The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has announced a new arts education initiative, Creative Partnerships, which will encourage the setting up of partnerships between schools and the arts and creative industries.
Barbican to be a listed building?
The Barbican, the London home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, may become a listed building. Announcing a public consultation abnout the move, Arts Minister Alan Howarth said, "It is clear that in terms of scale, design and architectural integrity The Barbican Centre has achieved outstanding significance. However, the Centre has also generated considerable controversy - from users of the arts complex, from residents and from professional bodies. This consultation will allow the public, including the Centre's residents, amenity bodies, architects and other professionals the opportunity to comment on the proposals before I make my decision."
The Liverpool Playhouse, one of the oldest rep theatres in the UK, has reopened after a refurbishment costing £1.5m. It will be run by a newly created trust, which will also run the Everyman Theatre. The first season will include visits by Sharen Experience and Out of Joint.
Southeby's is to auction many of Sir John Gielgud's possessions, including his collection of theatre posters and his annotated complete Dent series of Shakespeare. There is also a copy of Hamlet left to him by Olivier and paintings by Lely, Van Der Merck, Matthew Smith, Christopher Wood and Raoul Dufy. Included in the sale is antique furniture from his home in Wotton Underwood (Bucks).
Much of the estate of Sir Ralph Richardson is also to be auctioned in April, following the death of his widow Meriel Forbes last year. The proceeds of the sale will go to the Ralph Richardson and Meriel Forbes Foundation, which gives money to theatrical charities.
Actor, director and playwright Joseph O'Conor has died, aged 84. A former actor and direcor with the Old Vic, he is best known for his part in the TV series The Forsythe Saga, in which he played Old Jolyon. His best known film was probably Lionel Bart's Oliver!, in which he played Mr Brownlow.
Actor Robert Robertson, best known for playing pathologist Stephen Andrews in Taggart has died, aged 70.
This new annual award, named after the famous West End producer, has been set up by Really Useful Theatres. It will be presented in January and the first award will be made in 2002. It will give a prize of £15,000 for a producer who mounts a completely new production in one of the group's theatres during the year.