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Madani Younis launches his first season at The Bush
David Richards reports from The Bush Theatre as new Artistic Director Madani Younis outlines his plans for his first season.
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Fourthwall’s Favourites: February
Fourthwall’s round-up of what to see this coming February.
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Training: ALRA North launches online TV station
The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts are launching a new online TV station from their Wigan base.
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Greenwich Playhouse loses home in first casualty of the Olympics?
Curtain down on Greenwich Playhouse after thirteen years.
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Blog: Uncovering The Faction #10
Up and running, there’s time for Gareth to find amusement in the smallest details.
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Blog: Uncovering The Faction #9
All three Faction shows are now up and running and Gareth has a second to take a moment’s pause to contemplate this achievement and to ruminate on Miss Julie.
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Greenroom Gossip: Mulligan on drama school auditions
Last month actress Carey Mulligan told an American newspaper that she was rejected from every drama school she auditioned for.
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Blog: Uncovering The Faction #8
Gareth wonders whether Miss Julie, the third show in The Faction’s rep season, might be suffering from ‘third-child’ syndrome.
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Review: DNA, Rose, Kingston ***
Amy Stow reviews Dennis Kelly’s DNA at the Rose, Kingston and finds it packs a lot of punch.
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Review: The Pitchfork Disney, Arcola ****
Amy Stow reviews a near-perfect revival of Phillip Ridley’s seminal play, The Pitchfork Disney, at the Arcola.
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Review: The Bee, Soho Theatre *****
As part of its world tour, The Bee returns to its original home, The Soho Theatre, London. David Richards reviews.
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Review: The Faction’s Miss Julie, New Diorama ***
David Richards is drawn into The Faction’s mesmerising blend of physical action and theatricality in the final play in their rep season, Miss Julie.
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Blog: Vermin plaguing theatres, claim Equity. Is it that serious?
An Equity survey claims more than three quarters of West End performers and stage managers confirm there's a vermin problem in the workplace.
Tom and Jerry go nuts!Ask anyone who has worked in a West End theatre for a lengthy period if they've seen Mickey or Mini, and they'll undoubtedly say they have.
On the few occasions I have rehearsed or performed in West End venues, I've encountered on a couple of occasions the little tinkers scattering around the corridors – scream to the Gods I did – yet blink and you'll miss them.
Equity's West End Spring Clean Campaign has highlighted that 75% of stage managers and actors have confirmed that their venues in the Big Smoke have a real issue with infestations. But is it a problem?
When you consider that 65.5% of actors believe that their personal dressing rooms are affected, then perhaps it is. But to what extent can the ‘crisis' be fixed?
Equity General Secretary Christine Payne has spoken out on the finding, saying: “I accept that many West End theatres are old and difficult buildings to manage, but this is running out of control. These appalling conditions must come to an end.”
Trust me, it's not just West End theatres that have problems, certainly with mice. A good friend called me from his office the other day. “A mouse has climbed into my box and nibbled my nuts,” he said miserably.
Even my small flat had a naughty little Jerry-lookalike having a nosey round our kitchen last year. I naively thought he would find fun and games elsewhere, but until we blocked the tiny holes he continued to amuse himself.
When the mouse catcher came to help (we'll call him Tom), he took delight in telling me that London, as a whole, is swamped with vermin – in particular, West End theatres were his best customer.
If a mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a pen lid, as Tom confirmed, then how can we combat the problem entirely? Is it safe to lay more traps and poison, on health and safety grounds? Then again, mice are urinary incontinent, another claim by Tom, which means they're constantly peeing themselves. Is that healthy?
There was talk of bringing back ‘Theatre Cats' to combat the problem. Did that happen? Of course it didn't. Theatre staff don't have the time to look after pets and in most theatres, it wouldn't be safe for them anyway.
So, let's hear from you! Is it a problem, and how should it be tackled? Answers on a nibbled postcard below please!
-PM







says:
Geeez, all this fuss, but it’s not THAT bad… I work in a west end theatre as an actor, and i have seen a mouse only once!!! Yes, everyone knows they’re around, but its not like we’re returning to the plague times now is it, really?
As far I understand, most theatres do their best to tackle what is a constant problem, AND always will be Im afraid…
says:
Well I have to disagree – sorry Andrew. I think it is disgusting and is a major problem. It’s not just mice or rats, we have a big problem with fleas. I have been bitten on more times than i care to mention.
what we do about it though i simply do not know.
says:
If only mice were as adorable as Jerry (above).
I will never forget in the late 70s, while watching a matinee performance in the West End, two mice running across my toes. Nor will the rest of the audience and actors on stage, as I jumped 20 feet into the air, screaming my lungs out!
It was one distrubing and quite hilarious evening thereafter.
says:
Every Theatre should have a cat!
says:
Aside from causing itching or allergies to your pets, fleas may also become carriers of certain diseases like tapeworm or Lyme disease. Tapeworm is transmitted to an animal since fleas often carry with them tapeworm eggs that could stay in the animal’s fur. So, when your pet starts itching or when they bite off the fur, they can ingest the tapeworm eggs that reside in the fur and cause tapeworm infection.