room, our gutter. We all kill cockroaches together and do TikToks. This show made me young again. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Elizabeth Gillies currently stars in Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre. Tickets can be purchased here.
Glasgow Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Swinney: Reasonable for ex-Dundee University principal to return £150,000 payout
Professor Iain Gillespie told MSPs on Thursday it was not in his 'thought process' to hand back the cash, although he accepted the 'buck stops with me' for the university's difficulties. He stepped down from his post at the university – which is looking to cut hundreds of posts as it tries to deal with a £35 million deficit – in December. He told Holyrood's Education Committee, which is examining the difficulties faced by the institution, that the university had a 'contractual obligation' to pay him the cash. Prof Gillespie insisted it was 'not in my thought process to repay a contractual obligation to me for my work at the university' – although he added later he would 'reflect' on the matter. Mr Swinney however later insisted: 'I think that would be the right thing to do because the University of Dundee is facing an acute challenge.' A report into the situation at Dundee by former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies last week heavily criticised Prof Gillespie. Asked if Prof Gillespie should give back the money, the First Minister said: 'Given the awfulness of the Gillies review of the handling of the finances of the University of Dundee, I think that would be a reasonable thing to do.' His comments came after Education Committee convener Douglas Ross branded Prof Gillespie a 'coward' and accused him of having 'created this mess and walked away into the sunset'. Pressing the former principal over his time in charge, Mr Ross asked him if he was 'incompetent or corrupt' – with him replying he was 'certainly not corrupt' so he would 'have to choose incompetent'. Prof Gillespie began his evidence to the committee with a 'heartfelt apology' to staff and students at Dundee – which is to receive an additional £40 million from the Scottish Government to help its financial situation. 'Let me start off with an apology to the staff and students,' he told MSPs. 'I think staff and students deserve better than they have had with the management and the governance of the University of Dundee over quite some time, but particularly over the period of 2024. First Minister John Swinney said the University of Dundee 'is facing an acute challenge' (Jane Barlow/PA) 'It's a heartfelt apology for a university that I love, and a city that I hugely respect. 'I accept the buck stops with me. That is why at the end of last year I left.' Mr Ross said the Gillies report showed Prof Gillespie had 'dangerous over self-confidence and complacency', and an 'overbearing leadership style'. Prof Gillespie said that description was 'not something I recognise' – although he later told how a complaint had been made against him in a previous job at the Natural Environment Research Council about his 'overbearing behaviour'. Prof Gillespie stepped down as principal at the University of Dundee in December, recalling this happened after others at the institution told him they had 'no confidence' in his leadership. He told MSPs it was 'possible' he had then resigned by text – though he said he may instead have sent an email confirming his decision. Mr Ross told him: 'The only thing I thought about you was you are a coward. Committee convener Douglas Ross accused Prof Gillespie of being a 'coward' (PA) 'You couldn't go back to the university and face the staff who were losing their jobs, face the students whose studies were so badly disrupted. 'You just created this mess and walked away into the sunset.' Challenging him on the payout, Mr Ross told Prof Gillespie he had been given 'over £150,000 to walk away from a university you almost destroyed'. He asked the former principal: 'At any point have you considered paying that money back?' Prof Gillespie said the university had a 'contractual obligation' to pay him the money. While he said he took 'overall management responsibility for what happened at the University of Dundee', he told Mr Ross he would 'push back' against the claim that he 'almost destroyed it'. Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie also pressed for Prof Gillespie to give back the money. Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie was one of those who pushed Prof Iain Gillespie to hand back the payout he received after quitting (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA) He told the former principal: 'To hold on to that just seems astonishing with the pain other people are feeling. 'I just genuinely want you to think about that, because I think it would send an important message. 'It wouldn't repair the damage but it would send an important message.' Conservative MSP Miles Briggs said giving back the money could be a way for Prof Gillespie to 'send a message to students, to the staff who are left at Dundee, that you understand your role in this saga'. The former principal told him: 'You are one of several members of the committee who have suggested that and I will reflect on that.' Prof Gillespie also hit back at claims from former Holyrood minister Wendy Alexander, who was vice-principal international at the university for almost a decade. In a submission to the committee, Baroness Alexander had said she was 'frozen out' and then 'asked to leave' her post after raising concerns about university finances. Prof Gillespie insisted he did 'not want to get into a slagging match about people's characters', he told MSPs: 'Wendy's performance in terms of delivering student numbers wasn't what we needed it to be.'
Western Telegraph
26-06-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Swinney: Reasonable for ex-Dundee University principal to return £150,000 payout
Professor Iain Gillespie told MSPs on Thursday it was not in his 'thought process' to hand back the cash, although he accepted the 'buck stops with me' for the university's difficulties. He stepped down from his post at the university – which is looking to cut hundreds of posts as it tries to deal with a £35 million deficit – in December. He told Holyrood's Education Committee, which is examining the difficulties faced by the institution, that the university had a 'contractual obligation' to pay him the cash. Prof Gillespie insisted it was 'not in my thought process to repay a contractual obligation to me for my work at the university' – although he added later he would 'reflect' on the matter. Mr Swinney however later insisted: 'I think that would be the right thing to do because the University of Dundee is facing an acute challenge.' A report into the situation at Dundee by former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies last week heavily criticised Prof Gillespie. Asked if Prof Gillespie should give back the money, the First Minister said: 'Given the awfulness of the Gillies review of the handling of the finances of the University of Dundee, I think that would be a reasonable thing to do.' His comments came after Education Committee convener Douglas Ross branded Prof Gillespie a 'coward' and accused him of having 'created this mess and walked away into the sunset'. Prof Gillespie began his evidence to the committee with a 'heartfelt apology' to staff and students at Dundee – which is to receive an additional £40 million from the Scottish Government to help its financial situation. 'Let me start off with an apology to the staff and students,' he told MSPs. 'I think staff and students deserve better than they have had with the management and the governance of the University of Dundee over quite some time, but particularly over the period of 2024. First Minister John Swinney said the University of Dundee 'is facing an acute challenge' (Jane Barlow/PA) 'It's a heartfelt apology for a university that I love, and a city that I hugely respect. 'I accept the buck stops with me. That is why at the end of last year I left.' Mr Ross said the Gillies report showed Prof Gillespie had 'dangerous over self-confidence and complacency', and an 'overbearing leadership style'. Prof Gillespie said that description was 'not something I recognise' – although he later told how a complaint had been made against him in a previous job at the Natural Environment Research Council about his 'overbearing behaviour'. Prof Gillespie stepped down as principal at the University of Dundee in December, recalling this happened after others at the institution told him they had 'no confidence' in his leadership. He told MSPs it was 'possible' he had then resigned by text – though he said he may instead have sent an email confirming his decision. Mr Ross told him: 'The only thing I thought about you was you are a coward. Committee convener Douglas Ross accused Prof Gillespie of being a 'coward' (PA) 'You couldn't go back to the university and face the staff who were losing their jobs, face the students whose studies were so badly disrupted. 'You just created this mess and walked away into the sunset.' Challenging him on the payout, Mr Ross told Prof Gillespie he had been given 'over £150,000 to walk away from a university you almost destroyed'. He asked the former principal: 'At any point have you considered paying that money back?' Prof Gillespie said the university had a 'contractual obligation' to pay him the money. While he said he took 'overall management responsibility for what happened at the University of Dundee', he told Mr Ross he would 'push back' against the claim that he 'almost destroyed it'. Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie also pressed for Prof Gillespie to give back the money. Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie was one of those who pushed Prof Iain Gillespie to hand back the payout he received after quitting (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA) He told the former principal: 'To hold on to that just seems astonishing with the pain other people are feeling. 'I just genuinely want you to think about that, because I think it would send an important message. 'It wouldn't repair the damage but it would send an important message.' Conservative MSP Miles Briggs said giving back the money could be a way for Prof Gillespie to 'send a message to students, to the staff who are left at Dundee, that you understand your role in this saga'. The former principal told him: 'You are one of several members of the committee who have suggested that and I will reflect on that.' Prof Gillespie also hit back at claims from former Holyrood minister Wendy Alexander, who was vice-principal international at the university for almost a decade. In a submission to the committee, Baroness Alexander had said she was 'frozen out' and then 'asked to leave' her post after raising concerns about university finances. Prof Gillespie insisted he did 'not want to get into a slagging match about people's characters', he told MSPs: 'Wendy's performance in terms of delivering student numbers wasn't what we needed it to be.'
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Swinney: Reasonable for ex-Dundee University principal to return £150,000 payout
First Minister John Swinney has said it would be 'reasonable' for a former principal of the cash-strapped University of Dundee to return a £150,000 payment he received when he stepped down. Professor Iain Gillespie told MSPs on Thursday it was not in his 'thought process' to hand back the cash, although he accepted the 'buck stops with me' for the university's difficulties. He stepped down from his post at the university – which is looking to cut hundreds of posts as it tries to deal with a £35 million deficit – in December. He told Holyrood's Education Committee, which is examining the difficulties faced by the institution, that the university had a 'contractual obligation' to pay him the cash. Prof Gillespie insisted it was 'not in my thought process to repay a contractual obligation to me for my work at the university' – although he added later he would 'reflect' on the matter. Mr Swinney however later insisted: 'I think that would be the right thing to do because the University of Dundee is facing an acute challenge.' A report into the situation at Dundee by former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies last week heavily criticised Prof Gillespie. Asked if Prof Gillespie should give back the money, the First Minister said: 'Given the awfulness of the Gillies review of the handling of the finances of the University of Dundee, I think that would be a reasonable thing to do.' His comments came after Education Committee convener Douglas Ross branded Prof Gillespie a 'coward' and accused him of having 'created this mess and walked away into the sunset'. Prof Gillespie began his evidence to the committee with a 'heartfelt apology' to staff and students at Dundee – which is to receive an additional £40 million from the Scottish Government to help its financial situation. 'Let me start off with an apology to the staff and students,' he told MSPs. 'I think staff and students deserve better than they have had with the management and the governance of the University of Dundee over quite some time, but particularly over the period of 2024. 'It's a heartfelt apology for a university that I love, and a city that I hugely respect. 'I accept the buck stops with me. That is why at the end of last year I left.' Mr Ross said the Gillies report showed Prof Gillespie had 'dangerous over self-confidence and complacency', and an 'overbearing leadership style'. Prof Gillespie said that description was 'not something I recognise' – although he later told how a complaint had been made against him in a previous job at the Natural Environment Research Council about his 'overbearing behaviour'. Prof Gillespie stepped down as principal at the University of Dundee in December, recalling this happened after others at the institution told him they had 'no confidence' in his leadership. He told MSPs it was 'possible' he had then resigned by text – though he said he may instead have sent an email confirming his decision. Mr Ross told him: 'The only thing I thought about you was you are a coward. 'You couldn't go back to the university and face the staff who were losing their jobs, face the students whose studies were so badly disrupted. 'You just created this mess and walked away into the sunset.' Challenging him on the payout, Mr Ross told Prof Gillespie he had been given 'over £150,000 to walk away from a university you almost destroyed'. He asked the former principal: 'At any point have you considered paying that money back?' Prof Gillespie said the university had a 'contractual obligation' to pay him the money. While he said he took 'overall management responsibility for what happened at the University of Dundee', he told Mr Ross he would 'push back' against the claim that he 'almost destroyed it'. Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie also pressed for Prof Gillespie to give back the money. He told the former principal: 'To hold on to that just seems astonishing with the pain other people are feeling. 'I just genuinely want you to think about that, because I think it would send an important message. 'It wouldn't repair the damage but it would send an important message.' Conservative MSP Miles Briggs said giving back the money could be a way for Prof Gillespie to 'send a message to students, to the staff who are left at Dundee, that you understand your role in this saga'. The former principal told him: 'You are one of several members of the committee who have suggested that and I will reflect on that.' Prof Gillespie also hit back at claims from former Holyrood minister Wendy Alexander, who was vice-principal international at the university for almost a decade. In a submission to the committee, Baroness Alexander had said she was 'frozen out' and then 'asked to leave' her post after raising concerns about university finances. Prof Gillespie insisted he did 'not want to get into a slagging match about people's characters', he told MSPs: 'Wendy's performance in terms of delivering student numbers wasn't what we needed it to be.'
