Ricky Dukes

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This weekend's #ShakespeareSunday theme influenced by #WorldBookDay on the horizon and an increasing reminder by world events how important the written word is: READING & WRITING!

Loved Jordains' FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Regents Park, can't wait for his WOODS...

(BTW you can FIDDLER at the Barbi this summer)

God bless America.

🎂

Bridge Theatre to stage Into the Woods and revive A Midsummer Night's Dream London’s Bridge Theatre has announced a new staging of Into the Woods, marking the musical’s first outing in London for almost a decade

Our pals at #bridgetheatre are going into the woods this summer and staying there by the looks...

Bridge Theatre to stage Into the Woods and revive A Midsummer Night's Dream

Story via @thestage.bsky.social

www.thestage.co.uk/news/bridge-...

Kate Bush and Damon Albarn among 1,000 artists on silent AI protest album Recordings of empty studios represent impact on musicians of UK’s plans to let AI train on their work without permission

Kate Bush and Damon Albarn among 1,000 artists on silent AI protest album

Story via @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Sandi Toksvig: Labour's copyright law changes risk undermining creative sector The broadcaster and president of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain has called on artists to reject proposed changes to copyright law that would allow artificial intelligence companies to train easily on writers' work

Sandi Toksvig has accused the government of "fundamentally undermining" the creative industries over its changes to copyright law 👇#TheatreNews #TheatreSky

Creative industries protest against UK plan about AI and copyright Government’s proposals could make it easier to train artificial intelligence models using artists’ works

The government's consultation on AI and copyright closes today.

🎧

YESSSSSS

100% recommend

The Rose's history is entwined with the animal baiting arenas it stood next to.

Its owner Philip Henslowe and lead actor Edward Alleyn even bought the Mastership of this brutal sport in 1604.

This fascinating thread from Archaeobears reveals new research about the lives of the animals themselves.

Kid in train just asked his mum if you were in & had Nigel F, Musk &Trump in a hot air balloon who would you chuck out first to keep the balloon up. Mum replied "I'd cut the fucking strings and say hell mary" coach erupts in laughs and claps.

Send em my way then!

Hi team, will there be any free zoom tickets this year again? It was FANTASTIC for so many to feel connected/ engaged.

❤️

📢 Help Shape the Arts!

We’re inviting theatre freelancers to submit a short video to Shaping The Arts, a powerful new documentary amplifying freelancer voices. Follow these 6 easy steps to get involved. Upload your video here 👉 https://buff.ly/40OvHB0

Your voice matters. 🎥

Chichester lines up Kathleen Marshall’s Top Hat and Hamlet with Giles Terera Kathleen Marshall will revive Top Hat in Chichester Festival Theatre’s new season, which also includes Giles Terera as Hamlet and Natalie Dormer as Anna Karenina

🚨Another Season announcement! Our pals @chichesterft.bsky.social lines up Kathleen Marshall’s Top Hat and Hamlet with Giles Terera for their Season 2025!

Feature via @thestage.bsky.social

www.thestage.co.uk/news/product...

Feel utterly powerless with this Jake. Just don't know how anyone is supposed to survive. The hope is dwindling.

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All you need is LOVE for this weekend's #ShakespeareSunday theme! ❤

This, amongst other things should really worry us. Make sure this can't happen here.

New Kennedy Center board elects Trump chair, ousts Rutter as president President Trump’s refashioned board of trustees voted him chairman and replaced the Kennedy Center’s president Deborah Rutter with Trump ally Richard Grenell.

“The work of artists doesn’t always make us feel comfortable, but it sheds light on the truth. Much like our democracy itself, artistic expression must be nurtured, fostered, prioritized, and protected.” – Deborah Rutter

Dystopia

Scotland’s arts funding revolution exposes Labour’s shortcomings Following Creative Scotland’s pledge to double arts funding, the Labour government needs to catch up if it wants to retain its reputation as champion of the arts

'Creative Scotland’s announcement shows it is possible to increase funding for the arts if the political will exists' -via @thestage

Patsy argues the decline in craft training has been happening since the 90's. So it makes it all the more important to celebrate those performers and productions that send tingles through your veins, shock, excite and hit you right in the guts to remind us we're alive.

But when the performer is scrolling for lines in their head, or doesn't have a connection to the in the moment at the moment, they can't be present. It seems to me they have no hidden craft on which to depend. And therefore we witness "dead theatre".

I don't know about you but I find being present really hard for extended periods of time. It's very easy to disengage, look at and scroll a screen, but in theatre the connection between performers and audience is vital if it's to be "alive".

Perhaps because the pandemic shunted us forward in an already rapid trend, the loss of craft. Craft as Patsy explains wonderfully is the scaffold that supports the performer to be present. If you're present you can listen, when you listen you are present and "alive"

Really recommend everyone listening to Patsy Rodenburgs podcast Craft:Sweat & Joy. One of the most striking take aways is just how much theatre is "dead", it's really made me think about how little theatre I've seen since the pandemic has actually been "alive".