Latest news with #performingArts
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong repositions venues in a bid to boost development of performing arts
Sha Tin Town Hall will be reserved for Cantonese Opera while the Hong Kong Coliseum will be positioned as a concert venue, the government said on Thursday. The reform of the hiring policy of the city's performance venues is part of a wider effort to promote the mega-event development of the performing arts in Hong Kong, following the official opening of Kai Tak Stadium in March. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said the latest move could provide more performance slots for use by different art groups and establish clearer venue identities. Under the reform, the 1,372-seat auditorium in Sha Tin Town Hall will be reserved for Cantonese opera, the first world-class intangible cultural heritage in Hong Kong. Professional troupes fulfilling certain criteria could make special bookings throughout the year for Cantonese opera or opera-excerpt performances to promote high-quality productions and the inheritance of the cultural heritage, the department added. The Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom will prioritise concerts in an attempt to develop a live music economy. Photo: Edmond So '[The new policy] could ensure reasonable opportunities for proficient troupes to hire performance venues while supporting the professional and industry development of Cantonese opera.'
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- Climate
- BreakingNews.ie
Revellers pour into Glastonbury Festival as gates open for 2025
The gates to Glastonbury Festival have opened for the 2025 celebration of performing arts and music. Organiser Emily Eavis and her father, co-founder Sir Michael Eavis, could be seen counting down and cheering as the festival officially opened while a brass band played. Advertisement Campers arriving at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, can expect a mixed bag of sunshine and rain throughout the week, with 'warm and rather humid' weather for the rest of Wednesday, according to forecasters. This year's event will see headline performances from British rock/pop band The 1975, veteran singer Neil Young and his band the Chrome Hearts, and US pop star Olivia Rodrigo . Eavis, 45, told BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Nick Grimshaw that opening the gates is 'one of my favourite moments of the whole weekend'. She added: 'So much goes into all those areas… all that planning, all that speculation, all the opinions, all the debate, all the outrage, all the love, all the feelings that just are generated every day, all the press, all the noise. Advertisement 'To be able to actually look everyone in the eye on those gates and bring everyone in, and just think, actually, it's all really just about this. It's all about these people having the best time over the next five days.' Revellers make their way into the site on the first day of the Glastonbury Festival (Yui Mok/PA) More than 200,000 people are expected to descend on the fields of Pilton, with ticket-holders advised to prepare for mainly warm weather. (PA Graphics) Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Ramsdale told the PA news agency: 'Sunny spells are expected for the rest of Wednesday over Worthy Farm and it's likely to stay dry. Things will feel warm and rather humid, with a maximum temperature of 22C.' Performing in the coveted Sunday tea-time legends slot this year is Sir Rod Stewart, who previously said he will be joined by his former Faces band member Ronnie Wood, as well as some other guests. Advertisement His performance is to come after the Maggie May singer postponed a string of concerts in the US, due to take place this month, while he recovered from flu. Speaking to BBC News about the performance, he said: 'I just wish they wouldn't call it the tea-time slot. 'That sounds like pipe and slippers, doesn't it?' Sir Rod Stewart is performing the legends slot at Glastonbury Festival (Yui Mok/PA) He previously said he had persuaded organisers to give him an hour-and-a-half slot after initially being offered 75 minutes. Advertisement 'Usually I do well over two hours, so there's still a load of songs we won't be able to do,' he told the BBC. 'But we've been working at it. I'm not gonna make any announcements between songs. I'll do one number, shout 'next', and go straight into the next one. 'I'm going to get in as many songs as I can.' One of the more controversial acts performing is Irish rap trio Kneecap, who have been in the headlines recently after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. Advertisement Glastonbury revellers are arriving in their hundreds at Castle Cary train station (Ben Birchall/PA) Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year. Last week, the 27-year-old, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20th. UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the group's performance at the festival, taking place on the West Holts Stage at 4pm on Saturday, is not 'appropriate' and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she thought the BBC 'should not be showing' Kneecap's performance. Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, through a crowd of supporters after he appeared charged with a terrorism offence (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Earlier in the month, in an appearance on the Sidetracked podcast, Eavis outlined the changes that have been made to this year's festival and said music area Shangri-La is 'going full trees and green space' which is 'completely the opposite to anything they've done in the past'. She also said the festival, which has capacity for 210,000 people, has sold 'a few thousand less tickets' this year in a bid to avoid overcrowding. Among the acts expected to draw large crowds this year is alternative pop star Charli XCX, who will perform songs from her genre-defining sixth studio album Brat. She is performing on Saturday night on the Other Stage, 15 minutes before the West Holts stage is graced by US rapper Doechii, another artist who has exploded in popularity in the last year. Emily Eavis opens the gates on the first day of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset (Yui Mok/PA) Other performers include Irish singer CMAT, Prada singer Raye, US musician Brandi Carlile, Nile Rodgers and Chic, hip-hop star Loyle Carner, US pop star Gracie Abrams, indie outfit Wet Leg, Mercury Prize-winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, US rapper Denzel Curry, and rising star Lola Young. The line-up also features a number of acts listed as TBA, as well as a mysterious act called Patchwork, who will take to the Pyramid Stage on Saturday. This year, the BBC will provide live-streams of the five main stages – Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies and The Park. On Wednesday at 10pm the festival will open with a theatre and circus act set in the Pyramid Arena, which will showcase acrobatic and circus performances, culminating in a fireworks display.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Climate
- News.com.au
Glastonbury opens its gates for 2025
The gates to Glastonbury Festival have opened for the 2025 celebration of performing arts and music. Organiser Emily Eavis and her father, co-founder Sir Michael Eavis, could be seen counting down and cheering as the festival officially opened while a brass band played. Campers arriving at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, can expect a mixed bag of sunshine and rain throughout the week, 'with sunny spells and scattered showers expected throughout the day' on Wednesday, according to forecasters.
News24
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Nombulelo Mhlongo reflects on Simon Mabhunu Sabela award nomination
She's no stranger to our screens. From Uzalo to Durban Gen and now on Scandal, Nombulelo Mhlongo has gradually climbed the ladder in the acting industry. For the most part, she's allowed her work as a performing artist to speak louder in rooms that matter. And indeed, her name has not only been mentioned in those rooms but made an enough impression to have earned her a nomination at the Simon Mabhunu Sabela awards which honours thespians who wave the KZN flag high. Having had her career genesis rooted in the province, this nomination is a full circle for her. 'I'm finally getting my flowers at home. I've been getting a lot of nominations and awards outside of South Africa for the work that I've been doing on film in television it means, you know, a great deal for me to actually be getting this nomination, not only in South Africa, but the province that I was born and raised in.' Growing up, the actress born and raised in a Phongolo, a very small town in Northern KZN by the border of Swaziland, wasn't exposed to a lot of things but watching shows on TV, made her realise where her passion lied. From then on, she decided to pursue performing arts, especially after watching Fame back in the day. When she was meant to choose subjects in grade 10, she started searching for an arts school to go to and eventually ended up in Pro Arte Alphen Park in Pretoria. Read more | From Khayelitsha to international runways, Mzukisi Mbane on turning passion into award-winning success 'After graduating in my matric year, I started looking for the top 10 most prestigious higher learning institutions around the world. And when I found them, I realised that as much as I've been in an art school, I still didn't feel like I was at that level where I could audition to get into those international schools. So, I took the year off and went to KCAP Ekhaya multi-arts centre in KwaMashu, which is a specialised art school funded by the KZN government. That's where I started preparing for my audition to go into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, which is where I ended up doing my degree,' she shares her journey. Through it all, her parents remained supportive of her craft from the very beginning. Expressing her gratitude for the support, she adds that she's blessed to have a lot of people pushing her and believing in her work. Speaking to Drum about the character that has finally earned her her flowers, she spills the beans on MaDlomo's storyline on Scandal! 'This is a woman who's coming from a background where she's had to constantly sacrifice for her family and those that she love from a very young age; from her actually going and becoming a wife at such a young age, because even in the story, she got married when she was still very young while her husband, Nhloso, (played by Kwenzo Ngcobo) obviously got the opportunity to go and study ending up in Johannesburg and going into finance, having a full blown career and life whereas she has literally dedicated her entire life to her family and then to him, and now to his family.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by #etvScandal (@officialetvscandal) Drawing from the huge demand on women to always be selfless from society, she explains why it became so important for MaDlomo to find her voice. 'We're seeing her finally face this challenge that she's been having with her husband and his infidelity. Eventually, she finally decides, 'I think it's time that I look for me. It's time that I choose me. And it's not that I necessarily have anything against you. It's just that I feel like the more I say yes to protect my children and my family, the more I deny myself of actually living a fulfilled life'.' After finding out that Nhloso was cheating on her with Dintle, MaDlomo highlighted how women end up staying in relationships because of different situations. This has garnered remarks and comments on the social media streets from viewers on women's harsh realities. 'So many women are going through this, and you go on social media, and you see how women have actually gotten addicted to being treated badly. I find a lot of women are always insulting the way she dresses. She dresses in a very modest way, and you realise that women actually don't even like themselves so much because of the comments they make. They say maybe if she can change the way that she dresses this wouldn't happen.' Read more | Multi-award-winning vocalist Bassie ventures into pad drive after big MetroFM award victory In real life though, people are always encouraging whenever they bump into her. Not only do they tell her they love her, but they tell her to leave that man. In most cases, these are mature, elder women from townships or villages who relate the most to her story. 'She's coming from a background of no education, and then she started her small business, where she was washing the clothes in a basin, and now her laundromat has slowly grown and that encourages women who are fighting through their livelihood.' From how well she's told this story on screens, she says it would mean a lot for her to bag the Best Actress Award. 'It would mean so much to me. I've been advocating for the arts and representing the KZN arts industry from the moments that I started this journey from starting in an institution that was funded by KZN government and carving my own experience at the KZN African art festival that happens at every year, I was there from the very beginning of that festival, benefiting from its teachings. It would really mean that KZN has carried me through my years of being in this industry. Even the fact that even my first big break was in Durban from Uzalo then I was on Durban Gen which really gave me a really big turnaround in my career,' she concludes.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Remembering Glastonbury: a key event in contemporary culture
Glastonbury starts on Wednesday and we're looking back on one of the world's most famous music festivals. Olivia looks confident among the Glastonbury festivalgoers (Image: Yui Mok) The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts (commonly referred to as simply Glastonbury Festival, known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts held near Pilton, Somerset, most summers. A performance by English National Ballet of 'Lest We Forget' - about the First World War - on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival (Image: Newsquest) In addition to contemporary music, it hosts dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret, and other arts. Leading pop and rock artists have headlined, alongside thousands of others appearing on smaller stages and performance areas. The Arcadia Spectacular, known as 'The Spider', pictured at Glastonbury in 2014 (Image: Newsquest) Films and albums have been recorded at the festival, and it receives extensive television and newspaper coverage. Andy Parrini, 42, from Rockcliffe, was part of the Arcadia Spectacular team who built 'The Spider' (Image: Newsquest) Glastonbury takes place on 1,500 acres of farmland and is attended by around 200,000 people, requiring extensive security, transport, water, and electricity-supply infrastructure. Chris Salmon, of Baggy Mondays, who was playing at Kendal Calling at Glastonbury Festival 2013 (Image: Newsquest) While the number of attendees is sometimes swollen by gatecrashers, a record of 300,000 people was set at the 1994 festival, headlined by the Levellers, who performed on the Pyramid Stage. Most festival staff are unpaid volunteers, helping it to raise millions of pounds for charities. David Gardiner from Lorton was heading to Glastonbury Festival as a volunteer for WaterAid (Image: Newsquest) Regarded as a major event in contemporary British culture, the festival is inspired by the ethos of the hippie, the counterculture of the 1960s, and the free festival movement. Vestiges of these traditions are retained in the Green Fields area, which includes sections known as the Green Futures, the Stone Circle and Healing Field. Lauren Tobin, 21, from Dalston, said she wouldn't go to Glastonbury because she had a child (Image: Newsquest) Michael Eavis hosted the first festival, then called the Pilton Festival, after seeing an open-air Led Zeppelin concert in 1970 at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music. Cathryn Armstrong, 38, of Workington, said she'd like to see Guns N' Roses play (Image: Newsquest) The first festival at Worthy Farm was the Pop, Blues & Folk Festival, on Saturday, September 19, 1970, and attended by 1,500 people. There had been a commercial UK festival tradition which included the National Jazz and Blues Festival and the Isle of Wight Festival. The original headline acts were The Kinks and Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders but these acts were replaced at short notice by Tyrannosaurus Rex, later known as T Rex. Tickets were £1. Other billed acts of note were Steamhammer, Quintessence, Stackridge, Al Stewart, Pink Fairies and Keith Christmas.
