The Londoner: Theatres keen to take back power

Michael Grandage warns of dark future for West End / David Bailey not fussed about royal wedding / Prince Harry parties while Meghan gets her beauty sleep / A night of bluffing at The Ned 
Lights out? Nicole Kidman and Michael Grandage
Getty Images
18 May 2018

It COULD be lights out at West End theatres if EU regulations on lighting are imposed. Michael Grandage, above, whose production of Red won rave reviews this week, is worried that “if the legislation goes through, we won’t be able to put plays like this on”.

EU regulations would ban the tungsten bulbs that light the stage in Red and leave theatre-goers in the dark.

Grandage is a heavyweight on the scene: he runs his own company and directed Nicole Kidman in a production of Photograph 51 in 2015, for which the Australian actress won an Evening Standard Theatre Award.

Red is about painter Mark Rothko, played by Alfred Molina, and uses the gamut of lighting tricks to bring the play to life. But under EU regulations, set to come into force two years from now, the tungsten bulbs that create the effects would be banned. London arts types are a typical Remainer breed, but might this make Leavers out of the luvvies?

“We’ve got to remember that what’s behind the legislation is admirable,” Grandage tells The Stage, adding: “It’s about making the world greener and better — but what we’ve also got to do is put a very vociferous case about why the theatre world needs to be exempted first and foremost, so that we can have time to develop our own solution.”

The EU banned energy-inefficient tungsten bulbs a few years ago, but as many as 30 per cent of Leavers want to see them return, including Elizabeth Hurley, who said in May 2016: “If it means we can go back to using decent lightbulbs, I’m joining Brexit for sure.”

Theatres won an exemption from the bloc’s ruling, but the EU wants to phase the bulbs out from 2020. Opponents argue that the lighting rigs used in theatres are switched on only for brief periods and that using LED lights would not provide a significant reduction in power usage.

Hackitt infuriates Grenfell victims

Dame Judith Hackitt, the woman who led the report on building regulations after the Grenfell fire, once made a mid-interview complaint to a Financial Times journalist: “You haven’t asked about my car.” She is proud of her “gleaming” red F-type Jaguar.

Hackitt’s Grenfell report was published yesterday and did not recommend an outright ban on flammable cladding, leaving campaigners and victims furious. Dame Judith is an engineer but has been criticised for not understanding the expectations of Grenfell families.

Wedding or Football? Who cares, says Bailey

Set the pace: Julian Schnabel with David Bailey at Pace Gallery (Getty Images)

Bad grandad David Bailey was in cantankerous form at the Julian Schnabel private view this week. Royal wedding or the FA Cup Final, we ask. “I’m not going to watch either,” he snaps. “I’m pleased for them, but not that interested.” Has he yet photographed young Meghan Markle? “No,” he says. “But I’ll shoot anyone.”

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Will Prince Harry’s rebellious years be over after tomorrow? We’re told he recently threw a raucous party at the cottage he shares with Meghan in Kensington Palace. Guests danced on the tables until the early hours. But when they noisily raided the freezer for ice-cream, Harry told them to “Shhh”. Markle was asleep upstairs.

Designer Joshua Kane keeps royal wedding client under his hat

Chris Eubank Jr and Carl Froch appeared to square up last night, but they weren’t getting ready to rumble: they were guests at a charity poker party. The Ned hosted the Quintessentially Foundation’s charity poker night in association with partypoker in its grand Tapestry Room. The evening raised £135,000 for the Rugby Portobello Trust and brought together grime artist Stormzy and actor Tom Holland.

Rakish designer Joshua Kane welcomed a night out after working hard on an outfit for one of his clients to wear to tomorrow’s royal wedding.

“I have a male guest who is attending and will be wearing one of my designs,” Kane told us. “I can’t reveal the guest — he has asked me not to — but I think he should be wearing a sticker on his shirt and a name badge saying he’s wearing Joshua Kane.

“The outfit is subtle, sartorially correct with a little flamboyance.”

We are assured, unfortunately, that the man in question is not Prince Harry.

Recognition for the Kirby family

Winning: Vanessa Kirby (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
WireImage

Actress Vanessa Kirby won a deserved BAFTA on Sunday for playing Princess Margaret in The Crown. While her many fans rushed to send their best wishes, Stephen Fry congratulated her proud dad, Professor Roger Kirby. But it was more than just good manners: Fry consulted Professor Kirby when he discovered he had prostate cancer. He has also given his backing to a charity expedition to Ethiopia that Prof Kirby is embarking on to raise money for gynaecological and prostate cancer research.

Quite the impressive family.

SW1A

CABINET minister Chloe Smith and her opposite number Cat Smith often trade blows at the Despatch Box. But behind the scenes they’ve shared giggles, having received each other’s post for a couple of years. The latest mix-up was a bundle of maternity clothes handed to the minister, which were destined for Cat, whose first baby is due in the summer.

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A SECOND mix-up: if you Google Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, the first picture to pop up is of Harvey Weinstein. Last October Amess released a statement criticising allegations against Weinstein but retracted it, claiming it was unauthorised. The Weinstein picture comes from an article about that. Does Google not forgive or forget?

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DANIEL Hannan criticised David Miliband’s stance on banana tariffs yesterday, posting the infamous picture of David brandishing the fruit. “Bananas used to be my specialist subject,” Miliband replied.

Quote of the Day

Foxy: Liam Fox

‘A very helpful adjunct to that relationship’

Liam Fox looks forward to the boost for UK-US ties from Harry and Meghan’s wedding. How romantic.

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