Latest news with #OpenAirTheatre
Scottish Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Popular resort named among UK's best seaside towns with stunning castle & Tudor streets to get £20m makeover
Britney Spears and Noel Gallagher are among the stars to have recently performed in the town COASTAL REVAMP Popular resort named among UK's best seaside towns with stunning castle & Tudor streets to get £20m makeover Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A UK seaside resort once dubbed a "social mobility coldspot" has been given a major boost after securing nearly £20m of government investment. North Yorkshire Council said £19.5m had been allocated to Scarborough as part of the government's Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 The harbour in the historic seaside town of Scarborough is popular with locals and visitors 7 Scarborough's seafront arcades attract thousands of tourists a year 7 The towns has been dubbed Scarbados by locals – and the Queen of the Coast Credit: PA 7 Britney Spears performs at Scarborough Open Air Theatre for her Piece Of Me tour in 2018 The authority said it had previously devised a "10-year vision document" following public consultation, which named improving the town centre and bus services as priorities. Council leader Carl Les said: "The chance to use such a significant amount of funding in Scarborough will bring wide-ranging benefits not just for communities in the town, but also far wider across the region. "Scarborough is one of our biggest towns here in North Yorkshire, and there is real potential to bring a new era for what is among the country's most popular seaside destinations." While the locals call it Scarbados, the Queen of the Coast – it has an ancient castle, spectacular cliffs, Tudor streets and two sandy beaches – there is a downside to living in Scarborough. In 2017, the Office for National Statistics reported the town had the lowest average income in Britain while it has also been described as being a personal bankruptcy hotspot and a social mobility coldspot. But in recent years the town has been fighting back. Last month it was named as one of Britain's best seaside towns by Conde Nasté Traveller while there has been something of a cultural renaissance too with the success of the 6,000-capacity Open Air Theatre. The theatre was reopened by the Queen in 2010 and now claims to be Europe's largest amphitheatre 'since antiquity'. Each year since its renovation it has attracted bigger names to its stage, which sits in the middle of a lake next to England's bracing east coast. Weston Hotel: Scarborough's Coastal Gem Promoters Cuffe and Taylor (C&T) book the acts for the council-owned venue and secured the services of Britney Spears in 2018 and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds twice: in 2016 and 2018. C&T's Peter Taylor reportedly discovered that one of Spears's representatives is originally from Leeds, and liked the idea of bringing the American superstar to the Yorkshire seaside. This summer's headliners include The Corrs, Gary Barlow, Pendulum and Shed Seven. Another group of entrepreneurs, Scarborough Group International, also plans to transform the town's Brunswick Centre into a "dynamic, leisure-led destination", complete with a state-of-the-art cinema. 'Like so many traditional seaside destinations, Scarborough has faced stiff economic challenges, which need to be met with a concerted effort from the authorities and businesses invested in the town," said Mark Jackson, who is leading the project and was born and raised in the town. "Scarborough has great strengths and remains popular but, for the town centre to thrive, it must evolve to suit a much-changed world." Liz Colling, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby area committee, said: "Scarborough is such a wonderful place to live, work and visit, but like so many coastal areas, it does need investment." Additional public spaces and seating areas, as well as further development of the Scarborough Station area, were also named as potential projects in the earlier plan. Key priorities for people who took part in the consultations included a cleaner, more attractive town centre in Scarborough and more frequent bus services, especially for teenagers and the elderly. The programme has now been rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods with an expanded remit to improve health and wellbeing along with work, productivity and skills. It is also aimed at boosting cohesion and education along with opportunities for local communities. The original ambitions of the national programme, which was previously known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns, also remain and include reviving town centres, regeneration, promoting heritage and culture and addressing safety and security concerns. Improving transport and connectivity are also key considerations under the initiative. More public consultation would be carried out before a new plan was submitted by the winter of this year, the council said. Projects are set to be rolled out from spring 2026. Councillor Les added: 'The fact that the scope of the Plan for Neighbourhoods has been broadened to the previous incarnation of the scheme gives us an even greater chance to transform Scarborough for residents, businesses and visitors.' 7 There is a natural beauty to Scarborough, which boasts two sandy beaches 7 Residents say they want improved transport links for their town
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Popular resort named among UK's best seaside towns with stunning castle & Tudor streets to get £20m makeover
A UK seaside resort once dubbed a "social mobility coldspot" has been given a major boost after securing nearly £20m of government investment. North Yorkshire Council said £19.5m had been allocated to Scarborough as part of the government's Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme. 7 7 7 7 The authority said it had previously devised a "10-year vision document" following public consultation, which named improving the town centre and bus services as priorities. Council leader Carl Les said: "The chance to use such a significant amount of funding in Scarborough will bring wide-ranging benefits not just for communities in the town, but also far wider across the region. " Scarborough is one of our biggest towns here in North Yorkshire, and there is real potential to bring a new era for what is among the country's most popular seaside destinations." While the locals call it Scarbados, the Queen of the Coast – it has an ancient castle, spectacular cliffs, Tudor streets and two sandy beaches – there is a downside to living in Scarborough. In 2017, the Office for National Statistics reported the town had the lowest average income in Britain while it has also been described as being a personal bankruptcy hotspot and a social mobility coldspot. But in recent years the town has been fighting back. Last month it was named as one of Britain's best seaside towns by Conde Nasté Traveller while there has been something of a cultural renaissance too with the success of the 6,000-capacity Open Air Theatre. The theatre was reopened by the Queen in 2010 and now claims to be Europe's largest amphitheatre 'since antiquity'. Each year since its renovation it has attracted bigger names to its stage, which sits in the middle of a lake next to England's bracing east coast. Promoters Cuffe and Taylor (C&T) book the acts for the council-owned venue and secured the services of Britney Spears in 2018 and Noel Gallagher 's High Flying Birds twice: in 2016 and 2018. C&T's Peter Taylor reportedly discovered that one of Spears's representatives is originally from Leeds, and liked the idea of bringing the American superstar to the Yorkshire seaside. This summer's headliners include The Corrs, Gary Barlow, Pendulum and Shed Seven. Another group of entrepreneurs, Scarborough Group International, also plans to transform the town's Brunswick Centre into a "dynamic, leisure-led destination", complete with a state-of-the-art cinema. 'Like so many traditional seaside destinations, Scarborough has faced stiff economic challenges, which need to be met with a concerted effort from the authorities and businesses invested in the town," said Mark Jackson, who is leading the project and was born and raised in the town. "Scarborough has great strengths and remains popular but, for the town centre to thrive, it must evolve to suit a much-changed world." Liz Colling, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby area committee, said: "Scarborough is such a wonderful place to live, work and visit, but like so many coastal areas, it does need investment." Additional public spaces and seating areas, as well as further development of the Scarborough Station area, were also named as potential projects in the earlier plan. Key priorities for people who took part in the consultations included a cleaner, more attractive town centre in Scarborough and more frequent bus services, especially for teenagers and the elderly. The programme has now been rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods with an expanded remit to improve health and wellbeing along with work, productivity and skills. It is also aimed at boosting cohesion and education along with opportunities for local communities. The original ambitions of the national programme, which was previously known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns, also remain and include reviving town centres, regeneration, promoting heritage and culture and addressing safety and security concerns. Improving transport and connectivity are also key considerations under the initiative. More public consultation would be carried out before a new plan was submitted by the winter of this year, the council said. Projects are set to be rolled out from spring 2026. Councillor Les added: 'The fact that the scope of the Plan for Neighbourhoods has been broadened to the previous incarnation of the scheme gives us an even greater chance to transform Scarborough for residents, businesses and visitors.' 7 7 7
Time Out
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Jurassic World: The Experience
This review is from 2022, when the show ran under the name Jurassic World: The Exhibition at ExCel London. It returns for 2025 in tweaked form at NEON in Battersea. It is an irrefutable law of nature that every London summer requires some sort of dinosaur-based family extravaganza or other, from the puppet fun of 'Dinosaur World Live' at the Open Air Theatre to the distinctly wobbly animatronic dinosaurs of last year's 'Jurassic Encounter'. 'Jurassic World: The Exhibition' has a distinct edge over most of the competition insofar as it's an official tie-in with the deathlessly popular Jurassic World/Park films. To be honest, though, this is a slightly double-edged sword: it's cool that we get encounters with 'Jurassic World' signature beasties Indominus Rex and Blue the Velociraptor. But a few pre-recorded appearances from the films' extensive casts – who've gamely contributed to various video game spin-offs – might have given it that little something extra. Or just a little more recognisable Jurassic Worldliness. The problem with being the 'official' live spin-off from a multibillion-dollar film franchise is that it raises expectations high for what is, ultimately, a solid mid-budget kids' show with average effects, containing a lot of very generic hallmarks of the summer dinosaur extravaganza (notably the classic baby dinosaur hand-puppets). It's still pretty diverting. A starting sequence where we're ushered on to a 'ferry' to visit Isla Nublar, the setting of the films, is a cute immersive touch. Efforts made throughout the show to cap guest numbers in any given area at any given time are skilfully done and much appreciated. And the concluding double whammy of the Indominus Rex and the T-rex is pretty pulse-raising in terms of big scary animatronics. But not everything hits the mark. There's a very weird scene in which a performer badly lip syncs to a commentary on Blue the raptor's training regime; why he couldn't deliver the lines himself I have no idea, but it's pretty embarrassing, not least because Blue is performed by a sluggish, rubbery puppet that moves with the grace of a pantomime horse with a gammy hoof. It doesn't sink it, but the whole point of the franchise ever since Steven Speilberg launched it in 1993 is that the dinosaurs look good, and that certainly can't be said across the board here
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Brighton Open Air Theatre raises curtain on 11th summer season
An open air theatre is raising the curtain on its 11th summer season, which includes music, comedy, drag and family Open Air Theatre (BOAT), in Dyke Road Park, will host performances from Friday until 21 manager Will Mytum said the theatre aimed for "a balance of supporting local artists and keeping prices keen"."It's wonderful to welcome new visitors each season as well as our loyal regulars," he added. There will be more than 70 productions from when the venue opens, including a brand new version of Winnie The August, Drag in the Park: Pride Edition will celebrate Pride Weekend, and there will be theatre performances of Cinderella, Moby Dick and Twelfth Sara Pascoe, Romesh Ranganathan and Al Murray will also group Dad La Soul, which aims to address masculinity and men's mental health, will throw a family-friendly "block party" in Mytum said the theatre, which is completely self funded, aimed to keep prices low for the audience."We want to be a venue that anyone can come to," he added. The 400-seat theatre, a registered charity, was the brainchild of Brighton playwright and construction manager, Adrian April 2013 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and spent his final days planning for a long-held ambition to create an open air theatre in the left his life savings of £18,000 to kick-start the project and asked four of his friends to continue his dream after his death.
The Independent
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
John Lithgow wins best actor at the UK stage Olivier Awards for exploring Roald Dahl's dark side
American actor John Lithgow won the best actor trophy at the London stage Olivier Awards on Sunday for exploring the dark side of children's writer Roald Dahl in 'Giant.' Backwards-biographical story 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' was named best new musical at the awards, Britain's equivalent of Broadway's Tony Awards. 'Conclave' star Lithgow added the Olivier to an awards shelf that already includes multiple Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe trophies, for depicting the author of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" in Mark Rosenblatt's play, which confronts Dahl's antisemitic views. 'I think I'm going to faint,' said an emotional Lithgow, 79. He said he wanted to assure Britons that the transatlantic "special relationship is still firmly intact.' 'It's not always easy to welcome an American into your midst, and at this particular moment, it's probably a little more complicated than usual,' he said. Lesley Manville, whose resume includes a stint as Princess Margaret in 'The Crown,' took the best actress prize for her performance as shocked royal spouse Jocasta in 'Oedipus.' Director Robert Icke's modern-day reimagining of the ancient Greek tragedy — which opens on Broadway later this year — was named best revival of a play. Imelda Staunton – Queen Elizabeth II in two final seasons of 'The Crown' – won the fifth Olivier of her career, best actress in a musical, for 'Hello, Dolly!' Best actor in a musical went to John Dagleish as the titular man who ages in reverse in 'Benjamin Button.' The musical is based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald that also inspired a 2008 movie starring Brad Pitt. The Oliviers were handed out in a ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall hosted by Broadway, TV and runway star Billy Porter and British soul singer Beverley Knight. Stars in the audience included recent Academy Award winner Adrien Brody – a best-actor Olivier nominee for death-row stage drama 'The Fear of 13' – and Cate Blanchett, recently seen on the London stage in 'The Seagull.' 'Giant' won three prizes including best new play. 'Benjamin Button' also won three, as did a boisterous outdoor production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, which was named best musical revival. Maimuna Memon was named best supporting actress in a musical for Tolstoy-inspired 'Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812.' Layton Williams took the equivalent supporting actor prize for campy Celine Dion celebration 'Titanique.' For plays, supporting performer prizes went to Elliot Levey for 'Giant' and Romola Garai for 'The Years.' Norwegian director Eline Arbo was named best director for 'The Years,' an adaptation of Nobel Literature laureate Annie Ernaux's autobiographical book. The prizes, which recognize achievements in theater, opera and dance, were founded in 1976 and named for the late actor-director Laurence Olivier. Winners are chosen by voting groups of stage professionals and theatergoers.
