25 August 1993
A CHANGE of plan for Riverside Studios
in Hammersmith, the west London arts complex. The venue had been exploring
the possibility of entering into an alliance with the Women's Playhouse
Trust, as a possible alternative to appointing an individual as director.
Now, however, those negotiations have broken down. According to Riverside
Studios, "both companies are charitable trusts and the difficulties
of effecting an alliance that would properly preserve both parties' interests
have proved insurmountable."
Instead, Riverside has
announced the appointment of a new director, who will take up the post in
October. He is William Burdett-Coutts, who since 1981 has been artistic
director of Stella Artois Assembly, which runs the Assembly Rooms during
the Edinburgh Festival. He has also been head of arts at Granada Television
for the past four years.
His appointment is good news for
Alan Rickman and Thelma Holt: Burdett-Coutts will enter into discussions
with the actor and producer about forming a new theatre company based at
Riverside. "I shall do my best to involve them in some form,"
the new director says. "I have every sympathy with the kind of stage
shows they create."
Meanwhile, Burdett-Coutts promises
that Riverside, which includes a cinema, gallery and television studio as
well as a theatre, will continue as a mixed venue.
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