“Theatre will always prevail,” says the director of the Riverside Studios after the historic arts venue announced it was entering administration. Executive director Tony Lankester told us: “a win-win for all parties would be to see the building in the hands of a new owner or investor who recognises the social value of the arts.” The team blamed money trouble on “eye-watering operating costs” and debts from a recent refurbishment.
“It’s a really nice place to work so it’s upsetting,” said one staff member. “We are hoping it will carry on in a different way, maybe with different people in charge.” From 1954 to 1974, the studios were used by the BBC to film programmes including Hancock’s Half Hour and Doctor Who.
Thrifty Fiennes’ winning formula
Adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes thinks the key to a good expedition is frugality. “Everybody who joins us on the team, they get paid nothing,” he revealed at the Richmond Theatre last night. “The only thing we’ve got in common with each other is that I’ve never paid anyone anything at any time, and yet they are still coming 60 years later!” Sir Ranulph, 79, still has bold ambitions: “What we’re trying to do is break existing world records.”
Neo-liberalism is a Spectator sport for Kwasi Kwarteng
Short-serving chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has reviewed Crack-Up Capitalism, Quinn Slobodian’s new book about free market radicals, in The Spectator. He writes: “Reading this book makes one realise how easy it is to mouth the slogans of neo-liberalism. A practical plan to achieve even some of those goals has proved far more difficult.” You don’t say. Elsewhere today, Liz Truss took credit for Kemi Badenoch’s new trade deal.
The King’s watercolours join the queue
The Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour open their annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries today. But one keen watercolourist won’t feature: the King. “His Majesty’s paintings always used to be loaned out by Clarence House, but since his succession they are handled by the Royal Collections Trust and we have been told we applied ‘too late’ to get his work in our annual show”, says president Chris Myers.
All roads lead to the Muse
Models Mia Regan and Lulu Wood were among the guests at new club Apollo’s Muse last night. They were celebrating the opening of Balmain’s new London boutique. Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and model Jourdan Dunn were also there. A Grey Goose sponsored book launch for fashion writer Corine Roitfeld drew Alanna Doherty and other guests to Chiltern Firehouse. Sculptor Beth Cullen-Kerridge and chef husband Tom were at a West Contemporary gallery show.
