Latest news with #AdjoaAndoh
The Independent
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Oscar winner Mark Rylance joins fight to stop music festivals turning London park into ‘prison camp'
Oscar winner Mark Rylance has claimed a London park has been turned into a 'prison camp' by music festivals as he joins the fight to ban the events from being held there. Local campaigners are arguing that a festival season called Brockwell Live – which includes Cross the Tracks, a jazz, funk and soul event, and Mighty Hoopla, an LGBTQ+-friendly pop weekend – is causing long-term damage to nature in Brockwell Park in south London. In an escalating row, they have now launched legal action against Lambeth Council over its decision to allow the 125-acre park, located in Herne Hill, to be used for the festivals without planning permission. Now Academy award-winning actor – and local resident – Sir Mark Rylance has waded into the row, demanding the council reconsider its backing of the events as he condemned the destruction wreaked by the walls built for the festivals. The Wolf Hall star said: 'Brockwell Park is a place for people and nature. It is essential to many people's mental health, to our joy, our healing grief. It was a gift to the local community and is held in trust for us by Lambeth. 'The imposition of high steel walls for Brockwell Live every summer destroys the park for weeks and harms the grass, trees and plant life for months — if not forever. It turns it into a prison camp. 'I fully support this campaign to legally challenge our Lambeth governors and make a new arrangement for our park. Enough is enough. Stop the walls.' Campaigners described the park as a 'site of importance for nature conservation' and said that 'we are caught in a cycle of fencing for events and re-fencing to repair the inevitable damage', with trees damaged, wildlife disturbed and soil compacted. In an open letter, spearheaded by Protect Brockwell Park, the coalition warned that the park is being 'damaged beyond repair' by 'unsustainable' large-scale music festivals like Brockwell Live, which draws more than 285,000 attendees across nine days, and requires at least 37 days during spring and summer to set-up and take-down. Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh posted a photograph on Instagram showing the previously grassy park turned to mud with litter strewn everywhere following a festival, as she confirmed her backing for the campaign to 'preserve our park for everyone'. She said: 'This public park was created for the free enjoyment of all Lambeth residents. I know we're a poor borough, but shame on Lambeth Council for not protecting it better! Our wildlife, our ancient trees have been decimated, our residents without a free green space.' The park, featuring Grade II-listed Brockwell Hall, is made up of 50.8 hectares of green space and hosts a lido, walled garden and a clock tower. It was bought by Lambeth Council in 1986. Protect Brockwell Park announced that they initiated judicial review proceedings in the High Court against Lambeth Council earlier this month. They said: 'On 9 April, Lambeth Council received our pre-action letter challenging its decision to grant a certificate of lawful development. This certificate would permit commercial events to take place in Brockwell Park without planning permission.' Lambeth Council charges Brockwell Live owner Superstruct to use the park but confirmed it does not profit from the events, while it said it invests £500,000 a year in maintaining the park. A spokesperson said: 'Events in Brockwell Park run for a short period before summer and generate significant cultural opportunities and entertainment for younger people across the borough. Events also support businesses in the area, the majority of which are small businesses who experience increases in footfall during the events programme. This boosts our local economy and provides jobs and income for residents.' They continued: 'The area of the park used for events has been independently assessed as being of low ecological sensitivity grassland, and there is no ecological damage caused as a result. Income from events is helping us put money into diversity projects in other areas of the park, with at least £20,000 invested in this way last year.' They added that they engage with local people living in the area about events held in the park. They said that Brockwell Live helps ensure the free annual Lambeth Country Show can continue due to savings of £700,000 as well as leading to £150,000 in investment in the park and community projects. They continued: 'We appreciate there can be impacts on people in the surrounding neighbourhood, alongside organisers we are working hard to minimise disruption, having a 24-hour help line and staff in the streets throughout the course of events. We have also moved the date of events in Brockwell Park to earlier in the year, so the entire park is available throughout the school summer holidays.' They added: 'We are committed to addressing all potential issues promptly and effectively, while ensuring Lambeth's residents continue to have access to a diverse and meaningful range of events.'
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Mark Rylance blasts Labour council over star-studded festivals that campaigners say are turning loved local park into 'a prison camp'
Sir Mark Rylance has blasted a Labour council over star-studded festivals that protesters have said are turning a loved London park into a 'prison camp'. Brockwell Park in Lambeth, south London has hosted a festival series called Brockwell Live from late May to early June which features a diverse lineup of events, cultural celebrations, and community activities. However campaigners have hit out at the festival for the damage it is causing to the 125-acre park and its wildlife. They have also taken the step to legally challenge the council's decision to go ahead with the festivals without planning permission. Among the protesters, includes BAFTA winning actor, Sir Mark Rylance, a local resident, who has called on the authority to reconsider its support for the events. He said the park is a place for 'people and nature' which is 'essential' to the public's mental health, the Times reports. He said the park was a 'gift' to the community but the installation of walls for the summer 'destroys the park for weeks and harms the grass, trees and plant life for months — if not for ever. It turns it into a prison camp. 'I fully support this campaign to legally challenge our Lambeth governors and make a new arrangement for our park. Enough is enough. Stop the walls.' Campaigners argue that the festival closes off large parts of the park for weeks during the spring and summer and that this means that the area is 'irreversibly harmed' by crowds. The grass was turned muddy after last year's festivals, and it took months for it to recover, with a council's report laying bare that it the work of ground reinstallation was not done until November. Campaigners have now launched a legal challenge to the council's decision, with a crowdjustice page raising over £31,000. The park commands views of the skyline of the city and central London and sees around four million visitors. The Academy award-winning actor is not the first star to hit out at the festival for its impact on the area. Actress Adjoa Andoh has previously shared in an Instagram post: 'Brockwell Park last summer after yet another festival. 'This public park was created for the free enjoyment of all Lambeth residents. 'I know we're a poor borough, but Shame on Lambeth Council for not protecting it better! 'Our wildlife ,our ancient tree,es have been decimated, our residents without a free green space. I am supporting a campaign to preserve our park for everyone!' Lambeth told the Times it invested £500,000 a year in maintaining the park adding that the vents run for a 'short period before the summer'. It said this provides 'cultural opportunities' and entertainment for younger people. It added: 'Events also support businesses in the area, boosting our local economy and providing jobs and income for residents.' It claimed that an independent assessment found there was 'no ecological damage caused' to the park and that income from events is being invested into diversity projects in other areas of the park.
CBC
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
10 standout red carpet looks from the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards
From architectural gowns to bold menswear, these were the most memorable fashion moments The 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, streamed live on Netflix last night, celebrates outstanding performances by actors in television and film. This year's awards ceremony was held at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles and hosted by Kristen Bell. Jane Fonda received a SAG Life Achievement Award, presented by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, while a star-studded roster of presenters included Pamela Anderson, Ariana Grande, Colin Farrell, Selena Gomez and Timothée Chalamet. On the red carpet, there were plenty of black and navy suits, but we also saw a great mix of white and pastel-coloured gowns and even a few silvery accents on celebs like Cynthia Erivo and Mikey Madison. Overall, the looks were less formal than what we saw at the Golden Globes and what we can expect to see at the Oscars on Sunday night. Here are ten of the best-dressed actors at the SAG Awards 2025 red carpet. Cynthia Erivo The Wicked star, a bonafide standout this red carpet season, glowed in a dramatic silver-fringed gown. The archival runway number was designed by the late British designer Alexander McQueen for Givenchy several decades ago. Danielle Deadwyler Deadwyler, nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her role in The Piano Lesson, was unmissable in a three-dimensional, sculptural gown. The bright red, custom Louis Vuitton look, styled by Wayman Deon and Micah McDonald, was paired with matching satin pumps and a pair of shoulder-grazing earrings. Adjoa Andoh Pastel hues were popular on the red carpet last night, and Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh had one of the prettiest takes on the trend. She wore a flowing, patterned off-the-shoulder dress by British designer Stella McCartney, paired with black heels and a fabric clutch. Marissa Bode The Wicked actor wore a stunning embellished Tony Ward Couture gown and pearl jewelry by Mikimoto. The strapless look was styled by her go-to, Alexandra Mandelkorn, who is also behind the fabulous outfits Bode has been wearing to recent shows like the Critics Choice Awards. Nicola Coughlan Coughlan, nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her work in Bridgerton, looked elegant in two of the evening's top trends: leather gloves and pastels. The dress was a custom Dior, paired with fine jewelry by Swiss brand Bucherer 1888. Carl Clemons-Hopkins The Hacks actor demonstrated the power of statement cuffs (yes, really) with their distinctive red carpet look. Wide-leg trousers were a big trend last night too — also seen on Édgar Ramírez, Chris Perfetti, Tyler James Williams and Jon Arias. Zoe Saldaña The Emilia Pérez star, who won in the supporting actor category, proved that a black dress doesn't have to be boring. This strapless one, featuring a sparkly ruffle on one sleeve, is a custom creation from French fashion house Saint Laurent. Timothée Chalamet Chalamet's look for the awards is likely a bit divisive — but also kind of fun. The A Complete Unknown star, who won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, wore a Bob Dylan-inspired, custom Chrome Hearts ensemble, featuring a neon green shirt, leather jacket and pants and a vintage Cartier bolo tie. Sofia Carson The Carry-On actor went for full glamour last night in a floor-sweeping, peach coloured gown from Elie Saab Haute Couture's Spring/Summer 2025 collection. The asymmetric look was paired with a stunning bib necklace by Chopard. Banita Sandhu The Welsh actor, who appears in Bridgerton, looked radiant in a strapless, floor-length column gown by Indian label Amit Aggarwal Couture. The micro-pleated metallic design featured sculptural curves along the bust and skirt, creating a striking architectural effect.
