Tag: New York

Britain is open for business: Chancellor visits North America in investment drive

  • Rachel Reeves to bang the drum for Britain in visit to New York City and Toronto this week.
  • Chancellor to share her vision for growth and champion UK sectoral strengths across financial services, clean energy and infrastructure to investors and CEOs.
  • Trip to build momentum for the International Investment Summit on 14 October.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has visited New York and Toronto this week with the message that Britain is open for business.

She met with CEOs and senior representatives from major players across the US and Canada’s foremost industries, highlighting that early steps taken by the government to fix the foundations and restore economic stability makes the UK an attractive destination for investment.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves: “I’ve wasted no time in my first month in office in taking the difficult decisions necessary to fix the foundations of our economy, so we can rebuild Britain and make every part of the country better off.

“That means restoring economic stability so we can attract the investment needed to create good jobs, boost wages, and improve opportunity across Britain.

“There is no credible plan for growth without private sector investment. That’s why I’m breaking down barriers at home and banging the drum for Britain abroad as we gear up to host the International Investment Summit.”

While in New York, the UK’s first female Chancellor of the Exchequer met with Wall Street leaders and host a reception to celebrate women in finance.

The US is the UK’s biggest financial services trading partner, with UK exports to the US valued at £23.4bn annually. The sector is at the heart of the government’s core mission to deliver sustainable economic growth as a jewel in the crown of the UK economy and one of its success stories, contributing almost 10% of UK GVA and employing 1.2 million people.

In Toronto, the Chancellor met with names in the world of clean energy and infrastructure. The government’s mission to make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower will bring opportunities for economic growth whilst helping the UK meet its target of clean power by 2030.

That mission has started in earnest with the creation of Great British Energy to partner with the private sector and secure the investment needed to accelerate the transition, the sweeping away of barriers to onshore wind farms, and a record £1.5 billion budget for this year’s renewable energy auction to get Britain building green.

During her time in the US and Canada, Reeves has pointed out that the government has moved quickly to create a stable environment where businesses have the confidence to invest in the UK.

This has included reform of a planning system that has long frustrated investment, ending the ban on on-shore wind and the establishment of a National Wealth Fund, backed by £7.3 billion to catalyse further private investment in our world-leading green and growth industries of the future.

The UK is already Europe’s leading hub for investment, with UK markets raising more capital than the next two highest European exchanges combined in 2023.

The Chancellor visited North America with a renewed purpose to build upon this, with it being announced yesterday that Britain is to play host to the International Investment Summit on 14 October.

In doing so, Ms Reeves is looking to deepen the strong economic relationship between Britain and the two North American countries.

The United States is the largest source of foreign investment in the UK and the UK is the third largest investment destination for Canadian companies, whom invested more than $73 billion of FDI stock in 2021.

Thanks for the lift, dad!

Edinburgh father to fly son’s Pipe Band to New York

A group of gifted young pipers will enjoy first-class treatment as they travel to the Big Apple to perform in the 26th Tartan Day Parade aboard a plane piloted by a father to one of the youngsters.

Captain Simon Rankin from Edinburgh is thrilled to be flying the boys to New York for the big event. He said: “It’s a privilege to be flying The Merchiston Castle School Pipe Band to New York, particularly as I am a dad to one of the students! 

“All of us at Virgin Atlantic are delighted to be part of creating such great experiences and memories for all of the boys.  Enjoy Tartan Week and the magic of NYC!” 

Merchiston Castle School’s Pipe Band is performing at the ceremony on the 6th of April, joining over 3000 bagpipers, highland dancers, clan organisations and Scottish dog breeds marching proudly up Sixth Avenue to celebrate Scottish heritage and culture.

Scotland’s leading independent all-boys school, Merchiston boasts an impressive Pipe Band, directed by the 5-time Champion bagpiper and composer Kyle Warren. Under Kyle’s tutelage, the music group has competed at local, national and international level, recently taking first prize in the Junior B Grade at the Glasgow Highland Club competition. 

Kyle Warren, Director of Pipe and Drums at Merchiston, said: “It is a privilege to be attending the 26th anniversary of the NYC Tartan Day Parade with Merchiston’s Pipe Band to celebrate Scottish heritage and culture. 

“I am incredibly proud of the boy’s dedication and commitment to rehearsals and practice to ensure the band performs at its best on the international stage. 

“I’m confident this will be a trip the boys will remember forever and can look back on with incredible memories – starting with a flight expertly piloted by Simon Rankin!”

Edinburgh College students entertain crowds in New York as part of Tartan Week celebrations

A group of Edinburgh College students travelled across the globe to perform at one of the World’s biggest celebrations of Scottish heritage and culture last month.

The students, from the College’s HND Musical Theatre and BA (Hons) Acting and Performance courses, were invited across the Atlantic to take part in the annual Tartan Week celebrations in New York.

The group of 36 students took part in the Tartan Day parade through the streets of the city, sang in Bryant Park in association with the American Scottish Foundation, danced to the Laurettes, and performed a ten-minute programme featuring a number of traditional Scottish verse and songs.

New York City’s Tartan Week takes place annually to celebrate Scottish heritage and culture which culminates with the Tartan Day Parade, featuring over 3,000 bagpipers, Highland dancers, clan organisations, and more, proudly marching up Sixth Avenue amongst tens of thousands of spectators.

HND Musical Theatre student, Charlotte Watt, said: “The opportunities that being in New York gave me were fantastic. I was able to see shows on Broadway – both some new and some previously adored. I learned about the history of Broadway and New York’s performing scene, which I didn’t know about before.

“The whole trip was a wonderful chance to get to know students from the other course better, and it was so lovely to spend some time with our lecturers out with college. I was presented with performing experience that I will forever be able to put in writing for CV’s or Resumes such as performing in Bryant Park, as well as walking and singing in the Tartan Parade.”

HND Musical Theatre student, Hannah Turnbull, said: “This was a once in a lifetime kind of trip, I got the opportunity to sing a solo in Bryant park for tartan week and see multiple amazing musicals on Broadway.

“I would’ve never gotten this opportunity anywhere else and it was the best week.”

During the trip, the students also went to see two Broadway shows and learned from the best as they took part in a vocal workshop with Evan Zavada, who is Key 1/ Assistant Conductor for the national tour of ‘Wicked the Musical.’

In addition, the students enjoyed some downtime where they explored parts of the city, visiting the recently opened Museum of Broadway in Times Square and eating breakfast in Central Park.

Finally, on the last day the group went to 1950s-themed restaurant Ellen’s Stardust Diner, home of the world-famous singing waitstaff, where they followed in the footsteps of many aspiring singers before them by taking to the stage and performing for the customers.

Performing Arts lecturer, Zelie Jennings, said: “We are so privileged to offer this opportunity for our students. Performing in Bryant Park and being part of Tartan week 2023 was an honour.

“We were fortunate to see many Broadway shows between us all and a highlight for me was seeing how the students were taught and inspired by the wonderful Evan Zavada. Certainly not an experience we will forget.”

Truss: ‘A New Britain for a New Era’

  • In UN address the PM will call on democracies to harness the power of cooperation seen since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to constrain authoritarianism.
  • PM will argue the free world must prioritise economic growth and security – including ending dependency on authoritarians – to win the new era of strategic competition.
  • UN speech will also stress the need to properly invest in our physical security and will recommit to spending 3% of UK GDP on defence by 2030.

Prime Minister Liz Truss will use a speech in New York today (Wednesday) to warn fellow democratic leaders against any complacency when it comes to defending our values and preserving a world order that rewards freedom.

At the first ever session of the UN General Assembly held in the shadow of a large-scale war of aggression in Europe, the Prime Minister will highlight the threat from authoritarian states working to undermine security and stability around the world.

She will outline her vision for this new, more competitive era, which will require likeminded democracies to fight to defend our ideals. This fight begins with ensuring the UK and its partners have the strong economic foundations they need to constrain authoritarianism.

The Prime Minister will outline her plans to build a British economy which attracts growth by rewarding innovation, championing investment and enterprise, and welcoming the best talent around the world.

She will also set out the steps the Government is taking to ensure the British economy is free from malign interference. This includes increasing our energy independence and safeguarding the security of our supply chains.

In her speech, the Prime Minister will tell the UN: “The commitment to hope and progress must begin at home – in the lives of every citizen that we serve…

“We want people to keep more of the money they earn, because we believe that freedom trumps instruction…

“…We are reforming our economy to get Britain moving forward once again. The free world needs this economic strength and resilience to push back against authoritarian aggression and win this new era of strategic competition…

“…We will no longer be strategically dependent on those who seek to weaponise the global economy.”

As the UK boosts the dynamism and resilience of our own economy, the Prime Minister will also make the case for democracies working together to protect one another’s economic security.

The strength of democratic economies, rooted as they are in the aspirations of their people, is a clear counterpoint to autocratic states, which sow the seeds of their own demise by stifling aspiration and creativity.

The Prime Minister will make the case for harnessing that strength and denying authoritarian states the opportunity to manipulate the global economy.

She will tell the UN General Assembly that the G7 and other likeminded partners must act as an economic NATO, collectively defending our prosperity and coming to the aid of any partner targeted by an aggressive regime.

This economic security goes hand in hand with physical security. The Prime Minister will therefore reiterate her commitment to protecting the UK and our allies, including by increasing defence spending to 3% of UK GDP on defence by 2030.

The Prime Minister is expected to say: “Just as we are building a plan for growth at home, we are also developing a new blueprint for our engagement with the world.

“We will build resilience and collective security – because they are vital for freedom and democracy. We will be a reliable, trustworthy and dynamic partner.”

To ensure the UK’s diplomatic, military and security architecture is keeping pace with evolving threat posed by hostile nations, the Prime Minister has commissioned an update to the Integrated Review.

The UK’s Integrated Review of security, defence, development and foreign policy was published in March 2021 – before Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine created the greatest security challenge ever experienced by NATO.

Professor John Bew, the Prime Minister’s special adviser for foreign affairs and defence, will lead a Downing Street process to update the review.

The refreshed strategy will ensure we are investing in the strategic capabilities and alliances we need to stand firm against coercion from authoritarian powers like Russia and China. The update is expected to be published by the end of this year.

By properly investing in defence, the Prime Minister will ensure that the UK maintains our position as the leading security actor in Europe, so that we are ready to stand up for peace, prosperity and freedom across the world – just as we have done in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister will highlight these efforts in her speech. She will pay tribute to the bravery and determination of the Ukrainian people, and commit to continue standing up for human rights and democracy around the world.

The Prime Minister is expected to say: “This is a decisive moment in British history, in the history of this organisation, and in the history of freedom.

“The story of 2022 could have been that of an authoritarian state rolling its tanks over the border of a peaceful neighbour and subjugating its people.

“Instead, it is the story of freedom fighting back …

“But this must not be a one off … Britain’s commitment to this is total.

“Together with our friends and allies around the world, we will continue to champion freedom, sovereign and democracy.

“And we will define this new era as one of hope and progress.”

Carol Tambor Incentive Award announces 2022 winners

The New-York based fund was designed to encourage new writing and live performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is delighted to announce the winners of the Carol Tambor Incentive Award, chosen by the Carol Tambor Theatrical Foundation, based in New York.

The £10,000 ($13,000 US) fund was divided between a number of shows selected by the Foundation, which were registered in the theatre category for live, in-person performance at the Fringe in 2022. To be eligible for the annual fund, the work needed to be new, not previously performed at the Fringe or in New York, and featured a cast of at least two performers. Children’s work and monologues were not eligible.

The winners are as follows:

Burn – Ottawa Little Theatre

“Three longtime friends have had little contact since the death of the fourth member of their close-knit group, a best-selling horror writer. Now his estranged daughter has brought them all together again – but why?”

Ghosts of the Near Future – emma + pj

“In Vegas, a magician performs a final disappearing act. The end of the world is a magic trick – are you watching closely? Ghosts of the Near Future is a cowboy-noir fever dream about extinction.”

Hotel Elsinore – PLANT[UNLTD] / Susanna Hamnett

“Denmark. 2am. A hotel room. Three weary travellers, an unexpected will and a production of Hamlet to rehearse before morning. Tragedy and humour blend in this new play about the challenges of family, forgiveness and Shakespeare.”

LIGHTHOUSE – Early Doors Productions

“Off the coast of Angus in the North Sea is Caillte Lighthouse. Set just after WWI, the story follows two keepers and their training of a third before strange things start to occur that question their loyalty, honour, friendship and ultimately – their existence.”

Sandcastles – Brite Theater

“Sandcastles by Steve McMahon moves back and forth in time and memory to depict the tumultuous lifelong friendship of millennials Hannah and Beth. Beth is moving to New York. Hannah should be happy for her. When Beth goes missing Hannah can’t reconcile how she reacted with the fact that Beth might be gone.”

Swell – Tom Foreman Productions

“In 2014, residents of Fairbourne were watching their local news when they found out they were to be Britain’s first climate refugees, with their town set to be decommissioned and depopulated by 2054. Housing prices dropped over night, insurance disappeared and life savings were lost in the chaos.”

The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much – Voloz Collective

“Wes Anderson meets Hitchcock meets spaghetti western in this multi award-winning, intercontinental, inter-genre, cinematic caper of accusations, accidents and accents.”

The Mistake – Michael Mears’ Essential Theatre

“1942. On an abandoned squash court, a dazzling scientific experiment takes place that three years later will destroy a city and change the world forever… Told through the lives of a brilliant Hungarian scientist, a daring American pilot and a devoted Japanese daughter.”

The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness – Moon Rabbit

“It’s 1939 and Philomena McGuinness, a reluctant nurse, is on her way from Dublin to London. Newly recruited for the British war effort, she finds herself facing the challenge of a lifetime.”

Ultimatum – Treehouse

“Two strangers have one hour to split £1m. Sounds easy, but what happens when one of them refuses to play fair? What is fair? Who deserves money? Why?”

Carol Tambor said: “I had greatly anticipated coming back to Fringe 2022 after two impossibly long years away. As ever, I wanted to see well-developed work, suitable for transfer to New York and elsewhere. Because the two-year hiatus was so dispiriting, I wanted to provide an extra incentive for companies to present their plays, postponed and postponed again. All these works promise to be the excellent, polished pieces I’d want to see. I hope the Incentive Awards provided the extra funds to make them even better. Break a leg!”

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society,said: “I am delighted to announce the winners of the 2022 Carol Tambor Incentive Award, which champions live performance and supports new theatre at the Fringe. After the ups and downs of the last two years, generous funds such as this are vital in supporting artists both financially and creatively. We are massively grateful for the generosity of The Carol Tambor Theatrical Foundation in recognising these artists and supporting them in taking new work to Edinburgh’s stages this August.”

The Highland Divas to take Tattoo crowds on thrilling musical journey

Crowds at this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are set to be taken on a thrilling Scottish musical journey by one of New York’s leading vocal groups at the 2022 showcase, Voices.  

The Highland Divas will be showcasing their talent and sharing three incredible voices, making their debut on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade. 

The Highland Divas are made up of Marla Kavanaugh, originally from Dunedin, New Zealand, and now living in LA, Margaret Kelly, originally from Falkirk, now residing in New York, and Georgia Johnson from Edinburgh, who is now based in Massachusetts. 

With a collective ambition to share traditional Scottish music with the world and honour Scottish culture, the trio were formed in 2012. They’ve headlined New York City Tartan Week in recent years and have performed at iconic venues including, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Centre. 

The performance at the Tattoo will wow audiences with its musical journey that spans the folk music of Scotland and New Zealand. From Celtic ballads, through to exciting, harmonised interpretations of both pop and classical music, the Highland Divas’ performance will have something for everyone. 

One of the singing trio, Marla Kavanaugh, said: “We really want our performance to speak to the hearts of everyone whose lives have been disrupted or changed forever because of the challenges of the past two years. 

“We want to bring hope and joy to the Tattoo this year with our performance and our voices. We’re spending a lot of time together just now rehearsing and learning the Scots Gaelic we need over a nice wee cup of Scottish Blend tea. 

“We’re so excited and humbled to have the opportunity to perform in front of such amazing fans from around the world who will descend on Edinburgh this summer.” 

The group have all grown up as huge fans of the Tattoo and have watched the performances from afar over the years. 

Their set will include traditional Celtic songs, as well as a nod to New Zealand, creating a wow moment on the Esplanade and give a heartfelt expression of this year’s Tattoo theme, Voices. 

Michael Braithwaite, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo said: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming The Highland Divas to the Tattoo, fresh from their recent performances at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Gardens in New York City.  

“World-class vocalists of this calibre are an exciting new addition to our lineup and are the perfect fit for this year’s show, Voices.  

“We have some special surprises planned when The Highland Divas take to the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle and can’t wait to share the magic with our audiences.  

“If you haven’t booked tickets already, then I’d urge people to get moving. It’s going to be an incredible show.” 

This year’s Tattoo performance will represent the collective power and connection of voice through a spectacular combination of music, dance, and military precision from some of the world’s leading armed forces and cultural performers as it returns with a bang this August 5-27.  

The Show will run from 5-27 August 2022. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188. 

Scotland Week: Transatlantic sessions for MSPs

Scotland Week is being marked by the Scottish Parliament as a delegation visits New York, Québec City and Washington DC.

The delegation, led by the Presiding Officer, and comprising Johann Lamont MSP and Clare Haughey MSP, took part in the annual Tartan Day parade alongside Grand Marshall KT Tunstall – the first female Grand Marshall in the parade’s 20 year history. The MSPs joined pipers, bands and dancers as they make their way down New York’s Sixth Avenue. Continue reading Scotland Week: Transatlantic sessions for MSPs

Charity single remembers 9/11 firefighters

chillis-the-fallen

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) will today host the official launch of a charity single raising funds in memory of New York firefighters killed in the September 11 attacks. Celtic rock band the Red Hot Chilli Pipers composed the ‘The Fallen’ to mark the 15th anniversary of the tragedy. Continue reading Charity single remembers 9/11 firefighters