Latest news with #GrandTheatre
Scotsman
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The Haunting of Alice Gilfrey
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Haunting Of Agnes Gilfrey, Oran Mor, Glasgow ★★★ Youth's a stuff will not endure, says Shakespeare; but in the age of the tribute musical, it can be endlessly recaptured, and made to live again on stage. Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey's 1971 show Grease – later transformed into the 1978 global hit film – is a tribute musical in the true sense. Set in the autumn of 1959, it is one of the original high school musicals, and its much-loved songs – Summer Nights, We Go Together, You're The One That I Want, and many more – are all lovingly crafted in the bubble-gum pop style of the late Fifties. Grease at Pitlochry Festival Theatre PIC: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan To work well, though, a show like Grease needs a company who are themselves full of the rebellious energy and sheer joie de vivre of youth; and that's what the 2025 Pitlochry ensemble provides by the truckload, in the opening production of this year's main stage summer season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Co-produced with the Grand Theatre, Blackpool, Sam Hardie's Pitlochry-made production has already played a two-week run there; so the version that opened at Pitlochry over the weekend is already warmed up to sizzling-point. Working in the instruments-in-hand style perfected by Pitlochry musical director Richard Reeday, the 17-strong cast offer a sparkling display of quadruple-threat theatrical energy, as they act, sing, dance and play their way through the story of good girl Sandy, her beau Danny Zuko, and the Rydell High School gang who surround them. What makes the show a roaring success, though – despite the occasional rough edge and under-powered moment – is not only that energy, but the sheer underlying professionalism they bring to the task of making the story work, as a fast-moving two hours of theatre, plus interval. Blythe Jandoo is a beautiful, poignant Sandy, and Alexander Service a palpably decent Danny, with Tyler Collins and Fiona Wood fairly knocking the pinball out of the arcade as rough kids Kenickie and Rizzo. In the end, though, it's all about the ensemble, and the terrific collective spirit expressed through the big-number songs, and through Kally Lloyd-Jones's joyful choreography; and when they reach the final triumphant chorus of You're The One That I Want, the Pitlochry audience can hardly wait to leap to their feet and join in the jive, in one of those glorious celebrations of youth that never grows old. Manasa Tagica and Sarah McCardie in The Haunting of Alice Gilfrey at Oran Mor PIC: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan Youth's a stuff that can't be recaptured, though, for the central character in the latest Play, Pie and Pint lunchtime drama, co-produced with Mull Theatre. In The Haunting Of Agnes Gilfrey, by Glasgow based writer-performer Amy Conway, the central character Agnes is an outspoken Glasgow woman in her forties who loves her job in the film industry, but has recently fallen in love with, and married, a slightly younger man, an American actor called Jimmy, who is eager to become a Dad. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The pair are therefore undergoing fertility treatment, so far with no success; and when they arrive for a romantic break at a holiday-let castle on Mull – and encounter the very strange housekeeper, Mrs Carlin – Agnes soon begins to feel haunted by the unhappy spirit of a former lady of the house, whose sombre portrait hangs over the fireplace. The play perhaps spends a little too much time setting up this situation, and referencing various horror-movie tropes, before Agnes's story finally moves towards its crisis. The point it wants to make, though – about patriarchal pressure on women to have children, and on how even the nicest, funniest men can be complicit with it – is a powerful one. And in Katie Slater's production, Mary Gapinski, Manasa Tagica, and a poignant and hilarious Sarah McCardie as Agnes, make a fine job of exploring the tough moment of choice she faces; as she learns to embrace her own inner cailleach, or crone, and her right to grow older, without shame or regret.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Hefty retrofit bill likely as Enwave plans shut down of more London steam lines
The City of London will likely face millions in retrofitting costs as Enwave looks to decommission more of its downtown steam infrastructure, including a line which heats city hall. Enwave, which owns London District Energy (LDE), told the municipality at the end of April that it would shut down most of its medium-pressure steam lines downtown by Oct. 31, 2026. In a report to next week's infrastructure and corporate services committee meeting, city staff said the reason was that sections of the line were becoming increasingly unreliable despite regular maintenance and "could present safety concerns in the future." City councillors will vote to receive the report for information. The move will impact four city properties, including City Hall, Centennial Hall, the Central Library, and Museum London, the report said. Twelve customers overall will be affected, Enwave said on its website. The Centennial House apartment building will also be impacted. This follows the company's announcement last year that it will decommission a separate low-pressure steam line in the core. It's set to shut down by the end of this month, impacting 17 customers, including the Grand Theatre and the city-owned J. Allyn Taylor building at 267 Dundas St. Converting just the J. Allyn Taylor building from steam to in-building boilers cost at least $810,000, the city said. The Grand Theatre faced a similar estimate, and council voted in August to give the venue $400,000 from the Municipal Accommodation Tax fund to help offset the cost. "Based on our experience, it is likely the total cost to address this issue will exceed $5 million for all affected buildings," city staff write in the report. "As the work to provide an alternative to steam heating is unplanned and not included as part of the adopted 2024-2027 multi-year budget, a source of financing will need to be identified for council approval to support the cost of this work." Converting city hall from steam to hot water heating, or hydronic heating, would be difficult, the report says. Doing the same to Centennial Hall would be very difficult, as steam is used directly in the building's heating coils. City staff say Enwave is assessing the installation of temporary boilers during the notice period until October 2026. One could be located on the west side of city hall, which sits near the end of a steam line branch. Feasible options, timelines, and cost estimates will come after a detailed impact assessment. CBC News reached out to Enwave for comment but did not receive a response before publishing. Jones Entertainment Group, which manages Centennial Hall, referred questions to the city. In a statement on the LDE website, the company says it will work with impacted customers to assist in switching to alternative heating sources. The decommissioning process, it adds, will be structured to minimize customer inconvenience and maintain continuity of service. "We have made sure to provide impacted customers within each respective zone with ample notice to switch to alternative heating systems before the onset of the upcoming winter seasons," the statement says. The company says it's completing an analysis of the remainder of the network. "If our assessments highlight areas that pose safety and/or reliability risks, we will take the necessary actions to either upgrade or decommission those sections to uphold the safety, integrity and efficiency of our service delivery to customers," the LDE website reads. No members of city administration were available to comment Wednesday. "There's a high-pressure line. I do not necessarily foresee anything coming up in the future from that, from what Enwave has informed us," Ward 13 Coun. David Ferreira said Wednesday. He hesitated to comment further, as the city is still assessing impacts. Enwave and LDE provides chilled water for cooling and steam for heating to city hall, Centennial Hall, the Central Library, Museum London, RBC Place and the J. Allyn Taylor Building. The current service contract between the city and company dates to 1992. Previous figures on Enwave's website say it serves at least 60 customers, including St. Joseph's Hospital and University Hospital, and operates 10 kilometres of steam pipes. It also operates three kilometres of chilled water pipes, which will not be impacted.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Huge UK seaside town named Britain's cheapest staycation spot with £82 hotels
Boasting seven long miles of soft golden sand, a recently refurbed Grand Theatre, acclaimed funfair and plenty of arcades - this iconic seaside town has remained one of the UK's cheapest Explore one of the UK's most famous seaside resorts this summer, without breaking the bank. With rising council tax, soaring energy bills, higher road tax and even a more expensive TV Licence - jetting off to the likes of Spain and Greece suddenly seems unaffordable for many households. But, you don't need to travel far to find seven miles of soft golden sand, a whopping 500ft tall tower, an acclaimed funfair - and class entertainment. Looking out onto the Irish Sea, Blackpool ticks all the coastal must-haves for a cheerful staycation, and has kept its prices competitive. There are endless rows of arcades, Fish & Chip shops, and a hefty £350 million investment that is slowly turning the town around, after its pristine reputation started to falter after the 'Benidorm boom'. It's no surprise the town's tourism figures are rising, with 21.5 million holidaymakers flocking to the town in 2023 - a six per cent spike from the year before. New data from Aqua found a staggering 76 per cent of Brits prefer to take at least one staycation per year, instead of dealing with bustling airports and long security queues every time they want a few pints under the sun. The credit card brand has therefore analysed UK staycation spots based on accommodation costs, search volume, weather, and more - to find the cheapest hotspot. Charging guests as little as £82 per night, Blackpool came out as a clear winner. "This classic seaside town offers great value without skimping on fun, with attractions like Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the iconic tower, and lively promenade," Aqua stated. "It's ideal for families or couples seeking a traditional beach break on a budget." For those unenthused by funfair rides and sunbathing on the beach, extensive restoration and repairs have recently been completed on Blackpool's historic Grand Theatre following a £450,000 grant from Arts Council England's Capital Investment Programme. The Grade 2 listed building is hosting a slew of award-winning show this year including Dear Evan Hansen and the beloved Grease The Musical. According to reports, The Arts Council award marks the first phase of funding towards a £15 million capital development plan that will future-proof the theatre and the area surrounding it. Most affordable staycation destinations - full list Blackpool - £82 per night Portsmouth - £108 per night Eastbourne - £112 per night Torquay - £112 per night Manchester - £115 per night Plymouth - £118 per night Brecon Beacons - £118 per night Located some 239 miles from London, getting to Blackpool takes around four hours and 37 minutes in the car. However, direct trains can slash the journey time down to less than three hours - and if you're flexible with flights, you can grab single adult fares for as little as £39. As proven by Aqua's research, accommodation in Blackpool is very affordable, and is great for those trying to keep the purse strings tight. For example, a weekend's stay (Friday, June 13-15) at the Fir Trees Guest House will only set you back £54, based on two adults sharing. However, there is a luxury side to town, and those wanting to splash out can stay at the four-star Imperial Hotel for £198 on the exact same dates.
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Beverley Knight excited at Wolverhampton stage return after 40 years
Beverley Knight says she is excited to be returning to the hometown theatre where she last performed 40 years ago on her stage Wolverhampton artist will tread the boards at the city's Grand Theatre from 27-31 May for a production of Marie & last performed on stage in a theatrical production of West Side Story at the Grand when she was 12, she widely regarded as one of Britain's greatest soul singers, said she was looking forward to her return to the city. "It's my first time back on this stage - the last time I was here, I was about 12 years of age in West Side Story so I am exceptionally excited to be here playing my hometown," she told fans through the theatre's Facebook whose many West End performances include Memphis, The Drifters Girl, Sister Act and Sylvia - which won her an Olivier award - said to be cast as Sister Rosetta in the production was a "great honour". The work tells the story of gospel and blues singer Rosetta Tharpe and her protégé, Marie Knight, played by Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, and features music celebrating Tharpe's legacy in the development of rock 'n' roll. Tharpe herself performed at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall on 26 November 1957. When Beverley Knight was told the news by the theatre team that she would be bringing Rosetta's story back to the city 68 years later, she said: "That's before my parents even came to England, dad came in 1958, I can't believe it."I can't believe she came to my Wolverhampton. This is like gold to me, to know she came, it is everything."It means when we stand on stage and honour her it will resonate even more than it was going to in the first place." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
CBC
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Come take a tour of the historic Grand Theatre in Indian Head, Sask.
The Grand Theatre in Indian Head, Sask., is believed to be the oldest continuously operating theatre of its kind in Western Canada. It has been the root of entertainment in the small Saskatchewan town for the past 121 years. Now it is participating in the Next Great Save, a Canada-wide competition run by the National Trust for Canada that provides up to $50,000 to preserve historic buildings.
