Latest news with #artisticdirector
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Dominic Cooke appointed as the Almeida theatre's artistic director
Dominic Cooke has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Almeida theatre in London, succeeding Rupert Goold in 2026. Cooke ran the Royal Court for several years and is an in-demand director with recent hits in the West End and at the National Theatre. 'Twelve years after leaving the Royal Court, I couldn't be more excited to be returning as an artistic director and to be taking the reins of this unique theatre,' he said. He described Goold's Almeida as 'a beacon of quality and innovation' and added: 'I'm hugely grateful to him and his team to be handed an organisation in such good health. I look forward to building on this legacy and to future adventures in this magical space.' A specialist in musicals, Cooke staged a celebrated revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies at the National in 2017 and reunited with one of its stars, Imelda Staunton, on an admired revival of Hello, Dolly! at the London Palladium last summer. His production of George Bernard Shaw's Mrs Warren's Profession, starring Staunton and her daughter Bessie Carter, opened at the Palladium last month. Other West End productions directed by Cooke include Medea with Sophie Okonedo and Good with David Tennant. During his time at the Royal Court he directed plays by Caryl Churchill, Tarell Alvin McCraney and Bruce Norris. He has also directed two feature films, The Courier (starring Benedict Cumberbatch) and On Chesil Beach (adapted from Ian McEwan's novel), as well as three episodes of The Hollow Crown for television. The chair of the Almeida board Tamara Ingram said Cooke is 'celebrated around the world and brings a wealth of experience both of running a theatre and as a consistently acclaimed, award-winning artist. We are greatly looking forward to what lies ahead and to seeing how his leadership defines the next chapter of the Almeida.' Goold called it a 'wonderful appointment' and said that Cooke's tenure at the Royal Court brimmed 'with confidence and new voices'. He added that Cooke 'will bring his many talents to bear on continuing the rich story of our great theatre'. It was announced last year that Goold will leave the Almeida to run the Old Vic, replacing Matthew Warchus. The Almeida's executive director Denise Wood is also standing down to pursue freelance projects. Recruitment for Wood's successor will begin shortly.
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Taking improv competitions into the workplace
culture arts 39 minutes ago For most people, the concept of getting up on stage for improvisation is the stuff of nightmares, let alone doing it at work with your colleagues. But Covert Theatre's founder and artistic director Wade Jackson has been making it his mission to take the fear out of improv and focus on the connection. He started doing improv at university in the '90s and has been taking theatre into corporate spaces for 32 years. Five years ago, despite being in the height of the pandemic, he started Office Comedy Clash; an inter-office improv competition. Wade is also an author, speaker and high performance coach and speaks to Culture 101 about taking theatre into workplaces, encouraging senior leaders and executives to play and not be afraid to show their humanity.
Reuters
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Russians pay last respects to ballet maestro Grigorovich
MOSCOW, May 23 (Reuters) - Russians paid their last respects to dance legend Yuri Grigorovich on Friday at the Bolshoi Theatre where he reigned for decades as artistic director of one of the world's most famous ballet companies. Grigorovich, considered one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century, died on Monday at the age of 98. Leading figures from the Russian arts world gathered inside the gilded auditorium of the Bolshoi to pay tribute to him. Grigorovich's coffin was placed in front of the stage, where a giant photograph of the puckish, white-haired ballet master was displayed. Hundreds of Muscovites, many carrying flowers, were waiting outside the theatre in central Moscow. They applauded as his casket was carried down the steps, accompanied by a portrait of Grigorovich and three huge floral wreaths. "I really loved him. He was a genius... so I could not miss this farewell," said pensioner Alexandra Tretyakova. Grigorovich was famed for productions of Spartacus, Ivan the Terrible, Romeo and Juliet and many other ballets that were staged in Russia and around the world. He was especially noted for male roles requiring extraordinary strength and technique. Ballerina Lyubov Filippova told Reuters that the late choreographer was a "colossus" and an idol. "This person will always remain with us, in our hearts, in our lives. And we should continue to learn from his ballets," she said.
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Hamburg Ballet dancers accuse artistic director of creating ‘toxic environment'
Ballet dancers at a top German company have reportedly written an excoriating critique of their new artistic director, accusing him of creating a 'toxic work environment.' More than half of the 63 dancers making up the troupe have complained of untenable working conditions under Hamburg Ballet's artistic director, Demis Volpi, who joined the company last September, taking over from the US choreographer John Neumeier. Neumeier, who retired last year at the age of 86 after 51 years in the role, is credited with having taken the German company from relative obscurity to a position of world renown in the dance world. But the mood at the company is now restive, according to a letter written last month to Hamburg's minister of culture, Carsten Brosda, and seen by reputable German media. Five of its 11 first soloists, considered the stars of the ensemble, have announced their resignation, and are due to leave the company at the end of the current season. Both collectively and individually, they have complained of Volpi's lack of leadership and artistic expertise, and the 'deep mistrust that [he] has towards his employees'. 'The current leadership is creating increasing internal problems and a toxic working environment through poor communication, a lack of transparency and an often dismissive attitude,' the letter reads. The criticisms have been echoed by dancers from the company Ballett am Rhein in Düsseldorf, where Volpi was at the helm for four years. They say they were moved by their counterparts in Hamburg to open up about their own similar experiences with him. In a letter also addressed to Brosda, 17 Rhein dancers wrote: 'During his time with us, we found that Mr Volpi created a work environment characterised by inconsistent communication, a lack of transparency, and an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. 'Constructive feedback was often met with negative consequences, which made open exchange difficult and undermined trust.' The dancers warn in the letter: 'It is only a matter of time until not only John Neumeier's legacy will be lost, but also the high standard and the international reputation that the company enjoys.' Hamburg's first soloist, Alexandr Trusch, who came to the company aged 12, after moving to Hamburg from Ukraine, said he was 'abandoning everything' by leaving after 23 years because he could not tolerate the existing situation. 'I'm giving up everything, my career, my work, because I can't support such behaviour and such a low level of artistry which is in danger of destroying everything,' he told broadcaster NDR, saying he did not have a new post in place. He accused Volpi of being someone who 'is very good at selling his visions, but the quality he delivers is abysmal'. The other soloists to have announced their departure are Madoka Sugai, Jacopo Bellussi, Christopher Evans and Alessandro Frola. Sugai, 30, from Atsugi City, Japan, confirmed in an interview with Die Zeit that her departure was related to Volpi's style of leadership. Evans, 30, from Loveland, Colorado, who was the first soloist to announce his resignation, told the newspaper: 'I don't feel like Volpi understands us or has any idea how much work we put in and how much passion we put into our work.' Volpi, 39, who is German-Argentinian, denied the accusations in an interview last week with the Hamburger Abendblatt. More recently, he told the Rheinische Post: 'Intensive discussions are possible and are taking place right now.' He told Die Zeit he would like to respond to the dancers' letter, but said they had yet to send it to him. 'I don't have the letter,' he said, adding that he was 'willing to work on things', but for that to happen 'the criticism must be brought to my attention'. A coach 'who specialises in processes of change' in the field of the performing arts has been appointed at the ballet, Volpi said, whose job would be to mediate between the parties. Volpi was approached by the Guardian for comment through the Hamburg Ballet. Requests for information to the company have been directed to Brosda. In a written statement, Brosda said: 'We take the accusations very seriously and are carrying out lots of discussions behind the scenes. The management and the company must now quickly find solutions together to prevent further damage to everyone.' Meanwhile, the company is continuing to rehearse for the first ballet production choreographed by Volpi for Hamburg in July, an adaptation of the Hermann Hesse novel Demian, a coming of age tale which investigates the themes of identity and morality. Dance critics are expected to be paying far more attention than usual.
Reuters
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Russian ballet maestro Yuri Grigorovich dies aged 98
MOSCOW, May 19 (Reuters) - Russian ballet maestro Yuri Grigorovich, considered one of the greatest choreographers of the 20th century, has died at the age of 98, state media said on Monday. Grigorovich served as artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow from 1964 to 1995. He was famed for his settings of Spartacus, Ivan the Terrible and the Stone Flower, as well as productions of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, the Nutcracker and many other ballets. Valery Gergiev, head of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres, told Izvestia newspaper that Grigorovich was "a legendary figure who will continue to command respect and admiration for decades to come". By coincidence, the deaths of Grigorovich and one of his favourite dancers, Yuri Vladimirov, who was 83, were announced on the same day.
