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Valentine Actors Protest War & Raise Rose MoneyDate: 13 February 2003
The 2003 Laurence Olivier awards aside, this Valentine's weekend is a busy one for special events.
In advance of the mass anti-war demonstration on Saturday, Artists Against the War are tomorrow hosting a special Valentine's Day gathering at the Criterion Theatre. At 11.00am, performers from various West End musicals - Anything Goes, Les Miserables, Rent, Grease, Chicago, Taboo, Our House, We Will Rock You and Mamma Mia! - will join together to sing "Seasons of Love" from Rent and then sign an anti-war petition to be delivered to Downing Street. To attend the event, call Emma Schad on 07930 308018 or email artistsagainstthewar@hotmail.com.
On Saturday, a larger collective of actors, writers, directors and other artists will return to the West End to join the main Stop the War demonstration marches, for which more than half a million are expected. If the anticipated turnout is achieved, the event will be the biggest London demonstration since the V-E Day celebrations at the end of the Second World War.
Artists Against the War’s Jason Gardiner, who is currently in the cast of Anything Goes at the NT Olivier and who has organised tomorrow’s West End action, says: "As artists we have a responsibility to entertain the public. Our community is always the first to be asked to lend support for many causes and charities that affect our world. All too often our industry is used to distract the public from the trials and tribulations that we are faced with day-to-day, providing a ‘feelgood’ factor. As important as it is for escapism, it’s just as vital to express political consciousness."
This weekend will also see the first in a series of fundraisers for the Rose theatre. Built in 1587 near the current site of the Globe, the Rose was the first theatre on the South Bank of the Thames and it's believed that Shakespeare performed there as a young actor. Its remains were rediscovered in the base of an office block in 1989. A campaign to save the archaeological site from destruction was waged by a number of high-profile actors including Judi Dench, Ian McKellen and Susannah York.
York will this weekend mount three benefit performances of her one-woman show The Love of Shakespeare's Women. Performances will take place 14, 15 and 16 February 2003 at the Rose Theatre site at 56 Park Street in London SE1. Tickets cost £15 and can be booked on 020 7261 9565.
The money raised will go towards the estimated £5 million required to fully excavate and conserve the site and make it accessible to the public. Other fundraisers planned by the Rose Theatre Trust include a visit by the Generator Theatre Company on 27 April 2003, a Rose poster competition, Christopher Marlowe play readings and performances by the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
And finally during this weekend of activity, a tribute concert will be held on Sunday (16 February) in memory of the late theatre and opera set designer Maria Bjornson who died in December (See News, 16 Dec 2002). Theatre stars expected to appear include Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman and Michael Ball. The event takes place at 8.00pm at Her Majesty's Theatre and tickets can be purchased on 0870 890 6010.
- by Terri Paddock
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