The closing ceremonies are being co-ordinated by artistic director Kim Gavin, who has worked on Take That tours and staged the Concert For Diana in 2007. "Our show will be a celebration of the UK as a centre for festivals, which is a fitting finale to the amazing festival of sport that is the London 2012 Games," he said.
Arts Funding - A major shake-up in Creative Scotland's funding strategy has left the country's independent theatre sector uncertain for its future, says a report in The Stage. Companies and individual practitioners are questioning whether they will be able to continue under the new regime, while there are warnings that individual artists will leave Scotland.
The overhaul follows a review of "flexibly-funded" organisations which currently receive a two-year funding commitment. Flexible funding will be removed in April 2013 when some umbrella organisations will receive an annual "service level agreement" - while the majority of independent companies will receive "investment based on proposals".
In a briefing document, Creative Scotland says that this "reflects both the long term strategic aims for Creative Scotland and the cultural sector as a whole as well as the changing nature of the way Creative Scotland receives its income."
Black is Back - Black Sabbath have played their first show since 2005. Three members of the original line-up - frontman Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, who is battling cancer, and bassist Geezer Butler - performed in their home city of Birmingham. The show at the O2 Academy marked their first concert in the city for 13 years. Original drummer Bill Ward was not present and will not play at their summer festival dates because of a contract dispute with his bandmates. Ward was replaced by Osbourne's regular drummer Tommy Clufetos at the Birmingham show.
Headliners - Florence and The Machine have been named as the Friday night headliners for Bestival. They join Stevie Wonder and New Order as the main acts this year. Bestival takes between 6-9 September at the Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight.
Off Broadway - The Broadway production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert is to close after months of weak ticket sales. The stage adaptation of the award-winning 1994 film will close on 24 June 24 after 526 performances. The production opened in March 2011 and was met with acclaim, winning the Tony award that year for costume design.
(Jim Evans)
