In The Courts - Coldplay and their former manager have filed competing claims in London's High Court, with each party seeking millions of pounds from the other. Dave Holmes, who worked with the band from 2005 to 2022, sued them in August for £10m in unpaid commission. In a counter-claim, the group rejected his claim and said Holmes had allowed tour costs to spiral out of control, and demanded £14min damages.
The case could come to court if the parties do not settle. Holmes' original court case claimed that Coldplay owed him commission for two as-yet-unreleased albums. According to his lawyers, the band were paid an advance of £35m for their 10th album and £30m for their 11th and 12th albums.
Holmes maintains that he helped to organise recording sessions, clear samples and liaised with producer Max Martin before the band decided not to renew his contract last year. He is asking the High Court to declare that a contract covering the tenth and eleventh albums is valid, and to order payment.
For the band's previous two albums, Everyday Life (2019) and Music of the Spheres (2021), he says he was paid between 8% and 13% commission. When the case was filed, a representative for Coldplay said the claims would be "vigorously disputed" and, in a counter-claim filed on Friday, the band fired back.
Brighton Rocks - Two venues at Brighton Dome are to reopen for live performances after a six-year refurbishment. The Grade I and II-listed Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre will officially reopen from November. The £38m restoration incl
Just For One Day - Live Aid, one of the most famous concerts of all time, is to become a stage musical in London next year. The original event, at Wembley Stadium on 13 July 1985, was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. The musical, called Just For One Day, will feature songs played that day by acts including Queen, U2, Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney and Sting. It will be on at London's Old Vic Theatre from 26 January to 30 March.
One thing that Geldof wants to make very clear is that there will not be anyone pretending to be the singers. "This isn't a tribute thing. I wouldn't have anything to do with that. So, there isn't a person dressed up as Freddie wearing a crap moustache. The songs drive the drama along," he says.
The plot of Just For One Day, named after a line in David Bowie's Heroes, will balance a behind-the-scenes look at how Band Aid and Live Aid came together, with a love story inspired by real events. "The story is based on actual testimony from the day," explains Geldof. "It's real people telling their story throughout this. So it's complex theatre." The musical is being made with the full permission of the Band Aid Charitable Trust, which will receive 10% of every ticket sale.
Price Hike - Ticket prices for Glastonbury Festival next year will rise to £360. It is a £20 increase from this year's event, which cost £335 plus a £5 booking fee - and a £75 hike from the price in 2022. Fans will be able to buy ticket and coach travel packages on 2 November
Singapore - Content security provider Friend MTS has continued its recent expansion by opening a new office in Singapore.
The new office will serve the Asia Pacific region, providing sales and support services for customers throughout the territory. These teams will help rights holders, broadcasters, and OTT operators to enhance their content security and revenue protection strategies through the deployment of advanced, end-to-end content security solutions such as dynamic server blocking, large-scale monitoring, subscription and distribution-level watermarking and effective enforcement.
Friend MTS has continued to grow since the investment from North Edge in 2022 and has recently added many new senior staff to the team, including a CEO, and SVPs in sales and engineering roles. Additional resources have been added to the sales function in all territories, and the company has expanded engineering and R&D teams by nearly 20%, with a commensurate increase in investment into supporting infrastructure.
Shane McCarthy, chief executive officer, said; “This is an incredibly exciting time to be at Friend MTS. We’re delighted to open this new office in Singapore to support all of our customers in Asia Pacific, as we help them to understand and engage with their diverted audiences, through genuine piracy intelligence and highly effective tools and strategies that will protect their premium content and identify new revenue streams.”
The announcement comes ahead of APOS 2023 in Bali, where Friend MTS is a headline sponsor for the show, that wi
Germany - The Rockharz Festival, originally started under the name Rock gegen Rechts (Rock against the Right), has constantly evolved and adopted new, important values: sustainability, environmental awareness, regionality, and inclusion.
At the beginning of July 2023, almost 24,000 music fans descended on the grounds of the Ballenstedt airfield for four days to enjoy the performances of Blind Guardian, In Flames, Arch Enemy, and many more for the festival’s 30th anniversary edition. To make this year’s Rochharz a great experience for all visitors, the organisers decided to use cable protectors from the Defender Midi 5 2D modular system.
"When it comes to accessibility, most people only think of wheelchair users," says Marco Spiller, chairman of Lebenshilfe Braunschweig and organiser of Rock in Rautheim, a metal festival that was awarded the Lower Saxony Inclusion Prize in 2023. "However, it equally affects other people with walking impairments, blind people, or people with mental impairments who may have problems with uneven surfaces. Against this background, the Defender cable protectors in the wide version give people more safety and literally break down barriers."
A total of 60 Defender Midi 5 2D cable protectors, including the Midi 5 2D R wheelchair ramps, were installed by the team led by Kai Wilhelm from Veruga GmbH. "With the wheelchair ramps, the cable protectors can be easily installed anywhere on the site on any surface. In addition, the ramps are compatible with other products, some of which we had already laid, so we were able to cr
Finance for Growth - A £35m investment fund is aiming to grow the UK’s creative industries by £50bn and create one million extra jobs by 2030. The Creative Growth Finance II fund has been launched by membership organisation Creative UK and Triodos Bank to meet the targets set out in the government and Creative Industries Council’s recently published Sector Vision.
Creative Growth Finance II is the biggest single fund to be delivered by Creative UK and follows the first Creative Growth Finance fund, which launched in 2019 and has invested more than £17m into 30 creative businesses. Eligible companies in sectors including performing arts, music, architecture, design, film and TV, radio and audio, publishing, visual arts and video games, will be able to apply for loans of £100,000 to £1m to grow their businesses.
Caroline Norbury, chief executive of Creative UK, said: “Over the past decade, the UK’s creative industries have grown more than 1.5 times the rate of the wider economy, currently generating £108 billion in economic value and employing 2.3 million people. However, this country’s talented creative businesses are experiencing a significant gap between their immense growth potential and access to the vital capital they need to succeed. “In launching the Creative Industries Sector Vision, the prime minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged the ’enormous potential of our creative entrepreneurs and businesses’ and said that ’growing the economy means growing the creative industries’."
Hogmanay Headliner - Britpop trailblaze
UK - Music Support, the charity that provides help and support to anyone who works in music and live events affected by mental ill-health and/or addiction, has announced a new partnership with The Christopher Meredith Foundation (CMF), enabling them to grow existing provisions and develop new programmes which support music industry peers and their loved ones.
The partnership includes funding which will contribute towards three key areas across three years:
Funding or part-funding qualifying beneficiaries to receive the treatment they need, including counselling, psychotherapy and residential addiction treatment.
Developing Music Support’s ‘Safe Hub’ backstage at festivals, a space where artists and crew can take time out or speak to a Mental Health First Aid trained individual. Thanks to the partnership, the charity has already run Safe Hubs this summer at Splendour festival in Nottingham and Boomtown festival in Winchester.
Developing complementary programmes for families and friends (including colleagues) who are supporting loved ones struggling with problematic drinking, drug use or other addictions. This includes new online resources and a workshop developed by addiction experts with lived experience.
Addiction is a complex illness that not only affects the person who is dependent; it also has a profound impact on their loved ones. While they play a crucial role in supporting their loved ones, family and friends can often be overlooked with very limited support available to help them navigate the journey and look after their ow
Bradford Calling - The UK's City of Culture 2025 is set to have a month-long event to celebrate its "rich and diverse" music scenes. Bradford Music Month in November will see concerts, workshops and other events across the district. Its team, made up of musicians, venue managers and record labels, hopes it will "entertain and engage" a range of communities through music. Promised highlights include a "bassline and bhangra sober rave" and a range of wellbeing-focused music workshops.
Further events are said to include public opera performances, world music showcases and opportunities for local musicians to receive funding and support to put on their own concerts. The full programme is set to be unveiled at the end of September.
The initiative, supported by Bradford Council, Bradford Producing Hub and Arts Council England, is being led by musician Sinead Campbell, QM Records founder Ned Archibong and events manager Gail Simpkins.
Outstanding Contribution - Actor, writer and director Mark Gatiss has won the UK Theatre Awards’ accolade for outstanding contribution to British theatre. Gatiss will be presented with the award at the ceremony for the UK Theatre Awards 2023, which will take place at London’s Guildhall on 8 October.
Gatiss’ directing credits include The Unfriend at Chichester Festival Theatre and The Way Old Friends Do at Birmingham Rep, and his acting credits include The Madness of King George III and his own adaptation of A Christmas Carol at Nottingham Playhouse, Coriolanus at Donmar W
Germany - With the Opus - German Stage Award, Prolight + Sound will once again honour outstanding productions that have created impressive shows through the innovative use of event technology. The award ceremony will take place at Prolight + Sound 2024 (19 to 22 March) in Frankfurt. Both participants and the audience can submit projects until 03 November 2023 at www.prolight-sound.com/opus.
"Although many large event companies are now generating high profits again, a significant part of our industry is dependent on subsidies. The Opus - German Stage Award sets a shining example for the creative power, innovation, courage and perseverance of all those involved in these challenging times - and pays tribute to those who pull the creative strings behind the stages," states Mira Wölfel, director of Prolight + Sound.
The Opus has been honouring exceptional personalities and projects since 2002. The focus is on the technical realisation of theatre and musical productions, concerts, tours and corporate events. The honorary award is made possible by the initiative of the VPLT (Association of Media and Event Technology), the EVVC (European Association of Event Centres) and Messe Frankfurt.
An expert jury consisting of association members, representatives of Messe Frankfurt and other industry experts will again select the most outstanding projects from among the submissions.
In 2023, the Pandaemonium at the Staatstheater Kassel received the coveted prize. It wowe
UK - The Nick Bache ABTT Cymru - Technician of the Year Award recognises the achievement of an individual who consistently delivers technical excellence.
Nick, who died earlier this year, had been technical and production manager at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre for 15 years.
This award is open to ABTT members and non-members alike working predominantly in Wales. The recipient will have usually pursued full employment in a backstage or production management role and they will have predominantly worked on the presentation of live performances in places of entertainment or on theatrical experiences in non-conventional spaces.
This award will be presented annually. The first award will be presented on 20 October at Aberystwyth Arts centre.
Concrete Crisis - St David’s Hall in Cardiff has closed temporarily to carry out checks on potentially dangerous concrete in the venue. The venue had initially said it was safe to remain open, despite the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) panels in the building.
However, Cardiff Council said in a statement that it was now closing the venue “in light of the recent change to advice on RAAC in public buildings issued by the Health and Safety Executive and following further discussions with the council’s appointed independent structural engineers, and the council’s insurers”.
“The council has been aware of RAAC in St David’s Hall and the need to manage it from a health and safety viewpoint since 2021, and it has always followed government guidelines and advice to ensure the building was safe,” it said. It added: “A building management and health and safety strategy has been implemented at the venue for the past 18 months. This included regular inspections by independent structural engineers with specific RAAC expertise.
“Throughout this time, no issues were raised about the condition of RAAC in the building and there was no evidence of deterioration - and this remains the case.” But it said that, to engage with its insurers and expert structural engineers and, “based on advice received from those experts”, it was “prudent and responsible to carry out intrusive surveys to further reassure ourselves and the public on the safety of the Hall”.
The process is expected to take four weeks. There are
UK - In step with the welcome return of the British summer, PLASA Show made a triumphant return to the Grand Hall of Olympia London from 3-5 September, spanning a third more floor space with a striking 28% increase in visitors.
Lee House, operations director for Ambersphere Solutions, says: “I was struck by a sense of nostalgia and excitement - PLASA Show has made a triumphant return! The hall was bustling with a diverse array of exhibitors and, most importantly, visitors who were eager to engage in meaningful conversations about their technological needs for the present and future. It was a jam-packed, unforgettable three days that left us eagerly anticipating what next year will bring."
Tom Mowat, hire account manager for Encore, concurs: “PLASA Show 2023 was absolutely incredible. It was fantastic to see the whole of the hall used by exhibitors. The attendance along with the quality of conversation is testament to just how important this event is in our calendar.”
Well over a third of visitors were final decision makers, and one in five were business owners or directors. Additional key job roles included technicians and programmers (one in ten), followed closely by sound engineers, lighting designers, technical directors and consultants. Half of the attendees work across concert touring, theatre, and live events, with a further 20% hailing from AV, broadcast and corporate sectors. Notably, this year saw a 9% increase in international visitors, with 17 more countries in attendance compared to 2022.
Adam Ironside, marketing manager for
Building Concerns - The Royal and Derngate theatre in Northampton has closed for the rest of the month following the “unfortunate discovery” of RAA concrete in its infrastructure. It makes the venue the first major theatre to be impacted by the crisis involving reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which was used to build schools and other buildings between the 1950s and mid-1990s.
The government has described the concrete as “a lightweight form of concrete”. The concrete has since been found to be at risk of collapse, with schools across the UK having to close because of the potential danger. In a statement, the Royal and Derngate said: “Due to the unfortunate discovery of RAA Concrete in our buildings, Royal and Derngate is temporarily closed. During this closure period, entry to the building is prohibited, and all performances and events during September at Royal and Derngate are being postponed.” It said that the Northampton Filmhouse had also been temporarily closed.
Events cancelled at the venue include Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, as well as comedy events including Tim Vine and Seann Walsh. Meanwhile, the YMCA Theatre in Scarborough, used predominantly for community productions, has also closed. The venue said a crack in concrete was found in an inspection of the building. The YMCA Theatre said the crack was found in an inspection of the building prompted by reports reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) posed a safety risk in some schools. The community theatre is based in a former school built i
UK - Le Mark Group is celebrating its fortieth anniversary. It all began in September 1983 in the kitchen and garage of the family home in Alconbury, supplying a range of self-adhesive tapes to the Arts Entertainment TV and Movie industry. The company was run by Stuart and his ex-wife Linda Gibbons as joint MDs.
The company grew and evolved, moving several times until finally settling in their current location at Houghton Hill Industries.
By the 1990s the product range had grown to include custom, and award-winning products, such as their much sought after dance floors. The familiar 90s TV shows such as; BBC TV’s Top of the Pops, Morecambe & Wise, Play Your Cards Right - all used Le Mark flooring.
Blankety Blank termed the phrase “a shiny floor show’ using Le Mark’s Studiotak peel clean stage floor covering.
The company continued to evolve their product range and moved into new and bigger events. Le Mark supplied, printed, and installed their Harmony Stage Floor for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. They still hold the record for the largest printed outdoor show floor, and installation, being 7,500sq.m.
Looking back, Stuart Gibbons said: “Le Mark has weathered two global recessions, a Banking crisis and COVID-19 – which pivoted our core business to make PPE masks and demountable screens and COVID signs during lockdown. We have built an enviable reputation for product innovation (five awards) having four separate business units with interconnected product groups.”
UK - Backup is once again the lead charity on the #WeMakeEvents Support Hub at this year's PLASA Show. The #WeMakeEvents Support Hub brings together multiple charities and organisations that have been playing an integral part in supporting the industry.
The team will be on Stand A80 (part of the #WeMakeEvents Hub) to offer support, raise awareness of mental health and help remove the stigma that surrounds it. Trained mental health first aiders from Backup and Music Support will be on hand to provide advice and information for anyone who wants to talk, either for themselves or for someone they want to signpost to get industry help, throughout the show, with PLASA also bringing in EventWell to provide a specific Wellbeing and Safe Space for anyone who needs immediate help at the show.
On Monday 4 September at 11.30am in Seminar Theatre 3, Backup will also host a session entitled Neurodiversity and our Industry - the Advantages and Challenges. Host Jess Allan from Backup will be joined by counsellor/psychotherapist, Chris Madden, MBACP registered and part of MITC, Mig Burgess, senior lecturer, co-chair of the ABTT, Mental Health First Aid (England) instructor and a trustee at Backup, Daisy Simmons, a freelance lighting designer who, having graduated this year, is just starting out and was diagnosed as autistic in 2019, Dinesh Sattee, a freelance technician working in theatre, who has a couple of years’ experience in the industry and was diagnosed with autism as a child, and experienced mix engineer, Phil Wright, who was diagnosed with ADHD in child
UK - When Birmingham Festival 2023 took place from 28 July - 6 August to mark the one-year anniversary of the Commonwealth Games, JA Productions (JAP) delivered all event, site and operations management on behalf of organiser Birmingham City Council.
Building on the Commonwealth Games’ legacy, a cultural programme of entertainment was curated by JAP’s programme partner Opus with tens of thousands coming to Birmingham’s Centenary Square to enjoy local and international art, culture and entertainment.
A key consideration during both the planning and delivery phase was minimising the event’s environmental impact. JAP set out a sustainability strategy for Birmingham 2023 that took its own plan and objectives, along with the findings post Commonwealth Games into account.
Sustainability goals set for the event included a clear commitment and ownership from its leadership team, reducing the carbon footprint of the event’s logistics, reducing the waste associated with event branding, reducing energy use and wastage across all operations, all suppliers required to evidence their commitment to sustainability and engagement with guests and visitors through education and sustainability focused content.
Working with Richard Bate, vice president of IOSH and sustainability director for E Bike Grand Prix and Cube International, the company has published a detailed Event Sustainability Report which highlights successes and outlines areas that require improvement.
John Adkins, JAP’s managing director shares: “We effectively managed
UK - ATG (Ambassador Theatre Group) and Preevue have announced the expansion of their View from Seat service to all UK ATG venues.
Following the successful implementation of the feature at select shows, including Moulin Rouge! The Musical at London's Piccadilly Theatre, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, ATG will now roll out this feature across all its UK venues. This service provides ATG customers with the ability to preview the exact view from each seat in every venue during the booking process, enriching the theatre-going experience overall.
Preevue's digital twins (3D models of ATG’s venues) are used to power the View from Seat system. The company’s experts utilise LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) laser scan data of the venues, accurate down to millimetres, to construct detailed 3D models of each venue. This technology offers an accurate visual representation of each seat's view, bringing confidence to customers.
The 'View from Seat' service is expected to bring more transparency and satisfaction to customers, increasing overall engagement and loyalty, say the companies.
This partnership reflects a broader trend towards the integration of technology into the arts and entertainment sector, a movement that has been accelerated by the challenges of the pandemic era.
Preevue’s managing director, Ryan Metcalfe, says: “The partnership between Preevue and ATG to expand the View from Seat service across all UK venues is not only a testament to our commitment to d
Noises Off - Police escorted four theatregoers out of Grease the Musical in the West End after causing a disturbance. The audience members were removed from the Dominion Theatre during the evening performance of the musical, which stars Peter Andre and Jason Donovan, on 26 August.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "Shortly before 8.40pm on Saturday, August 26, police received reports of two men and two women causing a disturbance at a theatre in Tottenham Court Road. Officers attended and the group were escorted from the premises." The spokesperson added that there were no arrests and no injuries reported.
A theatregoer told Sky News that the four audience members had reportedly been "rude and abusive" on the balcony but allegedly refused to leave after being spoken to by staff.
Classic Tracks - Classical music is set to be played at some Tyne and Wear Metro stations to create a more "soothing" environment. The sounds of Mozart and Bach were heard about 20 years ago along parts of the system in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour. Operator Nexus said the plan was not directly linked to trouble but anything that made passengers "feel more comfortable" could only help. Technical trials are taking place before a decision on locations is made. In 1997 classical music was played at Shiremoor station in North Tyneside to try to stop gangs of youths from congregating and causing trouble.
Diamond Geezers - The Rolling Stones appear to have revealed the title of their new album with an advert for a fictional glass
UK - Global Motion, specialists in logistics solutions for live touring and entertainment, has furthered its commitment to educational practices by partnering with Music Managers Forum (MMF) to support existing and next generation music managers.
Founded in May 2003, Global Motion has supplied air, sea and road freight services, freight charters, hand carry, storage and ATA carnets to some of music’s biggest names - and up-and-coming talent - through the world’s most challenging territories.
Current and future music managers can now benefit from this experience through Global Motion’s newly announced partnership with the Music Managers Forum (MMF).
Founded in 1992, MMF works to educate, inform and represent UK managers, by supporting professional development, creating and highlighting opportunities to develop and grow business and advocating for a fairer music industry for artists and their fans.
The MMF also offers a knowledge-sharing network of over 2,700 managers globally, where managers can exchange experiences, opportunities, and information.
Global Motion’s Sara Gleadhall explains why partnering with the MMF furthers a very important company mission: “Education is something that we’re very passionate about as an organisation, and without the continued drive to learn and better our operations, we wouldn’t be in the position that we are. Our success is down to our incredible clients, most of whom work in concert touring.
“We have a great deal of respect for what the MMF does, and we’re proud to align with thei
Brit School North - Plans to base a northern version of London's renowned Brit School in Bradford have been given the go-ahead by the government. The new Brit School North will be free to attend for 500 pupils aged 16 to 19. It will offer courses in dance, music and theatre.
The original Brit School in Croydon, south London, opened its doors in 1991 and has helped launch the careers of stars including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Tom Holland and Jessie J. The concept is backed by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and graduates at the London school have collectively sold more than 250m albums and won 15 Brit awards over the past three decades.
Announcing that the BPI's plans had been approved, the government said the school will be supported by large music industry firms like Sony Music Entertainment UK, Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK. No start date is being given at this stage, but when the BPI submitted the plans in February, it said it hoped the school could be opened in 2026. Bradford, which has a population of 546,000 according to the 2022 census, has one of the most diverse populations in the UK and the BPI said earlier this year that it had an equally vibrant cultural scene.
AI Threat - Musician Hozier has said he would consider striking over the threat artificial intelligence (AI) poses to his industry. Hollywood actors and writers are currently striking over a row about better contracts and protection from the use of AI. Hozier told the BBC he would be willing to join similar strike action in the music industry. The singer add
UK - Backup has announced well-known industry figure, Koy Neminathan, as a new trustee of the organisation and head of its Ambassador Programme.
Koy, who is business development director at Elation Professional and PLASA manufacturer’s representative, is no stranger to the demands and pressures of the live entertainment industry. Following the events of the COVID-19 pandemic, he saw the very real challenges the industry faced, and vowed to put the needs of others before himself.
“I felt like helping others was what had to be done, it was such an important thing for me,” says Koy. “You’ve got to help those who can’t always help themselves and, particularly during the pandemic, I felt it was imperative to do what I could to support our industry at a time where people were struggling in so many ways and mental health became a massive issue - people were suffering in silence. That’s what led me to think about joining Backup.”
During the pandemic, Koy worked with the #WeMakeEvents campaign, an initiative that was set up to raise awareness of the lack of support for freelancers and companies within the entertainment industry, by helping coordinate the campaign across 40 countries and continues to work for the good of the industry today.
Discussions surrounding his potential involvement with Backup began back in March 2023, when fellow Backup trustee, Paul Robson, approached him looking for a fresh, young mind to join the organisation. “I’ve always respected the charity and the individuals behind it, so I thought, why not? Let’s
Studio Sale - The BBC's historic Maida Vale studios, which have hosted sessions by stars ranging from The Beatles to Adele, have been sold to a group led by Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer.
Zimmer, who wrote the scores for films like The Lion King and Dune, has teamed up with Love Actually and Cats movie producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.
The BBC said the complex would remain a "centre for pioneering music-making". It was valued at about £10m but the BBC did not disclose the purchase price. Built in 1909 as Britain's largest indoor roller-skating rink, the north-west London building was bought by the BBC in 1933. It is home to the BBC Symphony Orchestra and has hosted the world's biggest rock and pop stars - from Led Zeppelin to Radiohead and Jay-Z to Little Mix.
It also played host to John Peel's famous Radio 1 sessions and the BBC's innovative Radiophonic Workshop, famed for its realisation of the Doctor Who theme tune. The corporation is planning to move its music studios to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London in 2025, where the BBC Symphony Orchestra will then be based.
Ticket Prices - Society of London Theatre co-chief executive Claire Walker has responded to David Tennant’s criticism of “ludicrous” West End ticket prices, highlighting that average ticket prices have decreased when adjusted for inflation. Last week, Tennant said he was aware of the high ticket costs when he was in a show in the West End and warned that prices were “strangling the next generation of audiences”.
UK - Voting is now in process for this year’s Gottelier Award, which has received a record number of nominees. Named in memory of renowned industry innovator and commentator Tony Gottelier, this special award recognises the invaluable contributions of the people behind the products.
LSi readers, pre-registered PLASA Show visitors and PLASA members are eligible to vote for the Gottelier Award. The recipient of the award will be announced during the PLASA Awards for Innovation ceremony at PLASA Show on Monday 4 September. The nominees for the 2023 Gottelier Award are:
Mark Ager - XM Automation
Mark’s influence over the past 40 years has been intrinsic in creating and defining the theatre automation industry as we know it today. Known by some as the father of automation, he co-founded and managed Stage Technologies (STL) which developed many of the innovations (from standard automation desks, racks and winches, 3D flying performer systems, to free-roaming stage trucks) that form the bedrock of the modern industry. He built STL to become a worldwide industry leader and innovator - winning multiple awards and working with leading-edge clients. Post-pandemic Mark created XM Automation, a disruptor enabling wider automation uptake within the industry and defining a future vision.
Andrew Bruce - Autograph Sound
Andrew Bruce co-founded Autograph Sound Recording in 1973 and his company has been the pre-eminent supplier of audio equipment and sound design services to the live entertainment industry, both at hom
Backstage Upgrade - The National Theatre has submitted a planning application to bring some of its backstage departments - which have been largely unaltered since the 1970s - up-to-date and ensure they meet current health and safety requirements.
Submitted to Lambeth Council by architects and designers Tom Wilson Studio, the plans outline refurbishments to support the modernisation of the NT’s back-of-house facilities, including its textiles studio, costume and prop workshop, wig, hair and make-up department and laundry room, located on the building’s fifth floor.
According to the planning application, the fifth-floor production facilities have been "largely untouched since the 1970s and no longer support the working requirements and practices expected of a modern theatre, and in some cases are non-compliant with current health and safety executive guidelines for such specialist areas".
The plans state that much of the ventilation equipment across the site is not fit for purpose and needs replacement, and that the lighting in all of these spaces in the grade II*-listed building also needs replacing.
On The Fringe - A musical about the Covid-19 pandemic created by a Surrey actress is heading to the Edinburgh Festival. Natasha Mould, from Walton-on-Thames, wrote the show when she found herself unemployed and taking on a care job during the pandemic.
2020 The Musical includes songs about being on furlough and working with the elderly. Ms Mould went from acting in 9 to 5 The Musical in the West End to a full-time
UK - Following on from a record-breaking BikeFest in Spain earlier this year, the #WeMakeEvents fundraising bike ride returns to London this September to raise money for industry charities Backup Tech, Music Support and Stagehand – and the team is calling for new recruits.
Since being spearheaded by PLASA and Backup seven years ago, BikeFest has grown into a popular industry event, taking place in Spain and the UK each year in the lead up to ISE in Barcelona and PLASA Show in London respectively. Each BikeFest event raises thousands for industry charities, with BikeFest Spain 2023 raising an incredible £50,000, helping industry professionals suffering with ill health or financial hardship.
And soon the BikeFest London team will be back in the saddle, ready to cycle up to 80 miles on Saturday 2 September, in time for PLASA Show at Olympia London from 3-5 September. The friendly team of intrepid cyclists includes all ages and abilities – and they are calling for new recruits! Growing in numbers every year, BikeFest offers a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded industry professionals and create lasting friendships. There is simply no other networking event like it.
Piers Shepperd, chair of Backup Tech, comments, “BikeFest is a brilliant initiative for the events world - each year bringing together people to raise funds supporting industry charity Backup. BikeFest London caters for different fitness levels to ensure that nobody gets left behind, but more importantly it’s also a brilliant way to spend time with old friends and make new ones