“Done well, interactive theatre is extraordinary: engaging, exhilarating and transcendent. All too often, however, so-called ‘interactive’ shows are sloppy and ineffective. They feel loose – anarchic even – when they actually demand a rigorous approach.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
What Is An iPad Doing On A Pedestal In A Chinese Art Museum?
Performance artist Li Liao “got an assembly-line job making iPads, and forty-five days later he used his wages to buy one. As an exhibit, he put the iPad on a pedestal, tacked up his uniform and badges, and framed his contract. The effect, on a white gallery wall, is a strangely addictive ready-made tableau about the intersection of money, aspiration, and technology.”
Paul Krugman Vs. Estonia’s President: The Opera
“A Twitter feud in June between the Estonian president and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman who questioned the impact of Estonia’s austerity measures, is being turned into an opera, [said] US composer Eugene Birman.”
Pole Dancer Excluded From Exhibition On Women In Sport
“Zahra Stardust says her sport empowers women. Casula Powerhouse sees it differently, and has banned a photograph of the pole dancer from a coming exhibition on women in sport” at a municipal gallery in suburban Sydney.
Pop Violinist Wants To Ski For Thailand In Winter Olympics
“Vanessa-Mae, 34, has been training in Zermatt, Switzerland, for the past three years. She has the aim of competing in at least five internationally recognised events to qualify for the giant slalom and possibly the slalom at the Sochi Winter Olympics in February 2014.”
Riccardo Muti Drops Out Of Chicago Symphony’s Asia Tour
“Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director Riccardo Muti has been diagnosed with an internal hernia that will force him to bow out of the orchestra’s entire 10-day tour of the Far East, Jan. 25-Feb. 3.”
Bolshoi Ballet Artistic Director Attacked With Acid
“Moscow doctors are fighting to save the Bolshoi Ballet director Sergei Filin’s sight after he was attacked with acid outside his home late last night by a masked assailant. The assault is being linked to vicious internal theatre politics.”
Russia Held In Contempt Of Court In Case That Led To US Art Loan Ban
“A federal judge in Washington declared the Russian government in contempt of court for ignoring his 2010 order that it must return a disputed massive archive of historic religious books and manuscripts known as the Schneerson Collection to the New York-based [Hasidic organization] Chabad. The judge imposed fines of $50,000 a day.”
Arts Council England Exec Takes New Job While Collecting Sabbatical Pay
“An Executive Director of Arts Council England (ACE) … has been allowed to join her new organisation as its Chief Executive whilst on a six-month sabbatical being paid for by ACE.” Andrea Stark will receive her six-figure salary through June, when she becomes eligible for a six-figure redundancy payment.
National Theatre To Have Record-Breaking Eight Plays In London At Once
“For the first time ever, the National Theatre will have four productions running simultaneously in the West End from March … With another four shows playing in repertoire at its South Bank premises, the National Theatre will have a total of eight shows open across the capital. However, that figure could yet hit double-figures.”