THE Arts in BritainTHE Arts in Britain

THE Arts in Britain THE Arts in Britain Artistic and cultural activity in Britain ranges from the Artistic and cultural activity in Britain ranges from the

highest professional standards to a wide variety of highest professional standards to a wide variety of amateur involvement. London is one of the leading amateur involvement. London is one of the leading world centers for drama, music opera and dance.world centers for drama, music opera and dance.

FESTIVALSSome 650 professional

arts festivals take place

each year. The Edinburgh

International Festival is the largest of its kind in the

world.

THEATRETHEATRE

Britain has about 300 theatres intended Britain has about 300 theatres intended for professional use, of which about for professional use, of which about 100 are in London, including 100 are in London, including the the Royal NationalRoyal National Theatre. Theatre. The Royal The Royal Shakespeare CompanyShakespeare Company performs in performs in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, and in London.birthplace, and in London.

PICCADILLY THEATREPICCADILLY THEATRE

ROYAL NATIONAL THEATREROYAL NATIONAL THEATRE

THE ROYAL THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANYSHAKESPEARE COMPANY

SHAKSPEARE HOUSESHAKSPEARE HOUSE

BRITISH PLAYRWRIGHTSBRITISH PLAYRWRIGHTS

Contemporary British playwrights who Contemporary British playwrights who have received international have received international recognition include :recognition include :

HAROLD PINTERHAROLD PINTER ALAN AYCKBOURNALAN AYCKBOURN CARYL CHURCHILLCARYL CHURCHILL DAVID HAREDAVID HARE

Harold PinterHarold Pinter

Alan AyckbornAlan Ayckborn

Caryl ChurchillCaryl Churchill

Sir Andrew Lloyd WebberSir Andrew Lloyd Webber

The musicaThe musicals ls of Sir of Sir Andrew Lloyd Andrew Lloyd Webber, including Webber, including “Evita”, “Cats” and “Evita”, “Cats” and “Phantom of the “Phantom of the Opera”, have been Opera”, have been highly successful highly successful in Britain, New York in Britain, New York and around the and around the world.world.

““CATS”CATS”

MUSICMUSIC

There is music for every taste in Britain There is music for every taste in Britain including opera, choral and classical including opera, choral and classical orchestra pieces, rock and pop, folk orchestra pieces, rock and pop, folk and jazz, military and brass bands, and jazz, military and brass bands, acoustic and newly emerging musical acoustic and newly emerging musical collaborations such as music theatre, collaborations such as music theatre, music video and with live arts. music video and with live arts.

MUSICMUSIC

British Pop music is alive well and will British Pop music is alive well and will continue to be in 2000 and beyond. continue to be in 2000 and beyond.

Britain’s leading symphony orchestras include Britain’s leading symphony orchestras include the London Philharmonic, the City of the London Philharmonic, the City of Birmingham Symphony, and the Ulster and Birmingham Symphony, and the Ulster and the Royal Scottish Orchestras.the Royal Scottish Orchestras.

MUSICMUSICBritish well known composers include Sir British well known composers include Sir

Michael Tippett and Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Michael Tippett and Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Percussionist Evelyn Glennie and violinist Percussionist Evelyn Glennie and violinist Nigel Kennedy are among solo performers Nigel Kennedy are among solo performers currently enjoying great acclaim.currently enjoying great acclaim.

OPERAOPERA

Opera is enjoying Opera is enjoying unprecedented unprecedented audiences and audiences and attention attention in the 90s duein the 90s due to to performances on performances on television and well television and well publicized commercial publicized commercial recordings of the recordings of the classics. classics.

Royal Opera , Covent Royal Opera , Covent

Gardens, and the EnglishGardens, and the English National Opera are the National Opera are the main London opera main London opera companies.companies.

OPERAOPERA

Scottish Opera has regular seasons at the Scottish Opera has regular seasons at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow and tours Theatre Royal in Glasgow and tours mainly in Scotland and northern England. mainly in Scotland and northern England.

Welsh National Opera presents seasons in Welsh National Opera presents seasons in Cardiff and other cities in England. Cardiff and other cities in England.

Northern Ireland Opera performs in towns Northern Ireland Opera performs in towns and cities in Northern Ireland.and cities in Northern Ireland.

DANCEDANCE

Audiences have a wide choice of dance in Audiences have a wide choice of dance in Britain including classical ballet, African Britain including classical ballet, African people’s Dance, physical theatre, jazz, people’s Dance, physical theatre, jazz, new dance and contemporary dance. new dance and contemporary dance.

DANCEDANCE

Recently, South Asian dance and African Recently, South Asian dance and African People’s dance have increased in popularity. People’s dance have increased in popularity. Since the 70s and the introduction of Since the 70s and the introduction of ‘animateurs’ a greater public awareness of ‘animateurs’ a greater public awareness of dance is evident. As a result, six new national dance is evident. As a result, six new national dance agencies were established in dance agencies were established in Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, London, Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, London, Newcastle and Swindon to offer training, Newcastle and Swindon to offer training, management support and creative management support and creative opportunities for artists.opportunities for artists.

BALLETBALLET

The lion’s share of Arts Council funding for The lion’s share of Arts Council funding for dance, about 90 percent goes to support the dance, about 90 percent goes to support the Royal Ballet, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Royal Ballet, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, which tours widely in Britain and overseas; which tours widely in Britain and overseas; English National Ballet, which performs in English National Ballet, which performs in London and regionally; Northern Ballet London and regionally; Northern Ballet Theatre, based in Halifax which tours mostly Theatre, based in Halifax which tours mostly in the north of England; and Scottish Ballet in the north of England; and Scottish Ballet based in Glasgow.based in Glasgow.

ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET

FILM

British films, actors and the creative and technical services which support then are acclaimed at international film festivals. The industry also produces films for television. There are many well known British performers, three of the best known beingSEAN CONNERYMICHAEL CAINEKENNETH BRANAUGHODNEY HEPBURN

SEAN CONNERY

MICHAEL CAINEMICHAEL CAINE

KENNETH BRANAUGHKENNETH BRANAUGH

ODREY HEPBURNODREY HEPBURN

MUSEUMSMUSEUMS

There are about 2,500 museums and art There are about 2,500 museums and art galleries in Britain. The major national galleries in Britain. The major national museums, many of which are in London, museums, many of which are in London, have world-famous artistic, archeological, have world-famous artistic, archeological, scientific and historical collections. They scientific and historical collections. They include the British Museum, The Natural include the British Museum, The Natural History Museum, the National Gallery History Museum, the National Gallery and the Tate Gallery. Many of Britain’s and the Tate Gallery. Many of Britain’s great private houses (some open to the great private houses (some open to the public) are of prime architectural interest public) are of prime architectural interest and also contain art treasures.and also contain art treasures.

BRITISH MUSEUMBRITISH MUSEUM

THEATRE MUSEUMTHEATRE MUSEUM

NATIONAL GALLERYNATIONAL GALLERY

LIBRARIESBritain’s libraries help to maintain the

wealth of English literature and culture. The British Council promotes knowledge of British culture overseas and maintains libraries in many of the 95 countries where it is represented. In Britain, The British Library, Britain’s national library is one of the world’s three largest.

THE BRITISH LIBRARYTHE BRITISH LIBRARY