Latest news with #WelshNationalOpera
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Charity Theatre Trips offering Bristol outings to Somerset residents
A charity is inviting people from Somerset to enjoy theatre shows to help raise money. Charity Theatre Trips has arranged for people to travel from Somerset to Bristol to enjoy an outing at the theatre. The organisation has reserved tickets for The Bristol Light Opera Company's amateur premiere of Les Misérables and Fiddler on the Roof, both set to be performed at the Bristol Hippodrome in July. It has also secured tickets for the Welsh National Opera's performance of Tosca in October. To find out more about the trips and to reserve tickets, visit Tickets can be reserved without obligation, with payment due two months before the performance date. A spokesperson for the charity said: "There is a lot to choose from, with coach travel included in the price." "We start at Curry Rivel, pick-up in Langport and Somerton, then either Keinton Mandeville and Shepton Mallet, or Street, Glastonbury and Wells." "Any profit is donated to British Red Cross."
South Wales Guardian
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
UK culture sector leaders ‘unwilling' to police which toilets people use
Over the Easter period, it was declared that the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex. The ruling has been interpreted to mean that transgender women, who are biologically male but identify as women, can be excluded from women-only spaces like toilets and changing rooms. More than 1,000 people have signed an open letter to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) which claims its interim update on the practical implications of the judgment 'overlooks the need to protect trans, non-binary and intersex people from discrimination'. Signatories include joint chief executives and general directors of the Welsh National Opera (WNO), Adele Thomas and Sarah Crabtree, the founder of the Vagina Museum, Florence Schechter, and the director of Queer Britain museum, Andrew Given. The letter says: 'The majority of cultural venues – who are already facing significant financial challenges and are often based in listed and old buildings – are unable to magic up new toilet facilities. As well as being profoundly unfair, this kind of segregation will have significant social, cultural and economic impact. 'In addition, your interim update is not practical or possible to apply.' It adds: 'We are unable and unwilling to police the gender of people using our toilets. 'Before any guidance or legislation is issued, we urge you to undertake full and appropriate consultation with the trans, intersex and non-binary communities about the potential impact of any legislation along similar lines to your update. 'We also urge you to undertake full and appropriate consultation with those running cultural venues and public buildings to understand the impact this would have on operations, our ability to keep people safe and our ability to ensure inclusive and welcoming spaces.' It comes after actors including Oscar-winning star Eddie Redmayne, The Brutalist actor Joe Alwyn and Babygirl star Harris Dickinson signed an open letter addressed to film and TV industry bodies, encouraging them to support the trans community. The letter said that the signatories wish to 'add our voices to the 2,000+ signatories of the Open Letter from UK Writers to the Trans Community', which was signed by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and Chewing Gum's Michaela Coel. The EHRC has issued guidance aimed at clearing up questions about what the judgment will mean in practice. Transgender women 'should not be permitted to use the women's facilities' in workplaces or public-facing services like shops and hospitals, the EHRC said. The same applies to transgender men, who are biologically female, using men's toilets. The watchdog also insisted that transgender people 'should not be put in a position where there are no facilities for them to use'. The Supreme Court decision was hailed as a victory by some women's rights campaigners, but LGBT+ charity Stonewall described it as 'incredibly worrying for the trans community'. EHRC chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner told the political magazine The House: 'I can wholeheartedly reassure all who rely on us that every explanation of equality law from the EHRC will be accurate and authoritative. That is our job.' 'The unambiguous ruling of the Supreme Court has now clarified what the law is. 'Claims that trans people are not being listened to are simply incorrect.' The EHRC is currently reviewing its statutory code of practice for services. It will seek affected stakeholders' views on how the practical implications of the judgment can be reflected in the updated guidance in a consultation expected to launch later this month.
Irish Independent
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
UK culture sector leaders ‘unwilling' to police which toilets people use
Over the Easter period, it was declared that the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex. The ruling has been interpreted to mean that transgender women, who are biologically male but identify as women, can be excluded from women-only spaces like toilets and changing rooms. More than 1,000 people have signed an open letter to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) which claims its interim update on the practical implications of the judgment 'overlooks the need to protect trans, non-binary and intersex people from discrimination'. Signatories include joint chief executives and general directors of the Welsh National Opera (WNO), Adele Thomas and Sarah Crabtree, the founder of the Vagina Museum, Florence Schechter, and the director of Queer Britain museum, Andrew Given. The letter says: 'The majority of cultural venues – who are already facing significant financial challenges and are often based in listed and old buildings – are unable to magic up new toilet facilities. As well as being profoundly unfair, this kind of segregation will have significant social, cultural and economic impact. 'In addition, your interim update is not practical or possible to apply.' It adds: 'We are unable and unwilling to police the gender of people using our toilets. 'Before any guidance or legislation is issued, we urge you to undertake full and appropriate consultation with the trans, intersex and non-binary communities about the potential impact of any legislation along similar lines to your update. 'We also urge you to undertake full and appropriate consultation with those running cultural venues and public buildings to understand the impact this would have on operations, our ability to keep people safe and our ability to ensure inclusive and welcoming spaces.' It comes after actors including Oscar-winning star Eddie Redmayne, The Brutalist actor Joe Alwyn and Babygirl star Harris Dickinson signed an open letter addressed to film and TV industry bodies, encouraging them to support the trans community. ADVERTISEMENT The letter said that the signatories wish to 'add our voices to the 2,000+ signatories of the Open Letter from UK Writers to the Trans Community', which was signed by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and Chewing Gum's Michaela Coel. The EHRC has issued guidance aimed at clearing up questions about what the judgment will mean in practice. Transgender women 'should not be permitted to use the women's facilities' in workplaces or public-facing services like shops and hospitals, the EHRC said. The same applies to transgender men, who are biologically female, using men's toilets. The watchdog also insisted that transgender people 'should not be put in a position where there are no facilities for them to use'. The Supreme Court decision was hailed as a victory by some women's rights campaigners, but LGBT+ charity Stonewall described it as 'incredibly worrying for the trans community'. EHRC chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner told the political magazine The House: 'I can wholeheartedly reassure all who rely on us that every explanation of equality law from the EHRC will be accurate and authoritative. That is our job.' 'The unambiguous ruling of the Supreme Court has now clarified what the law is. 'Claims that trans people are not being listened to are simply incorrect.' The EHRC is currently reviewing its statutory code of practice for services. It will seek affected stakeholders' views on how the practical implications of the judgment can be reflected in the updated guidance in a consultation expected to launch later this month.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bristol Beacon hosts BBC Proms for the second time running
The classical orchestra concert series BBC Proms is returning to Bristol this will be four concerts from 22-24 August at Bristol Beacon and St Georges making it the second summer in a row that the Proms have taken up residency in the headliners include composer Charles Hazelwood, the founder of Paraorchestra, as well as the orchestra of Welsh National Opera with Carlo Rizzi and mezzo-soprano Avery Wales, chief executive of Bristol Beacon, said: "We strive to offer world-class classical music to our audience as part of our wider artistic programme and we are proud to be working with the BBC Proms to continue to offer music that is open to all." All four concerts at Bristol Beacon will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. The radio station will also host its Late-Night Live edition of Late Junction in the Lantern Hall, which will be presented by Verity Sharp and guest artists Sarahsson and Wojciech Rusin. An afternoon concert, which will also be recorded for broadcast, will take place at St George's Bristol as part of the Proms weekend. Sam Jackson, a controller from BBC Radio 3 and BBC Proms said: "The Proms was founded in 1895 on the belief that everyone should have access to the very best of classical music, so I am delighted that our concerts across the UK reach audiences on their own doorstep, as well as being broadcast on Radio 3."Mr Hazelwood and the Paraorchestra are collaborating with The Breath and composer Oliver Vibrans to create a folk-inspired sound for the said: "I can say, hand on heart, that this will be so much more than the standard orchestra-meets-band. "I guarantee you will hear things - and instrumental combinations - that you have never heard before."
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Welsh National Opera musicians accept jobs deal
Musicians at the Welsh National Opera orchestra have accepted a new agreement following a year of negotiations and industrial action. The WNO announced last year it was cutting back its spring tour in 2025 along with other measures due to "increasing financial challenges". Among those supporting a campaign calling for something to be done included a host of Wales' most famous artists such as Michael Sheen, Katherine Jenkins, Ruth Jones and Sir Bryn Terfel. While the new agreement protects members' jobs, unions said the orchestra would lose approximately 10 vacant seats, so the campaign to protect jobs was ongoing. Members of the Musician's Union (MU) have been campaigning after WNO management said it was forced to consider making the orchestra part time and cut musicians' pay by 15%. Its campaign, which included sustained industrial action from September to March has achieved both goals, the MU said in a statement. Wales' top artists slam Welsh National Opera cuts Performers protest on stage over arts cuts How opera singing is helping people to manage chronic pain The Welsh government will also provide an additional £1.5m to support arts organisations, the union said. WNO is Wales' largest arts organisation and one of only two full time professional orchestras in the country. "This is an incredibly difficult time for the arts in the UK and the opera sector has been especially hard hit, with WNO disproportionately affected and facing significant ongoing financial challenges," MU general secretary Naomi Pohl said. MU regional organiser for Wales and south-west England Andy Warnock said the WNO was "still in a fragile position overall". He added: "It's essential that WNO retains its full-time performing forces, which we know is the aim of the company's new leadership, so we need politicians and both Arts Councils in England and Wales to join us for discussions on how that can be achieved."
