BARBICAN LIFE Bank on it
Theatre previews M
y Spring article confirmed the closure of the Barbican Theatre until the Autumn so that major backstage maintenance, refurbishment and front-of-house improvements can ensure that the venue remains a world-class theatre with state-of-the-art technology. As an accountant, I am always conscious of the essential inclusion of depreciation of all assets in the annual accounts of all companies. Thus depreciation is charged to the years the assets are being used and also an adequate reserve is accumulated for any required replacements.
The Paper Architect
The closure of the main house through the summer months gives Barbican residents a chance to make forays into the many off-site venues in the easily-accessible areas of East London. This will lead to the exciting launch of the extensive new premises for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with its welcome new theatre space for future productions. Alongside the two new cinemas and their adjacent CÔTE restaurant the whole artistic centre will focus international attention even greater than in recent years with over a million patrons filling our venues. Similar to the international centres such as the Pompidou in Paris, Lincoln Center in New York and the Opera House in Sydney, the Barbican will continue to attract vast financial benefits to the City as well as providing an enhanced quality of life for its residents. In the past half-century the unifying elements of commercial and subsidised theatre programmes have extended to such areas as restaurants which all-too-easily have been included as ancillary activities such as hotels and taxis and shops which all benefit from the adjacent arts events. However, these activities are now being recognised as important elements in the whole creative process leading to the success of music and theatre productions.
J K Rowling cites restaurants as very
productive working environments: And Stephen Sondheim wrote a great deal of “A Little Night Music” at his local Steak House. Indeed, he explains in his recent book “Look, I Made A Hat” that he composed the song “Liaisons” while Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra were singing “Fever” on the restaurant sound system with no problem of concentration. As he says, “When the cocoon is self-creative the surroundings matter not at all.” Returning to the Barbican’s Summer attractions, the off-site programme is entitled “Beyond The Walls” and highlights include “Bank On It”, a topical and fascinating production about economics presented in their own inimitable style by the award-winning children’s theatre company Theatre-Rites (who came to the Barbican with “Mojo” in
Tony Field looks at some of the theatre options available around the Barbican this summer when the Centre’s theatres are closed for refurbishment
2011). This show plays from June 22nd to July 14th at the Rose Lipman Building, 43 De Beauvoir Road, London N1 5SQ.
From 25 to 28 June, at the church of St Bartholomew the Great, the Australian circus company Circa collaborates for the first time with I Fagiolini, the British vocal ensemble specialising in Renaissance and contemporary music in a show entitled “How Like An Angel”. This piece was originally presented last year as part of the London 2012 Festival. This year’s Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award winner is “The Paper Architect”, written by Tom Wainwright. Previous winners have included “Slung Low” and “You Me Bum Bum Train” , both previously presented in association with the Barbican. “The Paper Architect” stars Davy and Kristin McGuire and is
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