Bush names new artistic director

7 July 2011 Last updated at 13:33 GMT Younis is an award-winning director who originally trained in film The Bush theatre in west London has appointed a new artistic director who will take over from Josie Rourke when she leaves to run the Donmar Warehouse.

Madani Younis, currently the artistic director of the Bradford-based Freedom Studios theatre company, will take up the post on 1 January 2012.

His appointment will follow the Bush's imminent move to new premises close to its present home above a pub.

Younis said he was both "delighted and honoured" to be given the job.

The director's most recent work for Freedom Studios was The Mill - City of Dreams, a site-specific work set in a derelict weaving shed in Bradford.

Rourke, the Bush's artistic director since 2007, called his hiring "a deeply inspiring appointment at a big moment in the Bush's history".

Since opening in 1972, the intimate theatre has been internationally celebrated for its discovery and nurturing of new writing talent.

Previous artistic directors at the Bush include Dominic Dromgoole, now at Shakespeare's Globe.

The venue will open its new home - a former library - in October with a production entitled Sixty-Six Books.

The ambitious project will see 66 playwrights, poets, novelists and songwriters responding to each of the 66 books in the King James Bible.

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O'Hare is Royal Ballet director

14 June 2011 Last updated at 13:58 GMT Kevin O'Hare trained at The Royal Ballet Retired dancer Kevin O'Hare has been appointed the director of The Royal Ballet, it has been announced.

O'Hare, who who trained at the prestigious school, said: "I want to continue to invigorate audiences with new work and emerging talents."

Leading choreographers Wayne McGregor and Christopher Wheeldon will become part of his senior artistic team.

In 2004 O'Hare returned to The Royal Ballet as company director, working his way up to be administrative director.

"I plan to bring together the most talented artists of the 21st Century to collaborate on the same stage - world-class dancers, choreographers, designers, and musicians," O'Hare said in a statement.

"I will aim to use all the traditional and new platforms now available to engage our audiences in our classic repertoire, and The Royal Ballet's unique heritage."

O'Hare became principal dancer with the Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) in 1990.

His repertory included all the leading classical roles and works by Balanchine, Cranko, Van Manen, Tudor and Tharp.

The chief executive of the Royal Opera House, Tony Hall, said: "All of us were impressed by Kevin's outstanding vision for building on the achievements of the last 10 years.

"Kevin has a fantastic track record as a dancer, and understands the importance of nurturing dancers at all levels of the company."

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