Scouse folk singer Kathryn Williams returns in May with a new band ‘The Pond‘. The band are hitting the road to promote their album ‘The Pond’, which is to be released on 28th May and is to be preceded a week earlier by single ‘Circle Round a Tree’.
The Pond’s UK tour dates are as follows:
Mon 28 May Brighton Komedia
Tue 29 May London Union Chapel
Wed 30 May Manchester Ruby Lounge
Fri 01 Jun Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Sat 02 Jun Glasgow King Tuts
Sun 03 Jun Gateshead Sage 2
Georg Büchner is third in the triumvirate of German literary greats after Goethe and Schiller. That he died of typhus in Zürich, aged 23, is why he’s not seen in quite the same way as the other two. Had he lived a little longer he almost certainly would be. At the time of his death Woyzeck was incomplete and it’s because of this incomplete state that it has perennially lent itself to directors who like to leave their mark. A creative blank canvas of a play that has come to be the most performed play in German theatre.
The story is simple enough and revolves around Franz Woyzeck, wonderfully played by Jerome Quiles. Woyzech works for a man named the Captain, played by David Dawkins, who bullies and humiliates him whilst employing him to do menial jobs. To make ends meet he offers his body to the Doctor who conducts experiments on him. The Doctor is played by Daniel Sawicki and is a masterful piece of casting by director Shaban Arifi. Sawicki plays the role perfectly although I suspect he’s just as annoying and smug in real life. Not so much acting as just playing himself. I digress. Woyzeck, in a bid to make ends meet, submits himself to the doctor who uses him for scientific research. One such experiment involves him eating nothing but peas. This is why we ought to see Georg Büchner as the visionary he clearly was. In 2002 Morgan Spurlock produced the documentary where he ate nothing but McDonalds; Büchner was writing about similar in 1836.
As Woyzech eats the peas his mental health starts to take a turn for the worse and he starts to see a series of apocalyptic visions. As all this is going on the raven-haired Marie, the unmarried love of his life and mother of his child, turns her attention to a handsome drum major who in one rather graphic scene sleeps with her. Woyzech becomes suspicious, confronting the drum major, who beats him up and humiliates him. Finally, Woyzeck stabs Marie to death by a pond and the inevitable tragedy is complete.
This version here at the Lord Stanley is brilliant. Quick at around 65 minutes, what makes this production special is the intimacy of the theatre. It has been staged perfectly within the confines of this intimate theatre above a pub in Kentish Town. Using light to split the stage and keep the pace of the production up it’s gripping, enthralling and fun. Perhaps taking itself too seriously at times but ultimately watching this play is an enjoyable way to spend an evening. Catch it now on this all too short run.
Walk 10k for charity in 25 stunning locations, supported by HomeServe
Marie Curie Cancer Care is calling on everyone to ‘Walk Ten’ this summer, to help Marie Curie Nurses provide more free care to people with terminal illnesses in their own homes.
Walk Ten is a series of unique 10k summer evening walks taking place at 25 beautiful locations across the UK, which is sponsored by home emergency insurer HomeServe for a third year. After each walk, there will be fun activities such as fireworks, picnics and live music throughout the evening to celebrate the work of Marie Curie Nurses.
Many of the venues, which include the estates of stately homes, are usually closed to the public in the evening, meaning Walk Ten participants enjoy exclusive access.
Outdoor enthusiast and keen walker Julia Bradbury said:“I’ve had the privilege of taking part in Marie Curie’s Walk Ten and I’d strongly urge others to sign up. Walking in the British countryside is a great passion of mine and the chance to enjoy sunset walks at magnificent venues is truly not to be missed. As well as being a fun event to do with friends and family, it’s great to know that by taking part you’re helping to raise crucial funds to allow Marie Curie Nurses to continue to provide care at home to terminally ill patients day in, day out. The walks end with a celebration of the work of Marie Curie Nurses, making it an even more memorable and special occasion.”
The walks all take place between July and September. Registration is £10 per person (children go free) and everyone is encouraged to raise as much as possible to support Marie Curie Cancer Care. All the funds raised will allow Marie Curie Nurses to provide more hours of care, totally free, for terminally ill people in their own homes and in the charity’s hospices.
To register for your nearest Walk Ten, or for more information, go to www.mariecurie.org.uk/walkten
or call 08700 340 040.
This year’s 25 Walk Ten venues are: * New venue for 2012
Chatsworth, Derbyshire*
Stowe House, Buckinghamshire*
Weston Park, Staffordshire*
Sissinghurst Castle, Kent*
Beaulieu, Hampshire
Castle Howard, York
Margam Park, South Wales
Hill of Tarvit, Fife
Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey
Tatton Park, Cheshire
Athelstaneford, East Lothian
Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall*
Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire
Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh
Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire
Croft Castle, Herefordshire
Croome Park, Worcester*
Dumfries House, Ayrshire
Stormont Estate, Belfast
Boughton House, Northamptonshire
Stourhead, Wiltshire
Gibside, Tyne and Wear*
Belladrum, Inverness
Spread Eagle, West Sussex*
Eastbourne, East Sussex
|
Walk Ten Event |
Date
|
| Chatsworth, Derbyshire |
Saturday, 21 July |
| Stowe House, Buckinghamshire |
Friday, 27 July |
| Weston Park, Staffordshire |
Friday, 27 July |
| Sissinghurst Castle, Kent |
Saturday, 28 July |
| Beaulieu, Hampshire |
Saturday, 4 August |
| Castle Howard, York |
Saturday, 4 August |
| Margam Park, South Wales |
Saturday, 4 August |
| Hill of Tarvit, Fife |
Saturday, 4 August |
| Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey |
Saturday, 11 August |
| Tatton Park, Cheshire |
Saturday, 11 August |
| Athelstaneford, East Lothian |
Saturday, 11 August |
| Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall |
Sunday, 12 August |
| Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire |
Friday, 17 August |
| Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh |
Friday, 17 August |
| Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire |
Saturday, 18 August |
| Croft Castle, Herefordshire |
Saturday, 18 August |
| Croome Park, Worcester |
Saturday, 25 August |
| Dumfries House, Ayrshire |
Saturday, 25 August |
| Stormont Estate, Belfast |
Friday, 31 August |
| Boughton House, Northamptonshire |
Saturday, 1 September |
| Stourhead, Wiltshire |
Saturday, 1 September |
| Gibside, Tyne and Wear |
Saturday, 1 September |
| Belladrum, Inverness |
Saturday, 1 September |
| Spread Eagle, West Sussex |
Sunday, 2 September |
| Eastbourne, East Sussex |
Saturday, 8 September |
Sir Tom Jones, Jason Isaacs, Tracey Emin, Rob Brydon and Sir Tom Stoppard to present South Bank Sky Arts Awards
1 May at 9pm on Sky Arts 1 HD
Sir Tom Jones, Jason Isaacs, Tracey Emin, Rob Brydon, Sir Tom Stoppard and Sir Terry Pratchett are among the names confirmed to present awards at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards on Tuesday 1 May.
Sir Terry Pratchett, Imelda Staunton, Wayne Sleep, Lily Cole, Ian Bostridge, and Michael Ball will also present 2012’s South Bank Sky Arts Awards winners with the Anish Kapoor designed trophy. The awards are one of the world’s most coveted arts awards, with the presenters joining host Melvyn Bragg to honour the best of British culture and achievement across the arts. Each category – visual art, theatre, opera, dance, comedy, classical music, pop, TV drama, literature and film – is traditionally presented by a celebrated talent within that field.
The Times Breakthrough Award, which honours the best new artistic talent, will return for 2012. This year it will be presented by violinist Nicola Benedetti. The award for Outstanding Achievement, in association with The Dorchester, will be presented by playwright Sir Tom Stoppard.
The awards will also see performances by the award-winning trumpeter Alison Balsom, jazz singer Gregory Porter and new opera sensation Noah Stewart to an audience of 300 guests from across the arts.
|
SOUTH BANK SKY ARTS AWARDS: CONFIRMED PRESENTERS
|
|
| · Sir Tom Jones: Pop Music· Alison Balsom: Classical Music· Wayne Sleep: Dance
· Sir Tom Stoppard: The Dorchester Award for Outstanding Achievement · Lily Cole: Film · Rob Brydon: Comedy
|
· Sir Terry Pratchett: Literature:· Tracey Emin: Visual Art· Jason Isaacs: TV Drama
· Nicola Benedetti: The Times Breakthrough Award · Ian Bostridge: Opera · Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton: Theatre
|
The televised awards will broadcast that evening on Sky Arts 1 HD at 9pm and on the move with Sky Go.
This year also sees the return of The South Bank Show to screens from 27th May, following the announcement in 2010 that it would no longer air on terrestrial television. This iconic series adds to the growing roster of original British content across Sky’s entertainment channel portfolio.
“We are delighted that so manyof the most talented people from across the arts in this country are able to join us to celebrate the awards this year,” comments Melvyn Bragg. “It is testament to a particularly strong year for the arts that these performers and presenters are so keen to lend their support, both to the awards and our world class list of nominees. At a time when the arts are under pressure in this country, it’s quite useful to be reminded what a roaring success the whole sector is.”
It’s the biggest launch since Glee. 
With zingy one-liners and two talented actresses in the lead roles, E4’s brand new smash hit US comedy 2 Broke Girls launched on E4 drawing an average audience of 1.1m, more than doubling the 2012 slot average of 443k.
The programme attracted the biggest overnight audience so far this year on E4, after The Big Bang Theory and the largest audience for a new title on the channel since Glee in 2010.
Between 21.00 and 21.30, E4 drew the biggest 16-34 share across all channels and was the top digital channel for individuals in both the slot and peak time (17.30-00.00). The channel also drew its second highest daily and peak share YTD for individuals and 16-34s.
Big Bang Theory continues to be a hit and drew its 3rd and 4th highest overnight audiences of 2012.
|
Music rank
|
Name
|
2012 wealth
|
2011 wealth
|
|
1
|
Clive Calder
|
£1,350m
|
£1,300m
|
|
2
|
Sir Cameron Mackintosh
|
£725m
|
£675m
|
|
3
|
Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell
|
£665m
|
£495m
|
|
4
|
Lord Lloyd-Webber
|
£590m
|
£680m
|
|
5
|
U2
|
£514m
|
£455m
|
|
6
|
Simon Fuller
|
£375m
|
£375m
|
|
7
|
Simon Cowell
|
£225m
|
£200m
|
|
8
|
Sir Elton John
|
£220m
|
£195m
|
|
9
|
Michael Flatley
|
£192m
|
£214m
|
|
10=
|
David and Victoria Beckham
|
£190m
|
£165m
|
|
10=
|
Daniel Ek
|
£190m
|
New
|
|
10=
|
Sir Mick Jagger
|
£190m
|
£190m
|
|
13=
|
Olivia and Dhani Harrison
|
£180m
|
£170m
|
|
13=
|
Sting
|
£180m
|
£180m
|
|
15
|
Keith Richards
|
£175m
|
£175m
|
|
16
|
Jamie Palumbo
|
£170m
|
£150m
|
|
17
|
Denis and Caroline Desmond
|
£165m
|
£185m
|
|
18
|
Ringo Starr
|
£160m
|
£150m
|
|
19
|
Sir Tim Rice
|
£144m
|
£143m
|
|
20
|
Sir Tom Jones
|
£140m
|
£140m
|
|
21
|
Eric Clapton
|
£130m
|
£125m
|
|
22=
|
Roger Ames
|
£120m
|
£120m
|
|
22=
|
Rod Stewart
|
£120m
|
£115m
|
|
22=
|
Roger Waters
|
£120m
|
£105m
|
|
25
|
Phil Collins
|
£115m
|
£115m
|
|
26=
|
David Bowie
|
£100m
|
£100m
|
|
26=
|
George Michael
|
£100m
|
£90m
|
|
26=
|
Robbie Williams
|
£100m
|
£90m
|
|
29
|
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne
|
£95m
|
£95m
|
|
30
|
Brian May
|
£90m
|
£85m
|
|
31
|
Enya
|
£86m
|
£85m
|
|
32=
|
David Gilmour
|
£85m
|
£85m
|
|
32=
|
Roger Taylor
|
£85m
|
£80m
|
|
32=
|
Charlie Watts
|
£85m
|
£85m
|
|
35=
|
Chris Blackwell
|
£80m
|
£80m
|
|
35=
|
Robert Plant
|
£80m
|
£80m
|
|
37
|
Jimmy Page
|
£75m
|
£75m
|
|
38
|
Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow
|
£72m
|
£48m
|
|
39=
|
John Deacon
|
£70m
|
£65m
|
|
39=
|
Chris Wright
|
£70m
|
£70m
|
|
41
|
Moya Doherty and John McColgan
|
£68m
|
£70m
|
|
42=
|
Noel and Liam Gallagher
|
£65m
|
£63m
|
|
42=
|
Engelbert Humperdinck
|
£65m
|
£60m
|
|
42=
|
Mark Knopfler
|
£65m
|
£62m
|
|
45
|
Judy Craymer
|
£63m
|
£62m
|
|
46=
|
Nick Mason
|
£55m
|
£55m
|
|
46=
|
Martin Mills
|
£55m
|
New
|
|
48
|
Sir Cliff Richard
|
£52m
|
£50m
|
|
49=
|
Gary Barlow
|
£50m
|
£38m
|
|
49=
|
Brian Johnson
|
£50m
|
£50m
|
|
49=
|
Van Morrison
|
£50m
|
£50m
|
Brooklyn shoegazers The Big Sleep are to release their new album ‘Nature Experiments‘ through Frenchkiss Records on 7th May and to celebrate they are giving away a free download of ‘Valentine’. Click here to take you through to the new get your free download. Catch the band on tour in the UK in May.
Hot new Los Angeles duo Electric Guest, who release their Danger Mouse-produced album ‘Mondo’ through Because Music on 14th May, have unveiled the new video for the next single ‘This Head I Hold’. Watch the video here.
The band tour the UK from 14th to 17th May.