BRITISH theatre companies have been warned that collaborating with Russian state-backed partners is not “appropriate” for at least a year following the invasion of Ukraine.
The Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre gave the advice, which also applies to companies from Belarus, after meetings with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
UK Theatre and SOLT said: “Our advice… is that collaborations with Russian or Belarussian state or state-backed companies, or UK tours by Russian or Belarussian state or state-backed companies, are not appropriate.”
They added that the suggested rules do not apply to individuals. “We are not advising any change in status for individual freelancers or performers from those nations,” reported The Stage.
London-based Xameleon Theatre, which works with theatre-makers from Russian-speaking countries and puts on shows in Russian in London, expressed its support for Ukraine last week. “We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian nation,” they said.
Penny counts toll of abuse
LAURIE PENNY has revealed how a row about their latest book led to complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The writer and activist argues that reviews focused “on my sexuality, my gender identity and sexual history”, and went on: “Suddenly I was… having rolling panic attacks, bone-tired, confused and constantly cold in a way I’ve only experienced before in the immediacy of deep grief.” Penny added: “I know it’s not the done thing to talk about mental health, and the toll it can take being a target of bigotry and harassment… But frankly, f*** the done thing.”
Making a song and dance about it
ANDREW GARFIELD says there was a “terror in all my emotional life that I felt wasn’t welcome” when he was growing up in “stuffy middle-class” Surrey because it was hard to fully express himself. The Spider-Man actor adds “it was very Truman show”. But now that he’s played a singing and dancing role for Netflix film tick, tick... BOOM! — for which he won an Oscar nomination — things are different. “For me this is like a coming out,” he says, adding it was “the rawest, most vulnerable nerve ending on the outside of the skin”. Garfield tells Soundtracking he was helped by finding “safe spaces” to express himself.
TV show shoot too close for comfort
A TV show filming near Old Street had to reassure the public as it filled the streets with actors dressed up as modern Russian forces yesterday. A sign explained: “Our film activity includes actors dressed in replica Russian police uniforms”, including fake guns. The Londoner understands the show was Marvel series Secret Invasion, starring Samuel L Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn and Olivia Colman. The production had asked police for permission along with Hackney council. Phew.
Portillo has a price for noise clutter
MICHAEL PORTILLO has been heard reading historical facts over the King’s Cross tannoy over the past few weeks in a collaboration for the station’s 170th birthday — to the delight of some, and confusion of others. The former Tory MP and train enthusiast tells us why he took the job. “In principle, I very much agree with Grant Shapps’s campaign to reduce noise clutter on trains and stations,” he says. “It’s an epidemic that drives me mad. But I have my price.”
SW1A
GB News promised to report news outside the “Westminster bubble” when it started last year. So viewers might have been surprised to see married hosts Esther McVey and Philip Davies, both Tory MPs, interviewing Tory minister John Glen about Russia’s Ukraine invasion over the weekend. Hard-hitting journalism?
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In other news, I’ve just dressed my first @Barbie.
— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) March 5, 2022
I will not be taking any questions. pic.twitter.com/GPCIGMlg8J
TOM TUGENDHAT’s star has been rising for his criticism of his own Conservative party and his robust views on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He took a break from all that at the weekend. “I’ve just dressed my first Barbie,” he told his followers online. “I will not be taking any questions.” The travails of fatherhood.
