It's exactly a month until my talk about #WorthingPavilion and the #artdeco #seaside. I'm joining in the celebrations for the theatre's centenary, now one of only 5 #pier theatres in the country still in use. Tickets available from wtm.uk/events/worth...

We’re rounding off #GreatBigGreenWeek with the next addition to our Fifty@50 list, the brilliant @storyhouselive.bsky.social 💚 Read more about the theatre and how we've been supporting it www.theatrestrust.org.uk/how-we-help/... 📸 Mark Carline #Theatre #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy

Researchers… it’s time to roll up, roll up 🎪 Join The National Fairground and Circus Archive for a one-day symposium on women in circus 🤹‍♀️ Open to the public at the University of Sheffield. Book your free place, online or in-person: tinyurl.com/WomenInCircus2026

Looking forward to speaking at this symposium in August 🎪🎠

I’ve been visiting the grounds of Hudson River State Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY for more than twenty years. If I had never found my way onto that campus, I do not know if After the Final Curtain would exist in the same way.

'Gallery of the Old Bedford', Camden Town (c.1895) by Walter Sickert (Walker Art Gallery)

As we approach our 125th birthday, we’re inviting you to join a group session and share what the theatre has meant to you, your family and our community over the years - we’d love to hear from you. Share your story, www.hackneyempire.co.uk/support-us/be-part-of-hackney-empires-story

Have you got a Hackney Empire story? The Team at Hackney Empire would love to hear it…

THE CULTURES OF EARLY TELEVISION Registration is now open for this two-day University of Westminster conference about television before the WWII in Britain, the United States, continental Europe and the Soviet Union. Registration is free via Eventbrite here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cultur...

Written in 1602, Lipsius's Syntagma de Bibliothecis is a short Latin scholarly treatise tracing the history of libraries from antiquity. It surveys the great libraries of the ancient world — Egyptian, Greek, and Roman — describing their origins, collections, and fates. #books #library_science

Another notable and interesting title mentioned in our April's newsletter: A brief outline of the history of libraries by Justus Lipsius www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78256/ PG's April newsletter: www.gutenberg.org/newsletter/ #books #bibliography

🎨 Final performance of VINCENT IN BRIXTON is tonight! Huge congratulations to the team on a fantastic run, and thank you to our audiences for all your support. Missed it? Stream from 21–24 April via our website 👇 🔗 https://orangetreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/vincent-in-brixton-ot-on-screen/

Mon 27 April @ 6.30pm online Join Professor Tiffany Stern to discover why theatrical broadsheet ballads were sold outside The Rose, who wrote them, printed them & sung them, and why & how they were connected with the plays performed there £5 / £8 More info & book: www.roseplayhouse.org.uk/whats-on

Lifelong achievement unlocked: attending a recording of a TV show tonight at the iconic BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, London. Not only that, it was TC3, where much of 20th Century Dr Who was recorded from William Hartnell right through to Sylvester McCoy. Very exciting! QI was also good.

A £20 million makeover for London’s Smith Square Hall has secured the support of Westminster City Council.

Very proud of my colleagues! An ambitious restoration and remodelling of the Grade I Listed Sinfonia Smith Square has received Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent. The project will safeguard the Hall’s future and realise a bold new artistic vision. bff-architects.com/news/plannin...

YES! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Ethical Venues project, developed by MVT, in partnership with Conway Hall, helps venues show how their values are actively lived and evolving. By highlighting the decisions and behaviours that respond to feedback and community needs, venues can make clear how their culture grows and adapts.

Somerset House Summer Series reveals the line-up for its 2026 edition, with The Flaming Lips, Black Country, New Road, Venna, and more offering intimate performances at Somerset House between 16-26 July.

Now the Leadmill team want to reopen elsewhere and are seeking crowd funding: www.nme.com/news/music/s... 2/2

Voting is open for this year's "Spirit of the Scene" shortlist at the Music Week Awards. 👊 To vote, head to MusicWeekAwards.com #MusicWeekAwards

Many thanks to @andrewmale.bsky.social for his immensely generous @sightsoundmag.bsky.social review of Magic Rays of Light: The Early Years of British Television; forgive me if I quote some phrases, but first here's the link to the Bloomsbury page for the book: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/magic-ray...

Happy #InternationalWomensDay To celebrate we're shining a spotlight on the Barn Theatre in Kent, opened by theatre-maker Edith Craig who campaigned for women's rights throughout her life. Credit: "Thatched Barn Theatre - geograph.org.uk - 1276161" by JThomas is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Sarah Hengler (1765–1845) Fire Queen of Vauxhall Gardens, The King's Pyrotechnic. Businesswoman, firework artist. Matriarch of family of acrobats & performers who founded Hengler's Circus. Invented rocket element for early shore to ship lifesaving equipment en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_H... #IWD26

Webinar exploring how to first test for, then maintain, re-engage, and even grow audiences during theatre capital projects and other major changes. www.artsprofessional.co.uk/event/capita...

Delighted to be presenting at the British Silent Film Festival Symposium on 10 April. First time giving a paper here - and so pleased to have snuck in the rival medium with 'British television and the end times of silent cinema, 1928-1930'; details and tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/british-si...

The 3 #victorian incarnations of #Scarborough Spa as seen in paintings on display at Scarborough Art Gallery. First the Gothic Saloon by Henry Wyatt of 1839, then the music hall & observation tower of 1858 by Joseph Paxton & George Stokes, finally the current building by Verity and Hunt opened 1878

New job #ad: Development Manager, English Touring Opera Ltd, Sheffield/Hybrid. Salary: £30,000 - 35,000. #artsjobs

Belfast’s @riddelswarehouse.bsky.social looked incredible for our launch night. The exhibition is open to the public from the 6th until 18th Feb. If you're in town, come see how we’re supporting heritage across the UK. Don’t miss the start of the tour! #Architecture #Heritage #Belfast

As well as one-to-one advice, our expert Gurus are running a trio of no-nonsense sessions at our Venues Day - covering everything from financial strategy and landlord issues to licensing and noise.

We like to give people authentic experiences @archhfund.org.uk of out of use historic buildings, so lovely to see so many people & supporters turning out at a slightly chilly Riddel's Warehouse in Belfast last night for the launch of our 50th exhibition. It looks spot on & is here until 18th Feb!

My first post of 2026 is a theater buried in scaffolding. I photographed it almost ten years ago, which should give you a sense of how deep the After the Final Curtain backlog runs. This is the Columbia Theatre in Sharon, Pennsylvania, documented while restoration stalled. Link in bio.

Venues Day returns this year, on 17 March, with a renewed focus on delivery, skills and long-term sustainability. 🎟️ General tickets are now available via bit.ly/VenuesDay26

Some good news from @salfordvictoria.bsky.social 🎉 With our support, the group has successfully applied to @archhfund.org.uk for a project viability grant and has registered as a charity Significant steps towards bringing this theatre back into use www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/news/...

When we first talked about buying the freeholds to grassroots music venues, some people laughed. Some said it was impossible. But guess what? We’ve done it with #OwnOurVenues.

🎭 In the Limelight Talk: The Story of Showtown 📅 Tuesday 20 Jan 2026 ⏰ 2pm @jillc86.bsky.social Exhibitions Manager at Blackpool’s Showtown, shares how the museum was created & the stories behind its galleries ✨ 1st talk in our new venue. Book here www.ticketsource.co.uk/bookings/evt...

'The Cinema', Warren Street (1920) by William Patrick Roberts (Tate Britain)

I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.

magnificent contemporary illustration (1860) of Covent Garden's new Floral Hall in the NE corner of square, if you've ever wondered about the wider context to the Bow Street end (London Encyclopedia tells me that the dome bit was burnt down in 1956)

A new film, on Pugin's wondrous St Giles, Cheadle. heni.com/talks/inside...

Mother Mary's opened in June 2024, with bold ambitions to augment Manchester's rich grassroots live music scene and a commitment to inclusive, diverse and passionate programming.

The Varieties (Variety Theatre or Harwood’s Hall) in Pitfield Street, Hoxton, a short distance from Shoreditch church, was built in 1869 behind the White Horse pub. It was designed by the leading theatre architect, C. J. Phipps, who probably devoted more attention to the pub facade t

…as part of our support for the House Of Commons CMS select committee fan led review of live and electronic music, recorded live in Glasgow, hosted by Arusa Qureshi, featuring Mike Grieve (MD Sub Club / Chair NTIA Scotland), Katie Duffy (Head of arts and Music, Glasgow Life), JJ (Exit), and Finlay.

Watch the full discussion from a recent panel now on our YouTube at youtu.be/z5HaSs13pUc

Positive news for Rothesay Pavilion! The A-listed gem is approaching the final stages of a long restoration and will reopen in 2027 as a vibrant hub for the community, visitors, and creatives. We are pleased to have provided a #HESsupported grant to this project. www.scotsman.com/heritage-and...

There’s nothing like a night at Hackney Empire!💛 Whether you’re visiting us for comedy, live music, opera, inspiring community events, or our legendary pantomime, every show brings people together. Come and find your something at Hackney Empire, https://youtu.be/y_jRc8noILI

Mark Fox presenting at the London Archives today. A superb day of talks about British Music Hall.

I had a great day @thelondonarchives.bsky.social yesterday talking unrideable mules🐴 (yes! really!) at the Clapham Grand, and listening to some excellent talks from @roadsw9.bsky.social @naomipaxton.bsky.social Tony Fletcher, Jane Pritchard, Wanda Robins, Mark Fox, Alison Boulton and Meera Flynn.

Applications are now open for Manchester’s £245,000 Grassroots Music Venue Fund... and we’re working to get the money into venues’ hands as quickly as possible. ➤ Applications (and more info) now open via bit.ly/ManchesterFund ➤ Deadline: Friday 28th November ➤ Payments issued by end of January