Arts Diary: Will Marriott

Arts Diary has an exclusive. We can announce a great bit of casting for Hobson’s Choice, coming to Sheffield Crucible in May.

None other than Barrie Rutter of Northern Broadsides is taking the lead role of Henry Horatio Hobson. Rutter exclusively told us his thoughts on talking on the role – in typical style. “Who would have thought that having recently directed The Game by Harold Brighouse – the first play to openly engage football as a major theme – that the work by the Manchester playwright should be presented as further opportunity, this time as the iconic cobbler Henry Horatio Nelson. A great part in a great play at a great venue in a wonderful part of England! Sweet circularity!”

It wasn’t exactly a well-kept secret that Ian Brown, artistic director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, wouldn’t be continuing at the end of his contract (which runs out in 2012), but it is still sobering to think that he has now officially announced his departure and is counting down to his final farewell next year. As soon as he had announced it, Twitter was alive with comments – the most often re-tweeted of which was “big change this. And a potential peach of a job for someone.” Plenty of directors out there are going to start polishing off those CVs come the end of the year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Always delighted to do our bit for charity. On Sunday at 4pm the Leeds University Union Music Society is performing a concert in aid of Leeds Children’s Charity at Leeds Town Hall. Presented in association with Artforms, this evening of classical and contemporary music for instrument and voice features the LUUMS Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Orchestra, Choir and Chamber Choir plus secondary school pupils, the repertoire includes Jupiter and Neptune from Holst’s The Planets. The involvement of school pupils in this annual charity event is an innovation for 2011. “We’re hoping to bring a wider musical knowledge to children and raise funds for a worthy cause,” says LUUMS musician Thomas Evans. Tickets online at leedsconcertseason.com

A round of applause for Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre, which is launching a new offer for under-35s to enjoy a range of shows this summer, including two world premiere productions by Alan Ayckbourn, for just £10 per show. Ruth Puckering, head of communications, said: “It is important to the SJT to be as accessible as possible to all ages and audiences. The new under-35s offer will help us achieve this.” We’re not being rude – we think this is a great idea – just a little amusing that while most other theatres have schemes for under 25-year olds, the collective age of Scarborough’s audience makes under-35s the young ‘uns.

Busting Out – a stand-up/cabaret/musical show which and we quote “celebrates breasts” and features a ‘take your bra off contest’ for the audience is at Bradford’s St George’s Hall on April 8. Apparently people might want to buy tickets (it is, say the organisers, very popular). They’re on 01274 432000 if you want one. A ticket, that is.