Cassa Pancho founded Ballet Black to address the lack of black and Asian ballet dancers in the UK. As the company celebrates its tenth anniversary, she tells Natalie Woolman about working with the Royal Opera House and the importance of commissioning new work:
We were doing okay when we were on our own. But just saying ‘our class at the Royal Opera House’ immediately makes people pay attention, so it helped us raise our game massively
Loose Women presenter Sherrie Hewson has lived through domestic abuse, bankruptcy - and a screen marriage to Coronation Street’s Reg Holdsworth. Now she tells all in her new book, Behind the Laughter, which was cathartic, she tells The Stage:
If you put things down in black and white, if you’ve had a bad day and you go home and write it, then you get your anger out and it disperses. When it’s written down, you think, ‘Was that it? Was that what has broken my heart, has hurt me for so long?’
Also this week:
Nick Smurthwaite remembers Alan Plater’s life and legacy
Comedians Jim Davidson and Matt Blaize on their unlikely friendship
New SOLT/TMA chief executive Julian Bird on his first few months in charge
Ed Collier and Paul Warwick on canvassing public opinion on how they’re faring as associate directors of the Warwick Arts Centre
Miriam Zendle looks at how theatre by and for deaf people is moving into the mainstream
Susan Elkin on the new government report making recommendations for safeguarding music education in the UK
Professor Stanley Wells on the reasons why plays from the past, particularly Shakespeare, remain popular with performers and the public
Maggie Brown on Jeremy Hunt’s plans for local television
Alex Chisholm of West Yorkshire Playhouse on collaborating with German theatre compnies
Dear John on the merits of hiring a tour manager
Kevin Berry on Corby’s new theatre, the Core
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