Latest news with #Unsworth
Irish Independent
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Emma Jane Unsworth's fizzy story of sisterly rivalry has shades of her TV collaborator Sharon Horgan
Slags combines the cheery nostalgia of Derry Girls with the rapid-fire humour of Fleabag Sisterly rivalry has long been a rich literary seam to mine, and for good reason. Take two women in the fullness of their chaotic, complex glory, add in a dark backstory and the ongoing competition that often happens between women that are close. It's been done before, certainly, but Emma Jane Unsworth has taken this dynamic, swept out the clichés and added plenty of fizz and salt to the trope. It's been five years since Unsworth published her third novel, Adults. It was, among other things, a brilliant and observant portrait of one woman and her social media presence. (A raw, yet highly readable memoir on postnatal depression, After The Storm, was published in 2022). In the years since Adults' came out, she has also turned her attention to screenwriting, co-writing the BBC comedy The Outlaws with Stephen Merchant in 2021. Two years later, she was the showrunner for Dreamland, Sharon Horgan's zippy Sky Atlantic comedy. The latter in particular appears to be a particularly fortuitous collaborator; when it comes to the sharp yet fun tone of their work, the two have much in common.
Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Made in Johor: How Shakespeare In The Park's Macbeth set made its way to Fort Canning
Made in Johor: How Shakespeare In The Park's Macbeth set made its way to Fort Canning JOHOR – In a Johor factory, on a March morning, stands more than 200 rusty columns shooting skywards, arranged in bundles to evoke either a sinuous dune or a towering castle complex. In April, they would be dismantled, ferried in a dozen lorries across the Causeway, and reassembled in Fort Canning Park . Singapore Repertory Theatre's Shakespeare In The Park might be a Singaporean production, but its outdoor sets have always been made in a small Malaysian town known as Pekan Nanas. The productions' epic sets – this one goes up to 14m high – are too big to be built in compact Singapore, so they are fabricated in a spacious town a 30-minute drive from Tuas Checkpoint. Come May 7 to June 1, director Guy Unsworth is staging one of William Shakespeare's great tragedies – Macbeth. Actor Ghafir Akbar, two-time Best Actor winner at The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards, and actress Julie Wee will reunite after acting together in 2024's A Midsummer Night's Dream. This time, they are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth at the outdoor theatrical experience where audiences can picnic under the stars. But one glance at the abstract geometry of the set, and audiences know they are not in Scotland . Unsworth, who set Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in an oil refinery, is transplanting this tale of ambition and power to another world. Set designer Richard Kent – who also worked on the 2024 set that won The Straits Times Life Theatre Award for Best Set – brings up the Star Wars (1977 to present) and Dune (2021 to present) films as two reference points, worlds 'which are human but from another place' and 'don't feel like they belong to Earth '. Unsworth says of the boom in sci-fi epics in popular culture: 'They allow us to escape to another world while, on some deep and subconscious level, are direct reflections of the world that we recognise.' Unsworth and Kent also reference places on Earth – the basalt columns in Iceland and Giant's Causeway in Ireland. Indeed, standing before the unfinished set, one already feels the sense of smallness amid the colossal set, as if one were in the presence of nature's awe-inspiring formations. Their idea is to create a version of Macbeth where copper is the currency – which is reflected in the landscape – and the title character's murderous quest for political power is also a quest to control the resources of the land. To bring their idea to life, craftsmen at Arina Hogan Builders have been working since January. The set for the Singapore Repertory Theatre's Shakespeare In The Park is built in Pekan Nanas, Johor, based on the model (front) provided by the set designer. ST PHOTO: SHAWN HOO Marc Andre Therrien, 74, technical consultant for the show, is on set when this reporter visits the factory – taking SRT's group of stage managers, choreographers, lighting teams and other crew members around . 'The designer wanted sand, but it's too complicated and problematic because it's abrasive and it gets everywhere – in your shoes and in the dressing room ,' he says, turning instead to a material used for the flooring of playgrounds. The former director of technical services at circus producer Cirque du Soleil Singapore from 1994 to 2000 knows a thing or two about athletic sets. He has picked out for the main set plywood and metal, materials which he knows can withstand the elements at Fort Canning Park. Scenic designer Natalie Chung – Therrien's wife and a former interior designer – is also on set, hand-painting the columns with a reddish-brown paint for a rusty texture. Marc Andre Therrien, technical consultant for the Macbeth set, at the backstage of the set. ST PHOTO: SHAWN HOO 'The biggest challenge is the towering height of the set,' she says, having to climb onto a scaffold to paint the highest parts. The duo have worked together on more than 10 Shakespeare In The Park sets and it is something they look forward to every year. 'Every Shakespeare In The Park set has its own distinct personality, and I always manage to use different materials ,' she adds, saying that one of her favourite sets to design was a large book-shaped one for The Tempest in 2015. Scenic artist Natalie Chung painting the columns of the set of Shakespeare In The Park. ST PHOTO: SHAWN HOO Unsworth is careful not to reveal too many things about the upcoming show. But he lets on that the prophetic speech of the witches has been garbled through artificial intelligence (AI) software in a combination of South-east Asian languages and the original rhythms of the Shakespearean language. 'The witches (in Macbeth) represent a source of knowledge that Macbeth very readily just believes and accepts. They are there to make forecasts of the future and he just believes them. Isn't that what we're doing right now? We're just accepting that AI knows everything.' The maze-like set, Kent says, is built in a way that makes it difficult to guess where actors will appear and disappear. In Britain , where Kent and Unsworth are based, it is not common for a set designer or director to be able to look at the set until it is bumped in to the theatre. Kent, on the car ride to Singapore after a morning in Pekan Nanas, says: 'It's a bit of a treat here to get to see the whole thing.' Book It/Shakespeare In The Park: Macbeth Where: Fort Canning Park When: May 7 to June 1, 7.30pm (Thursdays to Sundays); park opens at 6pm Admission: $60 to $188 Info: Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Spartanburgers see multiple sellouts for Opening Week
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – Baseball fans seem to have a serious appetite for the sport's return to Spartanburg. The Hub City Spartanburgers will play their first series at Fifth Third Park this week and tickets have been going fast. According to a map on the team's website, tickets for Tuesday's home opener against the Bowling Green Hot Rods are sold out. Tickets for Thursday night's game are also sold out, and only terrace seats remain available for Friday and Saturday's games. 'The Spartanburgers are thrilled with the community's excitement for this first series, and look forward to welcoming everyone to Fifth Third Park for Opening Week,' said Ian Unsworth, broadcast and media relations manager for the Spartanburgers in an email on Tuesday. Tickets for the terrace and along the first and third base lines are still available for Wednesday and most sections of the ballpark still have seats available on Sunday. Unsworth said the team is inviting fans to celebrate Easter with a postgame Easter egg hunt. Hub City Spartanburgers are the High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. As of Tuesday, they are tied for the lead the South Atlantic League South with the Bowling Green Hot Rods. The team announced it would be moving from Eastern North Carolina to Spartanburg in May 2023, marking the return of minor league baseball to the city. Previous story: Minor league baseball team to move to Spartanburg Spartanburg had been without a minor league team since 1995 when the Spartanburg Phillies moved to Kannapolis, North Carolina. The Spartanburgers name and color scheme was revealed last year, and work on Fifth Third Park began in November 2023. Read more: Hundreds attend groundbreaking for Spartanburg baseball stadium Anyone unable to get tickets to Tuesday's home opener can still catch the action live on CW62. In March the Spartanburgers and WSPA announced the network will air 15 home games on CW62, including Opening Night and a special July Fourth game. Previous story: WSPA, Spartanburgers announce partnership, 15 home games to air on CW62 Ingles will be the presenting sponsor of all Spartanburgers games on CW62. 7NEWS Sports Director Pete Yanity will call the play-by-play with Unsworth and Andrew Selover providing color commentary. Coverage will begin five minutes before the first pitch – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Confidence among small businesses in Singapore rises
Business sentiment among small businesses in Singapore reached a five-year high in 2024, with a positive outlook expected to continue into 2025. Cybersecurity health improved. Sharp decline in businesses planning to innovate in 2025. SINGAPORE, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Business sentiment among small businesses in Singapore last year surged to its highest level since 2019, and this positive trend is expected to continue into 2025, according to the latest survey by global professional accounting body CPA Australia. The annual Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey found that 62 per cent of small businesses in Singapore expect growth this year, marking the highest level of confidence recorded since 2018. Additionally, 63 per cent of respondents expressed confidence in the country's economic growth, up from 60 per cent in 2024. These figures underscore the strengthening business environment in Singapore. CPA Australia Singapore Divisional President, and Digital Business and Risk Services Leader at PwC Singapore, Greg Unsworth, said: "The strong confidence among small businesses in Singapore reflects a growing sense of optimism, not only in business prospects but in the overall economic environment. The key to continued success is for businesses to stay agile and forward-thinking and seize new opportunities." The survey highlighted continued strong uptake of technology, with a notable increase in online and digital payment adoption. In 2024, 63 per cent of Singapore's small businesses reported generating more than 10 per cent of their revenue from online sales, up from 36 per cent in 2019. Furthermore, 76 per cent of small businesses generated more than 10 per cent of their sales from digital and online payment technologies such as PayPal, Apple Pay and GrabPay. This result is well above the 51 per cent reported in 2019. On the cybersecurity front, Singapore's small businesses saw fewer cybersecurity incidents. The percentage of businesses reporting losses or disruptions due to cyberattacks dropped sharply from 54 per cent in 2023 to 39 per cent in 2024. Small businesses expect this downward trend will continue, with only 33 per cent of businesses anticipating a cyberattack this year, down from 45 per cent last year. "This improvement suggests that small businesses are enhancing their cybersecurity measures and are becoming more resilient and better equipped to safeguard their operations from cyber threats." Unsworth added. The survey also found a continued positive trend towards the adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. While 29 per cent of businesses did not allocate time or resources for ESG-related activities in 2024, many are still focusing on key ESG areas such as staff health and safety policies, supply chain sustainability, and diversity and inclusion efforts. These initiatives reflect the ongoing commitment of Singapore's small businesses to sustainable and responsible practices. CPA Australia Singapore Divisional Deputy President, and Managing Partner at Baker Tilly, Joshua Ong, said it is encouraging to see small businesses in Singapore are increasingly recognising the importance of ESG. "Embracing these practices serves as a strategic approach to future-proofing the business. By adopting responsible environmental practices, strengthening governance and fostering social impact, small businesses can gain a competitive edge over their peers and strengthen their brand reputation with customers and investors," Ong said. Despite the optimistic outlook, the survey findings observed a declining trend in innovation. Only 23 per cent of small businesses plan to introduce a new product, process or service that is unique to Singapore or the world this year, a sharp decrease from 37 per cent in 2024. While this figure remains slightly above historical averages, it signals a potential slowdown in business innovation. The demographics in the survey indicate that the age profile of Singapore's small business owners is ageing. While this trend is less pronounced than in Australia and New Zealand, the survey indicates a strong correlation between business owners under 40 and higher levels of business growth, digital adoption, innovation and job creation. As the proportion of older business owners rises, it could pose long-term challenges for the dynamism and sustainability of some small businesses. Small businesses in Singapore have also lowered their expectations for strong revenue growth from exports. The percentage of businesses anticipating strong revenue growth from exports has dropped from 27 per cent in 2024 to 18 per cent in 2025. "Geopolitical tensions and the possibility of trade tariffs are most likely the cause of concerns about export growth," Ong said. Despite the challenges, the overall outlook for small businesses in Singapore remains positive. Growing business sentiment, technology adoption, and cybersecurity resilience are expected to maintain their momentum into the year ahead. CPA Australia's Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey, including a detailed summary of the results for Singapore and an infographic About the survey CPA Australia's 16th annual Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey was conducted among small business owners/senior managers during November and December 2024 to identify the characteristics of successful small businesses across the region. The findings for the survey come from 4,236 small businesses in 11 markets. From the commencement of the survey in 2009, we have surveyed over 46,000 small businesses across the region. These include Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam. About CPA Australia CPA Australia is one of the largest professional accounting bodies in the world, with more than 173,000 members in over 100 countries and regions, including more than 8,600 members in Singapore. CPA Australia has been operating in Singapore since 1954 and opened our Singapore office in 1989. Our core services include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on local, national and international issues affecting the accounting profession and public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes. Find out more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CPA Australia Sign in to access your portfolio
