Page 59 - Hackney Empire News Today

“We also didn’t want to connect with our community – our 60+, mental health or youth theatre groups - behind screens. It’s not very human to me.”  The pandemic has highlighted the fragility of the theatre industry. The Theatre Artists Fund has awarded more than 4,600 emergency grants worth £4.8 million to the army of freelancers and self-employed who make the industry tick.   As part of the Governments Culture Recovery Fund, 24 theatre and arts organisations in Hackn...

Lyricist Don Black: ‘I have always believed in spoiling my children’ Oscar-winning lyricist Don Black on managing singer Matt Monro, living off royalties and why writing for theatre paid off 20 December 2020 • 5:00am Don Black says it was a shrewd decision to write for theatre because ‘pop songs have a shelf life and are a diminishing asset’ Credit: JULIAN SIMMONDS Don Black (born Blackstone) is an Oscar-winning lyricist. One of his songs, Born Free, recorded by Matt Monro, won an O...

From One Day Off in Hackney, 1984 © Rio Cinema Archive "This is the city. In the city there are many stories, and the Rio is one of these." Thus runs the founding manifesto of the Rio Tape/Slide Newsreel Group. Something rather groundbreaking was brewing in 1982: the Rio in Dalston — Londons first community-led cinema — gave a group of Hackney residents some recording equipment, so they could capture local life — which would then be played in as audio-enhanced slide shows before the main...

Diana Payne-Myers Credit: family Diana Payne-Myers, the dancer and actress, who has died aged 92, had a 70-year stage career of phenomenal variety, beginning in the postwar music hall boom, continuing through the heyday of West End revue, and rising to an unlikely burst of stardom in her seventies and eighties in cutting-edge contemporary dance. Her ballet skit supported Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis on their British tours, she danced with Sadler’s Wells Opera Ballet, and she spe...

Pink Floyd legend Nick Mason pictured with one of his classic cars from his extensive collection. Picture by Diane Vose Wiltshire-based rock legend Nick Mason of Pink Floyd has revealed the soundtrack to his life. The drummer owns two hangars near Cirencester which are home to a treasure trove of classic racing cars and of trophies, revealed all in an interview with NME. He discussed the song hes happy to have rediscovered during the pandemic, the first concert he ever attended even recall...

946 shares People loved her because she was down to earth. She saw the funny side. She didn’t take offence. She had the old fashioned British seaside humour. Other late stars of the franchise, like Sid James and Kenneth Williams, are also set to feature in the films. Starring role: The beloved actress is pictured in the 1972 Carry On film Carry on Abroad Brian said: We want to honour the legacy of producer Peter Rogers. He is the unsung hero of the Carry On films. The late actress appeared in...

243 shares A family source told the publication: The memorial that will hopefully take place later next year will be a real celebration of Barbaras life so that everyone can enjoy it together.  Barbara played Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders for more than 20 years, and it is expected her former co-stars will help husband Scott Mitchell, 57, with the memorial.  Sad: The legendary actress passed away on Thursday, aged 83, following a long battle with Alzheimers and a funeral is expected to take pl...

Barbara Windsor to broadcast once more as Radio 2 airs her old shows in tribute BBC Radio 2 will air two shows hosted by the late Dame Barbara Windsor to celebrate her contribution to the station following her tragic death Updated The video will auto-play soon8Cancel Play now Get the latest news from across Ireland straight to your inbox every single dayInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later. Sign up! When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you thes...

Kat B as Uncle Vincent the Cat in Dick Whittington. Photograph: Manuel Vazquez/The Guardian Kat B as Uncle Vincent the Cat in Dick Whittington. Photograph: Manuel Vazquez/The Guardian After a tough year for theatre, our chief critic celebrates the joy of the Christmas show, while five festive performers reveal how it feels to be waiting in the wings Sat 12 Dec 2020 05.00 EST Remember your first ever Christmas show – its sparkle and magic, its tinsel and thrall? I watched my first pantomime...

A Hackney writer insists society as we know it needs a dramatic overhaul to stamp out institutional racism and discrimination.