The London branch of the actors' union is calling for the South Bank venue to become an "overall artistic and administrative centre of a network of regional theatres at strategic points around the country," which would share the National Theatre's £13m subsidy.The motion says: "These regional theatres would then be in a position to expand their repertoire and establish permanent, ensemble repertory companies, thus generating more work for members." It is understood that speakers for the motion will call for two of the National's three auditoria to be shut and the money be spent instead on giving the National a base outside London.An Equity spokesman said: "We don't yet have a position on the National Theatre But this will certainly spark one. Equity has never, though, supported closing these theatres."The motion will be tempered by an amendment calling for further research and discussion "with interested parties". And Equity believes it will be passed.Oddly, in its 37 years of existence, nothing has formally defined the National Theatre's role. The actor Sir Ian McKellen, who ran his own company at the National and was on the board until last year, said: "Perhaps it should be really national." But surprisingly, there is not always support in the regions for devolution. Dominic Dromgoole, head of the Oxford Stage Company, said: "London is an international theatre city. We need the National Theatre there blasting off with important and interesting work."A spokeswoman for Trevor Nunn, the National's artistic director, said: "We absolutely acknowledge the importance of regional theatre.
We have greatly increased our own touring and did 24 weeks last year, plus 25 weeks of small-scale touring.". Harper Collins continues to enrich authors. Michael Crichton and Murray Walker recently cut deals that raised both ante and eyebrows. Now horror giant Dean Koontz has ended his 15-year relationship with Headline to join the Murdoch company Harper Collins continues to enrich authors. Michael Crichton and Murray Walker recently cut deals that raised both ante and eyebrows.
Now horror giant Dean Koontz has ended his 15-year relationship with Headline to join the Murdoch company. Figures are not being even whispered, but it seems the money asked by US agent Robert Gottlieb was not, in Headline's view, "financially viable". It's possible Koontz has peaked, and the decline Headline halted a few years back with a TV campaign is no longer containable. Even more extraordinary, in its way, than the Koontz megabucks is the sum HarperCollins has paid to Fergal Keane for his book on the battle at Kohima in Burma, the crucial turning point when the Allies beat the Japanese who outnumbered them 10 to one It is a fascinating story, never fully told. But it will need to become another Stalingrad for the publisher to earn back the £240,000 reportedly negotiated by agent David Godwin.John Blake Publishing, which brought us the memoirs of sundry Krays and the autobiography of James Hewitt, is rumoured to be pursuing a deal for the assets of Metro Publishing, which had the bailiffs at its Soho doors last year. The news will be welcomed by the Inland Revenue, one of the largest creditors, who will be paid in full Blake professes admiration for the list. But could part of the attraction be the £1.5m tax loss, which will mean a saving of close to £500,000? Half will go to Metro's other creditors who, unlike the IR, will be paid at only 25p in the pound.Congratulations to Anne Fine, versatile, outspoken author of Madame Doubtfire and many other novels for children and adults, who was named this week as the second Children's Laureate: the standard-bearer for younger readers and the writers who feed them. She takes over from Quentin Blake in the two-year role, which carries a £10,000 bursary, with a brief to campaign for children's reading.
