Culture and the City

"An Emotional Soup..." Long Day's Journey Into Night

2012-02-08T17:42:00.000Z

How awesome does this sound?

I love David Suchet's cheeky little smile at the end.

Read more about Long Day's Journey Into Night on visitlondon.com

Nostalgia for Film: Trend on Trial

2012-01-29T10:26:00.002Z

This month, I've seen French film The Artist and new play Travelling Light at the National Theatre.

Both loving homages to the history of film.

It seems there's something of a cross-media trend for looking back to the golden age of cinema.

Other works adding to the movement include Tacita Dean's installation, FILM in the Turbine Hall (a celebration of analogue filmmaking); and Martin Scorsese's latest offering, Hugo, which, like Travelling Light, is about the birth of cinema.

Now, to an extent, nostalgia is always going to be popular among theatre / filmmakers. It's safe, reassuring and hugely evocative. Why else would costume dramas, biopics and recent-past-based sitcoms / dramas have such large audiences?

But I can't help wondering if you can simply explain away this current craze for chronicling early cinema with "nostaglia wins".

Travelling Light was heavy on what JC calls Life-On-Mars quips: knowing nods to the wisdom of the audience when an unsuspecting character says something like: "If only I could move to America. No-one there would be bullying me about budgets and who to cast in my film…" and those of us in the auditorium can chuckle knowingly, feeling clever that we know more than those "schmucks" on stage. It's a fun device used sparingly; but one I felt wore slightly thin in the production I saw on Thursday.

Damien Molony and Lauren O’Neil in Travelling Light at the National Theatre. Photo by Johan Persson

As Pete Hammond points out, the tough economic climate does seem to have created an longing for watching rosier versions of ourselves.

Talking about the Oscar nominations, Hammond says,

"This year, at the top of most pundits lists... are... the kinds of movies that might have worked in the Great Depression of the 1930s, when pure entertainment ruled the roost and Shirley Temple and Astaire and Rogers were must-sees. It’s as if people are trying to use movies again for escape from the harsh realities of living in this modern, difficult world."

This is certainly true of Hugo and The Artist. But I think there's got to be more to it than simple nostalgia.

A second theory is that the movies and cinema are simply at the "right age." At more than 100 years old, have they suddenly reached a magical point where a medium simply stops being "new" or "now", and people are able to take a step back and analyse. Something like Dryden and Pepys being able to perform literary criticism on Shakespeare's plays 100 years after his those works were new. It might be a factor...

But aren't we usually told that today, fashions run in 30-year cycles? That when the kids grow up and finally get into position of power in fashion houses, film studios and design spaces, they create work that's a nod to the time when they were young and first inspired by fashion. Isn't that why they made Grease (set in the 1950s) in 1978? And The Sound of Music (set in the late 1930s) was made in 1965?! And of course, that 33 years Sam Tyler jumps in Life on Mars, conveniently both reassuring and strange for a modern audience. It's perhaps the reason Henry Holland's 80s-inspired clothes are hot right now, and hipsters are all wearing those too-short, baggy-at-the-hip and skinny-round-the-ankle trousers Mel and Kim wore on TOTP. (BTW, they're really unflattering.)

So this cross-genre nostalgia for early film doesn't quite fit this wait-30-years-and-repeat trend. There has to be other reasons for it.

Tacita Dean's Tate Modern Installation,
Photo by Eddie Mulholland

Now Tacita Dean's been quite explicit about the motivation behind her hugely popular Tate Modern work. She's concerned about the decline of film, as digital technology takes over and photochemical labs close down. She told the BBC:

"I suddenly realised we are just about to lose this really beautiful medium we created 125 years ago. Digital is also a fantastic medium. It's got massive potential. But I love film and I don't want to lose my ability to make film and it looks like I probably will."

It seems that in the dying moments of film's existence, writers, artists and directors are paying homage to the medium: Steven Spielberg has said, "its years are numbered, but I will remain loyal to this analogue art form until the last lab closes."

"No matter where the cinema goes, we cannot afford to lose sight of its beginnings", says Martin Scorsese in the same article.

But I can't help thinking that while the perilous future of analogue film is a motivating factor for the guys at the top of the industry, it's not really something the average cinema-goer thinks about.

The final reason I think there's this new interest in the origins of film, the tools involved, the quirks of its history (like the change from silent films to talkies) must be the current democratisation of filmmaking.

With the development of technology -- a camera on every phone, simple editing tools available for free online, a near-universal platform to get your masterpiece seen -- an interest in how your predecessors went about making their "moving pictures" must have more appeal.

Part of the mystery of filmmaking has gone. With plays, art and film about film, particularly analogue film, that magic can be protected. The recent cluster of plays and films about films retain their fascination by turning to bewitching characters (like My Week With Marilyn as well as The Artist and Travelling Light), using tried-and-tested techniques from yesteryear, holding up a mirror to a happier past, as well as pulling on our universal love for nostalgia.

Combine all those factors together, and I think we're getting to the bottom of this current trend. It's a winning formula, and I'm certainly not complaining; I, too, am fascinated by the history of "moving pictures", the industry, where it's going, and where it's been. And if it results in more thoughtful, creative filmmaking like The Artist; well, that's got to be a good thing.

Arts Ahead: What's On 10-16 January

2012-01-10T21:35:00.000Z

Marianela Nunez and Thiago Soaresin in Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Dee Conway

January's cultural opening start properly this week, with ballet, Damien Hirst, Quentin Blake and more. Here are the highlights on londonist. Plus a lot of last-chance-to-see (bye bye, Jerusalem, I'll miss you!) shows, so make sure you don't miss out.

For me, it's yoga; a trip to The Ladykillers; possibly a night at the Southwark Playhouse; and writing, writing, writing; and hopefully some more writing...

Peckham's Past: Alexandra Day in Peckham

2012-01-10T21:10:00.000Z

I'm loving this video from BFI Films of Peckham in 1913.From YouTube:

Alexandra Rose Day is a charity fundraising event, inaugurated in 1912 on the 50th anniversary of the arrival in England of Alexandra of Denmark for her marriage to the future King Edward VII. This charming film follows a cheerful band of women in Peckham, London, as they sell artificial roses to raise funds for local hospitals.

Can you spot any recognisable buildings from Peckham High Street?

Sadly Missed: Barbara Hepworth's Two Forms (Divided Circle) in Dulwich Park

2012-01-08T17:57:00.002Z

When I took this snapshot back in 2010, I clearly remember thinking how lucky I was that there's such gorgeous public art right on my doorstep.

I loved the piece, and liked photographing it. The holes made me think of eyes looking into another world, framing whatever was through them, making you look through at the framed trees from a new perspective. I liked looking at it through the lense of a camera too, framing a picture of another framed picture beyond... And the title makes you think too: are they eyes, or eggs? Maybe twins? Lovers perhaps, separate but joined. Or a heart broken in two...

I caught the football moving behind, thinking it gave the image more of a hook: this is a park that's used and loved; not just a place for works of art, but a living space.

And now it's gone. It's so sad that this sculpture was stolen; I really can't imagine how the thieves must've felt getting this off the base, carrying it away, and selling it. It's something that I believe is so "valuable" and now it's gone forever, for the few pounds needed to fund someone's criminal lifestyle. It's just beyond my understanding.

See Damien Hirst's Spot Paintings For Free at the Gagosian Galleries

2012-01-08T17:30:00.001Z

Damien Hirst Controlled Substance Key Painting, 1994 Household gloss on canvas 48 x 48 inches 121.9 x 121.9 cm Photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2011 Courtesy Gagosian Gallery

From Thursday, you can get a look at Damien Hirst's Spot Paintings for free.

They're going on display at the two Gagosian Galleries in London, as well as at all the other Gagosians (Gagosii?) around the world. (That's New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Rome, Athens, Geneva, and Hong Kong, in case you were wondering.)

Hirst didn't make them himself: these are some of the very works that have caused David Hockney to declare of his own exhibition at the Royal Academy: "all the works were made by the artist himself, personally."

Hirst, on the other hand, used assistants to make his Spot Paintings, saying, "I couldn’t be fucking arsed doing it".

Visit the Gagosian Galleries between now and February to see what the fuss is about, and get in on Hirstmania early: later in the year, Tate Modern is holding a blockbuster Hirst show which'll cost you about £14 to see.

Read my original Damien Hirst post on londonist

Painting by Numbers at the London Transport Museum

2012-01-05T18:02:00.003Z

The London Transport Museum has a new Poster Parade on display from tomorrow.

The theme is Painting By Numbers, and the posters featured (just 20 of the possible 500 the museum have in the archive) are all what we'd now call "infographics".

The museum refers to the posters as "data visualisation", and the works on show from the 1920s and 1930s onwards.

They're also very beautiful pieces of design.

What It Takes to Move The Passengers by Irene Fawkes (1924)

Look at this dude's shoes! And I love the detail; the little men working to get those wheels moving along the tracks...

Like the poor guys harvesting "rubber" in this one:

Figures for 1923 by Charles Shepard (1924)

That's 1,134,000,000 passengers dealt with by the 1920s version of TfL. Impressive. Although all of the said passengers seem to be the same very smart man in a coat and hat (See the previous picture!)

And this one, simply called "Speed" is from a decade earlier, but is so fantastic in terms of getting the message across. (I wonder what the average speed of a London bus is today...)

Speed by Alfred Leete (1915)

Again, there are gorgeous details: the monkey travelling at 2mph, the wonderful silhouetted figure of the lady on the same row, the dog racing ahead of that car travelling at 12mph...

And here's a really 60s effort from Heinz Zinram. That's a more recognisable London Transport kind of font right there...

These Vehicles are Carrying 69 People, by Heinz Zinram, photographer (1965)

The exhibition's on at LTM from tomorrow until 18 March. The display complements the museum's current exhibition Sense and the City. Entrance to the museum costs 13.50 (adults) and £10 (concessions), which allows unlimited admission for 12 months. Admission is free for kids under 16. Visit ltmuseum.co.uk for more info.

Here's my original post on londonist.

Happy New Year! And Here's Your Arts Ahead for 2012

2012-01-03T18:51:00.000Z

Well, here's my mighty round-up ahead of all the excitement this Olympic year from londonist.

Another Tuesday, another Arts Ahead for you. But this time, it's for the whole of 2012.

Alphabetically, you could look at it like this:

Adam Cooper, Big Dance, Cultural Olympiad, David Hockney, Exposure, Freud (Lucien), Globe Theatre, Hirst (Damien), I-Einstein on the Beach(!), Jubilee (Diamond), King Lear and Kronos Quartet, Long Day's Journey Into Night, Metamorphosis: Titian, (All) New People, Oil Tanks, Porgy and Bess, (The) Queen, Reverb, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, (Sweeney) Todd, Umbrellas (for Singin In The Rain), Viva Forever, World Shakespeare Festival...

X.. Y... and...

Zach Braff.

That's not to mention Cate Blanchett at the Barbican's 30th birthday, Mozart at the Royal Opera House or any of the 1000s of Dickens 2012 events happening in London. Even Nick Curtis at the Standard is getting excited: does that say Annus Fabulous in that url?!

Can you see why I might've been somewhat, shall we say, restless over the Christmas break?!

I've likened the past few weeks to the clunking, jerky movements heading up a rollercoaster before you finally get to the top, look at a beautiful view all around you (thanks, Christmas in the Shire), and then, Wwwoooosh! From today I've plunged into a spinning, twisting, unrestricted, unregulated freefall that'll continue until ooh, it's all over. In the middle of September.

Welcome to 2012.

My Top 10 Theatre Shows of 2011

2011-12-30T17:04:00.000Z

Everyone loves a round-up-of-the-year blog post, right?

I sketched a few ideas onto a post-it during the last week of work, in preparation for the annual Best Of The Year post we do for the visitlondon.com blog. As the various theatre shows I've enjoyed in 2011 came out around the 10 mark, it seemed fitting to put them together for you here.

Obviously, it's been a pretty unforgettable year for me, events-wise (wedding, hen do, honeymoon being in the top three!), but in amongst all those life-changing events has been a steady stream of top-notch theatre too...

1. One Man, Two Guvnors, National Theatre, June
Now transferred to the West End, and extending its run with a new lead, I was lucky enough to see One Man, Two Guvnors without having read much about it, and before hearing all the hype. It turned out to be the perfect show for the Friday before the Friday before the wedding... Total escapism for me and my husband-to-be. Hilarious, slick, surprising, hugely entertaining; I felt like we were in the hands of enormously talented people, all with incredible performance power. Long may it continue to entertain. Here's what I wrote about it for londonist.

2. Matilda The Musical, Cambridge Theatre, November
I saw Matilda after the hype. But I still loved it. I defy anyone (with just the vaguest sense of enjoyment when it comes to musical theatre) not to be won over by this show. It's just got so much heart. And the show has introduced me to the brilliance of Tim Minchin (he's really from Northampton, y'know), and Bertie Carvel (who's possibly going to be Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones' Diary The Musical - oh my...!). After writing the Matilda review for londonist, I was also invited to talk about Matilda on French Radio London, which was fun.

3. Crazy For You, Novello Theatre, October
My sister and I saw Crazy For You back in the 1990s with the whole of our family during a lavish Day Out in London for my Grandma's (75th? 80th?) birthday. I was just about a teenager (13 or 14), and the day involved a trip to Claridges' for afternoon tea too. As it turns out, all I can really remember from the day is being offered actual different types of tea (who is this Dargie Ling you speak of?); a waiter telling my Grandma she looked like the Queen Mother (what a charmer!); and a girl singing while sitting on a crescent moon hanging from the flies at the end of the show. Nothing about the musical itself. Seeing it again all these years later, I realised it was no surprise that we couldn't remember the plot! It's totally nonsensical and arbitrary, in the best tradition of all the best musicals. (But, I'd argue, still contains what I like to call the Forest of Arden displacement treatment.) After this incredible production, my sis and I were thumping our knees and crying "Again! Again!" Really, for musical lovers, it's a total treat. The music! The dancing! The shoes! The tap routines! The telephones! The sets! The gloves!

4. Frankenstein, National Theatre, April
Another top show from the National; another which is now indelibly linked to 2011 in my head, as we saw it the day before The Hen Do. That night, Johnny Lee Miller was The Creature and Benedict Cumberbatch the Doctor (a role they alternated, in case you weren't aware). I'd've been happy to see it either way, but loved the dramatisation of this ever-fascinating tale. It was also a great example of a Nat Theatre epic: sets, sound and lighting that had you wondering as much about the skills of the builders back stage as the players on it.

5. Clybourne Park, Wyndham's Theatre, February
The first mention of a Royal Court show in this top 10, Clybourne Park transferred to the West End early this year, and made quite an impression on me. As well as a deliciously sassy script, it was wonderfully acted by a fantastic cast. Here are the thoughts I put together about the show for the visitlondon.com blog.

6. Betty Blue Eyes, Novello Theatre, April
Ahh, Betty. With an actual royal wedding happening at the same time, Cameron Mackintosh producing and Alan Bennett in the mix, I just don't know what happened. At the time, I was pretty sceptical. But in hindsight, I think I actually loved a lot of it. Indeed, here's a round-up of reviews I put together for londonist, concluding:

"Fantastic choral skills ensemble, some brilliantly bonkers songwriting by Stiles and Drew (one about chiropody, another about a bad smell – seriously), and slick choreography by Stephen Mear."

Now watch this and tell me WHY this wasn't a hit?

7. The Westbridge, Theatre Local, November
It's not often you get to see Royal Court-standard theatre a short walk from your house. Unless you live in Sloane Square, of course. But I don't. So it was very exciting to be able to make the press night for The Westbridge at Theatre Local in the Bussey Building in Peckham, a mere hop, skip and a jump from my front door. As well as being wonderfully "local" in every possible way, the acting was spot-on, the script sizzled and the production was innovative and impressive. I hope the 'Court enjoyed their time in my 'hood. Here's what I wrote about The Westbridge for londonist.

8. The Playboy of the Western World, Old Vic, October
I was thrilled to finally see The Playboy of the Western World, having struggled through it at school. The Old Vic's production made for a fascinating evening of half-remembered A Level quotes, page-bound characters bursting to life, a strong slice of Ireland in the heart of Waterloo, and a hugely entertaining piece of comedy drama. Here's what I wrote about The Playboy of the Western World on the visitlondon.com blog.

9. Hamlet, Young Vic, October
No video here, and no review to link up either. I'm so pleased I've finally seen Hamlet live. I'm also really pleased I've seen Michael Sheen perform. He was certainly everything I'd hoped for. And there was lots to enjoy in this innovative show at the Young Vic. But ultimately I was disappointed. Several of the other actors just weren't good enough. And the production just felt kinda cheap. But Mr Sheen's performance just inches this into the top 10 of the year...

10. Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Gielgud Theatre, March / Pippin, Menier Chocolate Factory, December
I know, I know. Having two for tenth place in a top 10 just makes it a top 11, right? Well, there are lots of similarities between these two shows. (As well as a shared cast member in the lovely Carly Bawden.) I guess I'd list both as flawed musicals. That's not to say they weren't enjoyable; indeed, there were moments of brilliance in both. I'm sad the sweet, stylish Umbrellas of Cherbourg didn't survive for longer. Here's what we made of it at work.

And Pippin was, well, different. Really different. And I rather liked most of it. Here's what I wrote about it for londonist.

There was more, of course. I Am The Wind at the Young Vic was one of my favourite reviews to write. The Children's Hour was star-studded, but a dud play, in my opinion. The RSC were on top form with King Lear and As You Like It at the Roundhouse, both quality productions, but because I always expect so much from them, they perhaps didn't surprise me enough to make the final top 10. I quite liked the overambitious 13 at the National. Then there was Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (finally!), and Backbeat (OK, but kinda disappointing), and Double Falsehood (a new theatre for me, but far from Shakespeare's best, IMHO.)

And next year? Well, there'll be more. I should try some more venues, as well as some new companies, and some new shows. Perhaps I can be a bit more adventurous in 2012 than I have been in 2011.

I'll keep you posted...

Lauren Laverne: Lovely

2011-10-31T14:01:00.002Z

Raindance Film Festival 28 Sept-9 Oct

2011-09-23T18:20:00.000+01:00

It's film festival season in London.

Before the main BFI extravaganza next month, there are a few smaller, but no less exciting aperitifs and starters to get movie-loving mouths watering.

The London Spanish Film Festival kicked off a few days ago, and Raindance, London's top independent film festival starts next week.

Here's my preview post on londonist.

And here's an excellent Top 10 of Raindance to see by Ivan Radford at i-flicks.net.

Finally, here's a nice trailer for Bonsai to make you smile.

I know it's a huge, sweeping generalisation, but I love foreign films. At least, all the foreign films I've ever seen, I've enjoyed. Which probably amounts to no more than 20 full-length feature films, but the case remains. Perhaps, with it being so hard to get foreign-language films into the UK mainstream, those that tend to make it are the cream of the crop. Perhaps if I'd seen more, I'd like fewer of them.

Arts Ahead 20-26 September

2011-09-20T18:30:00.000+01:00

Roberta Marquez and Valeri Hristov in Emeralds, part of Jewels. Photo by Johan Persson

What a gorgeous photo. I think Jewels at the ROH is a real hot ticket for dance fans this week.

Elsewhere, theatreland feels like it's finally woken up after its summer snooze: there's another Tempest, two musicals, Mike Leigh's new play and more to choose from this week.

Plus, the V&A's latest blockbuster, and all the fun of the London Design Festival.

As for me, I'm headed to a preview of the Playboy of the Western World at the Old Vic. Which gives me the opportunity to share another gorgeous photo.

Robert Sheehan. Photo by Jay Brooks

Ahem.

Read the rest of this week's Arts Ahead on londonist

American Bag Ladies Flock to London

2011-09-20T18:00:00.000+01:00

It seems London is the place to be for American Bag Ladies...

This weekend, I really enjoyed reading the ES's profile on Mulberry's Emma Hill, who, despite her slightly silly photo, actually sounded like a brilliantly down-to-earth person. Now I'm more of a Radley girl myself, but I can see the lasting beauty (craftsmanship and great design) in Mulberry's gorgeous bags. And, of course, it's a great story. Local firm, done good.

And with that much-trumpeted success, it seems there are more brands out there wanting to "bag" a bit of that Kensington Church Street magic. On Monday, I find not one, but two US bag makers have set up shop in London.

Welcome to the greatest city on earth (TM):

Coach, who will forever be a brand being cuddled by Gwyneth in my head
Kate Spade, who I can't think of without NY clichés like yellow taxis and big apples coming to mind... possibly because this LLG post

Good luck to them both! We Londoners sure love our bags. I love looking at what other people have, and I love looking after my own. And maybe, just maybe, with more choice, the prices might just shrink slightly so we can all enjoy even more of them...

Summer Holiday Activities for London Kids

2011-08-19T19:11:00.003+01:00

I've talked before about how overwhelmed I'd be if I were a kid in London. There's so much going on.

I remember being paralysed trying to choose between two different colouring pencils, there's no way I'd've coped with the challenging cultural choices London kids must face. Arts and crafts or pond dipping? Or acting classes on becoming a pirate?

Happily, it means I find it easy to talk about the best of it while I'm at work.

If you want to introduce your kids to art, check out The Sunday Spot at South London Gallery in Peckham each Sunday in August. There are hands-on workshops inspired by the gallery’s current exhibitions....

Read more on the visitlondon.com blog

London Overtakes NYC as Fashion Capital of the World

2011-08-19T18:59:00.005+01:00

Thanks to ~~four~~ a royal wedding and a funeral, London's now the Fashion Capital of the World.

Ha, ha, New York. You can stick your New York Fashion Week, we've got royals, dead designers and, look, a Vertical Fashion Show to pimp us into first place.

(Vertical Fashion Show? Yes, see right, part of London's High Street Fashion Week last September, if I recall rightly...)

Ha, ha, Paris, Milan, LA, and Hong Kong too. Who were in third, fourth, fifth and sixth place behind our wonderful capital...

Read the rest of this story on londonist

Arts Ahead 19 - 25 July

2011-07-19T18:13:00.001+01:00

Ghost, Fela!, Circa: it's a week of one-syllable openings in London's theatreland. Swan, Lake too; but that doesn't count.

But I do like the sound of the Design Museum's new exhibition: Kenneth Grange, Making Modern Britain. Must try to get down there in the coming weeks.

Read more...

Michael Landy's Acts of Kindness

2011-07-18T18:12:00.002+01:00

There's new Art on the Underground as of today. But only if you're on the Central line.

Read more...

Arts Ahead 26 April - 2 May

2011-04-26T18:06:00.000+01:00

Yes, there's a Royal Wedding on, but there's other things going on around London too, y'know!

Here's a guide to what's on this week in terms of big theatre, art, dance and exhibitions in London.

And what am I up to? Well, my "culture" is restricted to phoning various people to sort *our* wedding plans for June. We've passed the two-months-to-go mark, and things are picking up pace!

Read this week's Arts Ahead on londonist

Theatre News: Clybourne Park wins Pulitzer and some London Theatre Casting News

2011-04-22T10:50:00.002+01:00

Hurrah for Clybourne Park. It's won another award: a Pulitzer, which sounds super-impressive. I loved this show when I saw it; you can read my review here on my work blog.

In other news, Samantha Womack (who's really famous due to EastEnders, but will always be Samantha Janus or Mandy from Game On to me) is going to lead the cast as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific when it comes to the Barbican later in the summer. Guiltly secret: I've still never seen a musical at the Barbican. I don't know; that venue is so perfect for the Things Zoe Should Love about London category, but always teeters off into Slightly Exhausting Things about London alongside similarly perplexing institutions like the Southbank Centre's website, and the Proms.

Anyway, here's the rest of this week's Theatre News from the Visit London Blog

London's 10 Longest Running Theatre Shows; or the Michael Crawford Touch

2011-04-20T17:52:00.004+01:00

Now here's the kind of piece I wish I had time to write more frequently. Top 10s are all the rage at Londonist at the mo...

And what a great way to while away a few idle hours, researching and putting together a list of those shows that have shone for such a long time in London's most exciting district: the West End.

You can read the article on londonist here

Amazing how more than one of these long-runners must owe a (small?) part their success to having Michael Crawford on the bill. I wonder if The Wizard of Oz will still be playing in 17 years time?

Arts Ahead 19 - 25 April

2011-04-19T18:01:00.001+01:00

There's loads of great-sounding exhibitions opening this week, in the run-up to Easter.

My four highlights are:

Hand Drawn London @ Museum of London (hurray for Londonist getting its own cool exhibition up at MoL!)
Australia Landscape @ the British Museum
Museum of 1951 @ Royal Festival Hall (my personal fave)
Let Them Eat Cake @ Wellington Arch (should totally get my future mother-in-law down to this while she continues to negotiate her way to creating our wedding cake!)

Theatre's a little quieter, and there's pretty much nothing operatic going on at all. That's Easter for you, I guess. Although Alfie Boe fans can catch the tenor entertaining the crowds at the St George's Day concert in Trafalgar Square. Alongside Matt Rawle of Zorro fame!

Read the rest of this week's Arts Ahead on londonist

London Original Print Fair at the Royal Academy (and in Burlington Arcade)

2011-04-12T18:00:00.002+01:00

I love Burlington Arcade. It was the world's first shopping arcade when it opened way back in 1819, and it's now recognised as a historic and architectural masterpiece. Nevermind that it's full of ridiculous shops you'd never actually buy anything from, it's the beauty of this covered shopping street that appeals to me.

So I was happy to be able to write up a news story on them for londonist today. Sure, it's slightly crowbarred onto information about the London Original Print Fair, but that's the way these things sometimes work. And if you're not that sure about paying a tenner for the Print Fair, it's great that you can get a free taster in the area, plus the chance to pick up a free ticket, if you're lucky.

Incidentally, while I'm all for text as art (see Rob Ryan, this It's Pop It's Art print that I'm still crazy about, hey, even our wedding invites), I'm not so sure about this:

It's by Lucy Gough, and called Love And Marriage. But I'm just not sure I like it all that much. Maybe it needs to be seen at the actual size.

Read the original piece about the London Original Print Fair at the Royal Academy and Burlington Arcade on londonist

Arts Ahead: 12 - 18 April

2011-04-12T16:30:00.008+01:00

Another week, another round of Arts Ahead from Londonist. There's lots of cool-sounding dance around this week: everything from Tango to the Diaghilev Festival and more...

My week includes cooking up an "alternative" review of Betty Blue Eyes, a baby shower for Bump Rhodes, a trip to the National to see Frankenstein, and the small matter of a Hen Do at the weekend.

Here's hoping I'm still alive by next Tuesday, to update everyone on next week's arty happenings...

Read the rest of this week's Arts Ahead on londonist

Fancy White Water Rafting? In London?

2011-04-07T17:34:00.000+01:00

People who know my bro won't be surprised to learn he's already signed up to this.

Readers who know me won't be surprised to find out I'm having nothing to do with it.

But it's still all rather exciting. Yes, you can now go white water rafting in London. I find that pretty amazing. Nevermind that this is the only new 2012 venue that you can test out before the Games, the fact that it exists at all is surely just another tick in the "greatest city on earth" box.

Am I wrong?!

Read more about the Lee Valley White Water Centre on londonist

Arts Ahead: 5 - 11 April

2011-04-06T16:10:00.000+01:00

Aaaaaand, I'm back.

Yes, yes, I know. But several distractions (some wedding shaped, some career shaped, some holiday shaped) have slotted themselves into the jigsaw puzzle of my life in the last couple of months, and meant blogging's been pushed to the back of the toy cupboard.

But here's April, looking all sunny and shiny, and I'm determined to at least collate if not create on this here blog.

So, here's Arts Ahead for this week: a ramshakle collection if ever there was one.

Russian Shakespeare, pub opera, women war artists, and Lithuanian film posters. It's certainly a strange week.

My plans are simple: stay sane, get ready for the hen do, and see Betty Blue Eyes at the theatre.

Read the rest of Arts Ahead on londonist

Arts Ahead 1 - 7 February

2011-02-01T18:00:00.000Z


Susan Hiller Homage to Marcel Duchamp (detail) 2008. Courtesy Timothy Taylor Gallery, London © Susan Hiller

February's here and it finally feels like London's cultural scene is waking up!

Hence this brilliant picture for Tate Britain's Susan Hiller show, opening today.

There's other brilliant stuff going on in art, theatre, dance and opera, but for me, it's a quiet week while I try to get on top of the running (minus 2 weeks to the first 10k of 2011) and get some sleep ahead of this weekends shenanigans. (Bridesmaids and Houseparties, if you really want to know.)

Read the rest of Arts Ahead on londonist here

Dulwich Picture Gallery's Bicentenary Year: Sir John Soane by Sir Thomas Lawrence

2011-01-30T16:43:00.005Z

Or, January and the Project Begins

You'll remember I'm planning to see each of the Masterpieces of the Month at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, through this, it's 200th birthday year.

Today, I started. I started by walking to the gallery in the cold January sunshine. (I was quite impressed that it really is just half an hour away, give or take a couple of minutes for photographs.) I started by becoming a member of said gallery for the princely sum of £30. (Reasoning that if I do make all 12, at £5 entrance fee a go, I'll end up spending more than that.) And I started by taking it quite easy, taking in only a few of the treasures on display, and trying not to get overwhelmed.

The fact is, I'd love to know more about art. I can spot a Canaletto and a Constable; I can tell what's Dutch, and what's been influenced by Dali (although he can throw a curveball); and I'm always pleased to recognise a dark Goya after over-indulging in him in the Prado when I lived in Madrid or something skinny by El Greco or something colourful by Gauguin. But I'd love to know more.

Hence this little mission.

So, for this month, The Portrait of John Soane hangs in pride of place at the Dulwich Picture Gallery.

John Soane designed the gallery, and it's rather nice to see him, sitting rather smugly, watching all the activity going on inside today. (It was filled with people headed to the Norman Rockwell exhibition; so much so, there was a queue. Buggies, Barbour jackets, brogues, bifocals; your average Dulwich fayre.)

It seems incredible that he's the guy responsible for thinking out the whole idea of a building specifically designed for the display of paintings. His series of interlinked rooms, with plenty of wall space and skylights to illuminate the stuff on show indirectly means this is "one the great small galleries in which to look at oil paintings," according to wiki. "The influential 20th-century architect Philip Johnson said, "Soane has taught us how to display paintings." There's another nice quote here:

"Nicholas Pevsner, in his An Outline of European Architecture, considered the building to be "a very early example of 'modern' architecture – where the form and appearance of the building is directly related to its function". However we know that the elevations are not as Soane originally intended – he would have preferred more ornate facades – but luckily for us a lack of funds meant that he was forced into a more austere (and better) design."

I've read more thoughts on this month's star painting by Richard Dorment in the Telegraph. And I have to agree with him. You can see this is a flattering portrait of a 70 year old, rouge and wig included. And its interesting to think that this is a portrait painted for a particular place. Above the fireplace in the Library Dining Room of the Soane Museum at 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, there's no need to have painted him with nods to his collections and what-not. And somehow, here in the Dulwich Picture Gallery, there's something nice about his being painted against such a simple red backdrop. "What's he famous for?" the viewer might ask. Then turn around and look at what he's looking at. "Oh, just *all* this," is the answer

Now comes one of my confusions with portrait painting. Is it about the subject, or the artist? Which is "more" important? Of course, one wouldn't exist without the other, bu.u.u.t... When it's a Portrait of a Man (like the Hogarth one hanging near John Soane), I find it easier to think about the painter, and what he was doing.

But when it's a portrait of a famous person, I sometimes struggle to hold together all the information about both artist and sitter in the same headspace. (I remember getting in a tangle like this when I first started lit crit at school. Was I talking about the character, or the author who made the character... I learnt to separate and unseparate the two for various purposes eventually, and I suppose its the same with paintings...)

So, now, a little bit about this artist courtesy of wiki etc:

Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) was a child prodigy who quickly became the most accomplished portrait painter of his day and, from 1820, President of the Royal Academy. He never married, and had tortuous relationships with Sally and Maria Siddons. They're actress Sarah Siddon's daughters. The most extensive collections of Lawrence's work can be found in the Royal Collections and the National Portrait Gallery.

Let's see if I can try and hold these two chaps in my head for any length of time.

And after another 11 pictures have also been pushing for space in a year's time. We'll see.

Theatre News: Clybourne Park Wins Awards; plus Sheridan Smith and Simon Russell Beale

2011-01-27T18:40:00.000Z

Firstly, congratulations to Clybourne Park, which transfers to Wyndham’s Theatre tomorrow.
The play has won another award for its earlier run at the Royal Court. As well as being named Best New Play at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards and the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards, it’s also bagged the South Bank Sky Arts Theatre Award. Get booking now if you want to see this fantastic show!

And yes, news about two of my favourite stars this week. Aren't you lucky?!

Now I know what Sheridan Smith is up to next (besides heading to Dubai after her last night in Legally Blonde...). I saw her earlier in the month, just before she finished playing Elle Woods, and fingers crossed I'll see her again in Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket...

And how brilliant does Simon Russell Beale's new project sound? Playing Stalin (is he a bit too short?) in a play by the guy who wrote Shallow Grave (what a film), which was sent to the National Theatre on spec. On. Spec!

Here's the rest of this week's theatre news on the Visit London Blog

Arts Ahead 25 - 31 January

2011-01-25T18:07:00.002Z

Sniff. It's time for me to come to terms with the fact that I'm not going to see Rory Kinnear's Hamlet anytime soon.

Yes, ladies and gents, this time tomorrow, it's all over. And I didn't see it.

Ho, hum. One day, one day, I'll see Hamlet live. And it'll be a brilliant experience, I'm sure.

For me, this week, it's all about King Lear, tonight at the Roundhouse. After last week's exciting As You Like It, I have high hopes for a great production. Last time I saw it, it was with the late Pete Postlethwaite, and I wasn't terribly impressed.

There's lots of other things on in London this week. Here are my tips from Arts Ahead on londonist.

Imagine Children's Festival

2011-01-21T18:25:00.001Z

Doesn't this just make you wish you were a kid again?

Not the kid you were, but one of those London kids who drift up to events like this every other weekend, and just *know* what to do?

I wasn't a London kid. If you'd taken me to an event like this when I was young, I would've been totally overwhelmed. I'd've hated all the choices I was being offered and decisions I was having to make.

The sheer weight of the fun and exciting options I was given would've paralysed me into doing nothing instead.

Which sometimes still happens to me as an adult. Sometimes I hate all the choice.

All Manner of Excitement from Shakespeare's Globe

2011-01-21T18:16:00.009Z

Shakespeare's Globe is one of my favourite places in London.

If you asked me why, I'd say there are lots of reasons. My interest in Shakespeare started pretty early: I can clearly remember being asked to read Sir Toby Belch's lines from Twelfth Night in class aged about 11 or 12, and, just like Latin and languages (at the time!), I was fascinated by the pull between the familiarity and strangeness of the words... Also, the sweet feeling of release when you were allowed to talk out loud in class...

Then, my Mum and I became regular visitors to Stratford-upon-Avon; as tourists, as something to do with your youngest kid when the others were off having fun; as people for whom anything recognisably historic, particularly Tudor, was going to be of interest...

When I played Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream aged 14, learning the lines felt quite easy; it was the same when we were asked to study Othello for A Level. I was quite happy noodling away reading A C Bradley's thoughts on the Moor (totally unnecessary for passing A Level) while my French grades slipped: the result was 100% in the "Shakespeare and the Drama" module, which really stood for "she's read more than she should."

Mum and I made a cardboard model of the Globe Theatre (the one in London, that didn't exist at the time; this theatre, to my mind, was from ancient history) when I was still a young teenager. It wasn't easy either; it was fiddly, awkward and took what felt like a very long time to complete. The sense of accomplishment (combined with the smell of the glue) when we were finally finished was amazing.

Later, the idea that they'd built this complicated not-at-all circular when you're constructing it from card structure for real, in London, blew me away. My parents sent me a postcard of the new Globe when they first visited, while I was studying in Liverpool. It was around the same time as Shakespeare in Love came out on video, and probably around the year I took a module called "Stage to Page to Stage" about how to actually put Shakespeare's words on stage. Joseph Fiennes plus a relatively sexy tutor meant my lifelong fascination was complete.

When I was a language teacher, I took one of my more proficient students to see A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe, having explained the love potions and silly plot to her beforehand; it was great, and she loved it too. Since I started reviewing for londonist, they've been kind enough to offer me review tickets many times, and I've always enjoyed the experience, if not every play.

It's just a classy place: the staff, the programmes, the posters, the standing for a fiver, the shop, pretty much everything about The Globe pleases me. Just seeing a picture of it, looking so pristinely black and white, so pleasingly built-for-purpose, so alien to the modern blocks around it, will make me smile.

Recently, I've been engrossed by this blog by Tara Hale about her designs for the new season's programmes.

And then there's two these two bits of exciting news from the Globe in just one day. First, that the Globe team are as suitably ambitious about celebrating multiculturalism in 2012 as we are with our World in London blog:

Twenty-eight plays. Twenty-eight languages. The simplicity of it is lovely. The incredible amounts of work involved; terrifying. I can't imagine how hard it must be having, say, four different acting companies using one theatre, its rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, props cupboards. Making it run smoothly with 28 just seems gobsmacking. Artistic Director Dominic Dromgoole described the festival as "terrifically clear and simple and slightly bananas". Got to agree with him there.

And secondly, that they're expanding. From 2013, the Globe's season will no longer run from around Shakespeare's birthday (23 April) to around mine (10 October). They'll be doing shows indoors as well.

I'm so chuffed with this news. Below are some of the pictures of what this new theatre will look like.

Exterior of the indoor Jacobean theatre at Shakespeare's Globe. Photo by Nick Robins

Model box interior of the proposed indoor Jacobea theatre. Created by Jonathan Fensom, photo by Fiona Moorhead

There'll be 320-seats, with two tiers of gallery seating and a pit area. From this model, it looks like it'll be as "challenging" on the arse as the current theatre.

Plans for an indoor Jacobean theatre, by kind permission of the Provost and Fellows of Worcester College Oxford

The theatre is based on these designs, above, from Worcester College, Oxford for a 17th-century indoor theatre. These plans are believed to be by Renaissance architect Inigo Jones or his protégé John Webb (I think more people might adhere to the latter theory?) and depict a venue similar to the Blackfriars theatre where Shakespeare and his contemporaries would've put on plays. They're the earliest plans for an English theatre in existence. (Wow.)

So, we'll be able to see plays like The Tempest, The Winter’s Tale, Pericles and Cymbeline in a theatre super-similar to the ones they were written for, from as early as winter 2013. I can only imagine good things will come of the Globe's company having more space and more time to fill.

Theatre News: Jude Law, Ruth Wilson, Niamh Cusack et al

2011-01-20T18:30:00.000Z

This week's theatre news from the Visit London Blog:

Michael Grandage is clearly hoping to leave his post as Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse with a bang. For his final season, he’s secured Jude Law and Ruth Wilson to star in Eugene O’Neill’s play Anna Christie this summer.

(I'm a big fan of Ruth Wilson. I think she's great. Jude, I've never seen live, so I'm not sure what he'd be like on stage!)

In addition, you can see Douglas Hodge in John Osborne’s Inadmissible Evidence and Eddie Redmayne as Richard II. These three new productions follow the already announced The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Moonlight and Luise Miller.

Other cast news this week includes:

Actress Joanna Riding and cabaret star Meow Meow are appearing in Kneehigh Theatre’s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg at the Gielgud Theatre from 5 March
Niamh Cusack will star alongside Anne-Marie Duff in Terence Rattigan’s Cause Célèbre at the Old Vic from 17 March
And Les Dennis will appear in the London premiere of Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy about fame, Drowning On Dry Land, at the Jermyn Street Theatre from 22 February

Read more London theatre news on the Visit London Blog

Arts Ahead 18 - 24 January

2011-01-18T18:14:00.002Z

Arts Ahead for this week, and it was high time the art section of my column got some proper attention.

So, a great image, and some lovely recommendations. The Royal Academy, the London Art Fair, Tate Modern's new one, and something curated by the Scissor Sisters all made it into the mix.

One thing that struck me while I was putting together this week's piece was The Country Girl at the Apollo, and its great review from the Telegraph. Billington quite liked it too. And yet I've heard nothing about this play the whole time it's been on. Nothing from PRs requesting previews / offering interviews. Nothing in terms of reviews when it opened. And now its closing earlier than we had listed. I guess it's just one of those things... a quiet success that passed most people by.

Read the rest of Arts Ahead on www.londonist.com

Spotted: David Suchet

2011-01-18T17:52:00.002Z

When: last night
Where: in the auditorium of the Roundhouse

Actually, JC has to take the credit for this one. I was miles away, focused on whether my fiance, having been dragged to the theatre to see ("which one is it again?") Shakespearean comedy wasn't having too rubbish a time.

I shouldn't've worried. The RSC came up trumps, and JC was pretty much totally enthralled by As You Like It, despite being extremely suspicious of the title.

In the interval, while most people were being distracted by a rabbit being skinned on stage, JC spotted Mr Poirot / Suchet, with his wife, engaged in conversation with another audience member. He seemed just like he always does: very polite and a thoroughly nice bloke.

I suggested we went over and told him how much we'd loved seeing All My Sons last year. JC wasn't so sure.

It reminded me of being in the theatre behind him on another occasion, when I saw Wet Weather Cover at the Arts Theatre. Happily, last night's show was far better than that.

Fourth Plinth Announcement: Boy on Rocking Horse, and A Big Blue Cock

2011-01-14T14:42:00.002Z

This morning, I was lucky enough to attend the unveiling of the next two winning commissions for the Fourth Plinth.

Within a leaking corridor inside City Hall, I jostled with assorted photographers and press, and managed to get a rather wobbly video of the proceedings with my cute little camera. No doubt there'll be far better captures of this on YouTube in the coming days, but for now, I'm quite pleased with mine, even if it is a bit shaky and blurred. (Dean Londonist used it too, which was pleasing.)

As for the winners, I'm pleased these two won.

I really like the boy on the rocking horse, and the two artists behind it sound pretty cool. I'm less convinced by the blue cockerel (insert your own jokes here); but I prefer both these to the Battenburg (Boris' favourite), because I think they're more dynamic, prettier, and, with their height and dimensions, more visible. Somehow there's "movement" in them, particularly the boy.

Looking forward to seeing them up there in 2012 and 2013, anyhow.

Theatre News: Tennant & Tate, Imelda Staunton, Mark Curry and More

2011-01-13T18:30:00.001Z

Who's excited about this then? Doctor Who co-stars David Tennant and Catherine Tate are going to co-star again, this time in Shakespeare. Yes, the Doctor and the Annoying One are going to appear as Benedick and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing in the summer at Wyndhams. (I've been on stage there, fnarr.)

I have to say, I'm just not that fussed. I think David Tennant is lovely (of course); I quite enjoy watching bits of old Doctor Who episodes, even though I rarely know what's going on, and I'm certainly gutted to have missed his Hamlet live. (On TV it was a bit naff.)

But I really don't enjoy watching Catherine Tate act. Not on TV; not on stage (I saw her in Under the Blue Sky and didn't like it). It's a totally personal thing. (I'm not even saying I think she's bad.) I just don't like her acting. I find it very lifeless, somehow distracting, and horribly samey. I can't stand the idea of her playing Beatrice. Not when I've seen the fantastic Samatha Spiro do it so well at the Open Air Theatre. (Apologies for that annoying "I was there when" theatrical reference, I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen again.)

Happily there's more interesting cast news about this week:

Imelda Staunton in A Delicate Balance at the Almeida
Colin Morgan in Our Private Life at the Royal Court
Mark Curry in Company at the Southwark Playhouse (perhaps I can see this and kill two birds with one stone: see my first Sondheim, and go to the SP, which is so close to work it seems imposible I haven't been there yet)
Oliver Ford Davies in Goodnight Mister Tom (sniff!)

It's all looking rather exciting for 2011. I just hope I can keep up!

Read the rest of this week's Theatre News on the Visit London Blog

Arts Ahead 11 - 17 January

2011-01-11T17:59:00.001Z

It's the usual story for culture in January. A few new things opening, and an OVERWHELMING slew of things closing. Things that you've said for the last three months, "Oooh, I'd quite like to see that," and not done anything about it.

Well now, you're doomed to never see them. Doomed, I say. January weekends are full of people's birthdays (I have an almost comically long list of friends with birthdays in January) and work requests are flowing with the speed of an entire company with New Year's Resolutions to keep.

So, so long Gauguin, Canaletto, the vowel-happy Eadweard Muybridge, Rachel Whiteread, and Damian Ortega. I'm sorry I missed you, but alas, the chance is now gone.

On a more positive note, I'll start the year with some Shakespeare: the RSC's As You Like It at the Roundhouse on Monday. Looking forward to it.

Check out the rest of this week's Arts Ahead on londonist

Photo by Johan Persson shows Marianela Nunez and Carlos Acosta in Giselle

Happy 200th Birthday, Dulwich Picture Gallery

2011-01-06T18:36:00.000Z

Here's a nice plug for south east London. By all accounts, Dulwich Picture Gallery is going to have a great year.

I wrote about their birthday celebrations on londonist earlier today.

And I've been fascinated to read about their Masterpiece a Month project. I've made it one of my New Year's Resolutions to see each and every one of them during the year and blog about it.

(Hey, it's only one a month. Twelve trips down the road to my local, incredible art gallery. It's not like I'm promising myself I'll try to read and learn about all 100 History of the World Objects over the next two years... Or talk about each of the 205 countries taking part in the Olympics before the start of the Games...

Oh, you're right. I am, aren't I?

Maybe I do get a bit ambitious when it comes to big bloggy, museumy, art, londony projects...)

Anyway, read more about this weekend's fun at DPG here on londonist

Arts Ahead for 2011

2011-01-04T18:29:00.001Z

For years now, I've wanted to write an Arts Ahead column for londonist for the whole of the coming 12 months.

There's always a week or two when Art Ahead goes from fun to thin, and I worry about barrel-scraping to fill the inches.

This year, I finally got myself into gear to produce one. And very satisfying it was too!

Turns out putting together arts highlights for the whole year is harder than you think, particularly when it comes to whittling it all down to something manageable for you, dear readers...

But here we are: Read Arts Ahead for the whole of 2011.

And a you get a picture of Shrek's bum to boot. Lucky lot.

A Flea in Her Ear at the Old Vic

2010-12-20T18:20:00.000Z

As I've already pointed out, there were stars in the audience when JC and I saw this particular show last week.

After treating a very tired JC to a great meal in amongst the Christmas Parties at Tas on The Cut, I was a little apprehensive about this show. Here we were, nodding to rather than celebrating our anniversary, as tradition dictates, about to see a show that I was unconvinced would keep JC awake in his shattered state.

Happily, I was completely wrong.

A Flea in Her Ear turned out to be hilarious. Just the right mixture of silliness and talent to make a lovely, diverting night out.

Read my full review here on londonist.

Spotted: Christopher Eccleston

2010-12-17T09:15:00.001Z

When: last night
Where: the Old Vic, upstairs bar.

Yes, there was more than one doctor at the Old Vic last night :-)

Thankfully, unlike the one on stage in A Flea In Her Ear, Christopher Eccleston was keeping his trousers on...

I'd headed for the upstairs bar, knowing it'd be easier to get served up there, and more likely to score something hot to soothe my sore throat. Parking next to a scruffy individual who was being much quieter than the braying theatrephiles around me, I asked the barman for a cup of tea. In the mirrors behind the bar, I saw a familiar, drawn, expressive face; checking the profile of the guy next to me, I was thrilled. It was Christopher Eccleston, actor extraordinare, being fantastically, err, ordinare.

Dressed in an ordinary black top and jeans, he was being distinctly unshowy, talking in a low murmur, gently moving the lady he was with (his mum? an aunt?) out of the way of other people in a way that totally betrayed him as different from the rest of the Old Vic crowd. They push rather than say excuse me, are loud and obnoxious, and have that strange theatregoer trait of extreme self-absorbtion with a completely misplaced sense of entitlement. Urgh.

JC was gutted to miss him. Having sat, tense, through Accused the other night, and reminisced with me about shows like Our Friends in the North, and Hearts and Minds (which blew me away as a teenager), he was anxious to know if "he was alright." Because usually, when you're watching Christopher Eccleston in some heartwrenching drama, he's not alright. Usually, his world's being torn apart; he's suffering. And tormented. And demonised. And horrified. And powerless. And, and...

But he looked alright enough in the lovely Old Vic bar.

Hope he enjoyed the show as much as we did. I'll post a review later today...

Arts Ahead 14- 20 December

2010-12-14T18:08:00.003Z

Look-y! It's a dancing squirrel!

Yes, silly season is definitely here. "It's Christmas!" as someone once shouted, and everything's gone a bit fast and loose.

And in case a dancing squirrel isn't enough to convince you everything's gone a little bit screwy on London's cultural caledar, here's some more evidence:

David Hasselhoff's in panto in Wimbledon
CBBC stars are doing something called Potted Panto at the Vaudeville
the Old Vic isn't doing a panto at all, but some farce called A Flea in Her Ear

In fact, it's the latter that I'm looking forward to seeing this week. I'm taking JC and hoping that Tom Hollander lives up to the excited look on LK's face every time we talk about this show at work...

Read the rest of this week's Arts Ahead on londonist

Image shows Royal Ballet: Tales of Beatrix Potter. Photo by Johan Persson

Arts Ahead 7 - 13 December

2010-12-07T18:37:00.000Z

Here's my Arts Ahead for this week from londonist.

There seems to be lots of Shakespeare in town at the moment. More than usual for December, right? It's all Shakespeare and pantos - so close and yet so far away...

I'm off to see Love Story tonight, which I'm looking forward to, despite the early reviews I've scanned. (People don't seem to like it; but "people" are late-middle-age men, and I can't remember the last NEW musical I went to...)

And I'm dithering over what to see from the RSC's offering. This week, there's Antony and Cleopatra: something I've never seen performed, despite studying it on a Shakespeare In Performance type course.

Read the rest of this week's Arts Ahead on londonist

Arts Ahead 23 - 29 November

2010-11-23T17:47:00.026Z

Londonist has a new look! Have you seen it? Check out this week's Arts Ahead for a sneaky peek.

I think it's looking great, but nostalgic that I am, I kinda miss the old version too.

Anyway, there's lots of exciting things going on in London this week, particularly if you're a kid who loves kids theatre. The Little Angel Theatre is storming the city with not one but two shows, and The Gruffalo's back. Peter Hall's The Rivals opens too, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. What a theatre. (He was on Front Row the other night, plugging his di-dah di-dah di-dah rigid iambic pentameter way of reading Shakespeare. I still don't agree.)

My week features two trips to the theatre: one to see Judy Garland The Musical: End of the Rainbow (v exciting), the second to see Stewart Lee's Vegetable Stew with JC, my sis and DM.

Will let you know how I get on.

Read the rest of this week's Arts Ahead on londonist

Wembley: England v France

2010-11-18T18:34:00.002Z

We went to Wembley last night. Here's a picture of that glorious arch with the back of JC's head in the shot.

It was very cold and wet yesterday; the exact opposite of what you'd expect fair-weather football fans like myself to be going out in.

And. Well. England didn't play very well. Stevie G did just fine, but I'm sad to say JC's still never seen him score, live, in the flesh, as it were. There were some new boys playing in the middle, and it seemed like they were a bit nervous: each time someone passed them the ball, they tended to knock it back to the keeper, rather than try anything creative. And I started to feel a bit sorry for that Andy Carrol bloke after the rest of the team had hoofed the ball into the air for the 1000th time for him to jump up and get it, again, and fail to head it to someone useful. Again. He must have nightmares where his eyes are just continually trying to adjust to the speed of a ball flying through the air and his knees are failing to make him jump at the right moment... At least, that's what I'd have if I were him.

One of the goals scored by France was the keeper's fault (never leave your near post open, dude!), something an ex-goalie like your author doesn't like to see. He did make some good saves, though, which was a blessing otherwise the score could've been much worse.

But the trip to the venue was great: Wembley is quite stunning. Something I really haven't quite captured in these photos:

Ooh look. Stevie G's arse:

Sometimes My Job's Just Bizarre

2010-11-17T16:32:00.005Z

Monday started with news about an Olympic swimmer opening the Canary Wharf ice rink. (Turns out she'd come about 8th in ITV's Dancing on Ice, so I guess it's not that strange she popped up to "cut the ice"...)

Yesterday was all about the Royal Wedding. I got to put my Heat hat on, and create a long-range flickrazzi photo-mashup.

Today, I've written about a hoard of Roman treasure unearthed when someone started building a new hotel for 2012.

Then, I get sent this picture of McFly at Heathrow Airport, about to turn on their Christmas lights.

Isn't London wonderful?

An Ideal Husband at the Vaudeville Theatre

2010-11-16T18:10:00.000Z

Once upon a time, I was less than enthusiastic about Elliot Cowan. Yes, he's super good-looking. But I was utterly unconvinced by his Macbeth.

His performance in An Ideal Husband at the Vaudeville has changed all that.

Last night he was witty, smooth, and clearly enjoying himself as Oscar Wilde's loveable dandy Lord Goring. Such better casting than when he failed to make an impression as Macbeth earlier in the year.

Even with a prop malfunction (ripping a purple letter in two as he produced it from the envelope), and a couple of fluffed lines (Wilde doesn't let up on those learning his scripts, does he?), his confidence flowed through the part.

Fiona Button also seems to be having a whale of a time on stage. As the Importance-of-Being-Cecily-like Miss Mabel, she gets a whole lot of the laughs in this pretty serious play. I really liked her "I have no character at all," quips.

It probably goes without saying that the other three leads were great.... you can read more on them in my londonist review, or in this great review from the arts desk.

The play is great too. Certainly thought-provoking; and the only quibble I had was that, as usual, it could've been whittled down slightly into something even more perfect.

But for an enjoyable, grown-up, intelligent night in a West End theatre, I don't think much beats it at the moment.

Read a more thorough review of An Ideal Husband on londonist

Arts Ahead 16 - 22 November

2010-11-16T17:54:00.002Z

There's theatre, arts, dance and film in this week's Arts Ahead.

My week's all about sport and kids, though.

Yoga tonight; football at Wembley tomorrow; and a evening with M&C and baby L (officially the cutest man in my world, bar JC) on Friday.

And I'm holding out for what I hope is going to be a great show next week: End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios.

I suppose even if the storyline's missing or whatever, at least I'm getting to hear those fantastic songs sung live, instead of on that old minidisc (its a 90s thing) recording of my Mum's Diva CDs:

The Man That Got Away
Come Rain or Come Shine
The Trolley Song
Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I'll let you know how it is next week.

Read the rest of this week's Arts Ahead on londonist

Latest West End Theatre Casting News: Anne Marie Duff, Richard Fleeshman, Sharon D Clarke

2010-11-12T18:14:00.002Z

Two lots of exciting cast news on a very busy Friday.

First up, the gorgeous Anne Marie Duff is going to star in Terence Rattigan's Cause Célèbre at the Old Vic next year. Not being a Shameless fan, I have to say, I don't think I've ever seen her in anything, on TV, film, theatre or otherwise. Nevertheless, she's got a reputation for being totally brilliant, so hopefully this'll be one of the Old Vic's successes, rather than one of their failures. Terence Rattigan, directed by Thea Sharrock (again), strong females fighting, 1930s sensibilities being tested? All sounds good to me.

And on a totally different note, the cast for Ghost: The Musical has been annouced. I've been meaning to blog about Ghost: The Musical for a few months now, but not had time. Well, here we are with some quick thoughts at least.

The good news? Sharon D Clarke is a class act, and I'd pay to see her in pretty much anything. Plus, when I met her, she was lovely. I can't think of anyone better to play the part.

And the lovers? Well, Richard Fleeshman's going to be playing Sam, and someone called Caissie Levy's playing Molly. I haven't seen Richard doing anything West Endy yet, but I hope he's good. (Still desperate to see Legally Blonde again, which he's currently starring in....) And as for Caissie, apart from the fact that her name's an overload of vowels, anyone who's been in Hair, Hairspray, Rent *and* Wicked's got to be doing something right. In fact, I think I remember her in the messy weirdness that was Hair earlier this year. (Man, it's been a lo-o-ong year...)

Looking forward to both shows, fingers crossed...

Extraordinary Heroes at the Imperial War Museum

2010-11-11T14:39:00.002Z

It was pretty gloomy, wet and windy when I made my way to the Imperial War Museum earlier this week, as you can see from the photo!

The early start was for a visit to their new show in a new space: Extraordinary Heroes in the new Lord Ashcroft Gallery.

(I chose not to repeat the epithet JC had used earlier that morning when I saw Lord Ashcroft at the museum. It wouldn't've been helpful.)

I thought the exhibition looked great. Obviously there's an aquired taste to the "treasures" in the IWM. The "big machines" bit downstairs really didn't appeal to the school-cadet-refusing part of me. (No, I will NOT learn to march and shoot guns, thankyouverymuch.) And as its remembrance week too, there's always that awkward feeling of potential jingoism and a slight worry that some people, whisper it, quite like war. Or at least get a bit too excited about studying and remembering it. But whatever your feelings about the legitimacy of various conflicts around the world, there's no denying that these are pretty incredible people being honoured. And why not.

Read my Extraordinary Heroes post on the Visit London Blog or check out my Flickr Set from the IWM

Arts Ahead 9 - 15 November

2010-11-09T15:58:00.000Z

I don't know about you, but this week is pretty darn busy for me.

Despite having free evenings all over the place, I'm going to be clocking up not one, or two, but THREE museum visits in three days.

Yesterday, I battled through the cold, wind and rain to the Horniman for a Haitian Altar (more on that later); this morning was all about the Imperial War Museum, and tomorrow sees a trip to the Wellcome Collction for a new exhibition called High Society. I love getting out and about, but getting into work later each day means working later in the evenings... It's a worthy trade-off, though, seeing as I'm getting to see so many exciting things.

What else is on this week? More "fashion as art", lots of new exhibitions, and just a couple of theatrey things.

Read the rest of this week's Arts Ahead on londonist

Picture shows Miss Dior, René Gruau. Circa 1960. Black ink, gouache and watercolour. Private Collection. Copyright: SARL René Gruau

Notes from the Rob Ryan Private View

2010-11-06T13:36:00.001Z

Rob Ryan is one of my most recent "art crushes". As noted in my write-up of the private view I attended this week, my interest / investment covers a few months and various media:

I've loved Rob Ryan's intricate papercuts for a while now. Since being introduced to his work by the fantastic Domestic Sluts last year, I've made the pilgrimage to his Columbia Road shop, Ryantown, bought this skirt from clothkits, and been given a beautiful framed print for my birthday. Yes, I'm something of a fan.

It was really fun to go to the private view with JC. Sadly, the room was too full and too hot for me to say I had a great time, but I'm still really glad I went. JC says he can't decide if Mr Ryan's a zeitgeisty genius, a timeless talent or just a strange obsessive that puts skill before art. I just like the out-and-out romance of his work. And I guess I've always liked text in art.

One thing that was really interesting about the show was the chance to see Rob himself. (Sadly, your writer wasn't feeling on go-getting journo form, so didn't push through to prod him for a Londony quote as she has been know to in the past.)

From the evocative, romantic male figues in his art, I'd been expecting a pre-Sherlock Benedict Cumberbatch playing-Bernard-Bligh kind of figure. Skinny in a 1930s depression-era way. Or at least like slight, and tall, and straight, like Anton du Beke preparing for a particularly traditional waltz.

But no. It turns out, Rob Ryan actually looks like a less cuddly, much hairier version of Chris' dad. Crossed with Danny Baker (GWS). With a bit of Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson thrown in. Not quite what I'd anticipated!

Read more about the Rob Ryan Private View on the Visit London Blog

Pictures show Starry Night by Rob Ryan; and Rob Ryan by Jenny Dale

Theatre News: Oliver! Frankenstein and the Rat Pack

2010-11-05T13:50:00.013Z

It's kind of sad when musicals you think are going to be around forever close. First Avenue Q, now Oliver! are leaving the West End. I just hope everyone that wanted to see it has got around to getting tickets, otherwise, you'll be disappointed! I've seen Avenue Q a healthy two times, Oliver! just the once, but I loved both.

In other theatre news this week, this amazing cast update from the National: Benedict Cumberbatch (that’s Sherlock to you and me) and super sexy Jonny Lee Miller have been announced as Dr Frankenstein and the monster he creates. Which is which? They're going to be alternating parts. My, my. Gonna have to get tickets to more than one show, methinks...

Read the rest of this week's theatre news on the Visit London Blog

Mini! No One Takes Me Further Than You...

2010-11-04T18:07:00.000Z

I love the Museum of London. I had a great time when I went to the opening of their new galleries earlier this year. And they have so many cool things going on there, it sometimes feels like its impossible to read about all of them, let alone write about them.

So I was pleased to be able to feature them on londonist this week. It's a great story, and really suits the quirky, fun nature of this museum and what I think is its can-do attitude to its fantastic new space.

And, I love The Italian Job. It's such a classy film. (I hated it when I first saw it: I was very young and basically lacked the mind-tools required for coping with the inconclusive ending...) I remember trying to talk to my Italian students about it when I worked in Rome: I think the example I was trying to make was for the word "cliff-hanger". My explanations were met with blank faces. It's obviously not one of those films that's crossed borders.

Plus, minis are simply cool. No two ways about it.

Read Mini Coopers Replace Lord Mayor's Coach at Museum of London on londonist

Photo shows The Italian Job Minis in the City Gallery, with the Lord Mayor's Coach behind. Image courtesy of Museum of London

World in London: Mexico, Mestizo and Tequila

2010-11-03T13:19:00.000Z

I was frustrated that the Mexican blogger I'd contacted didn't get back in touch about taking part in our World in London series. But as he wasn't blogging in English, it's maybe a step too far for some people to think about doing what they do in another language. I know it would be for me!

So instead I headed to one of VL's partners: Mestizo on Hampstead Road. It's a restaurant I must've travelled past 100s of time when I worked at M&B, but I'd never ever thought about going in.

It turns out, its quite lovely inside, particularly with the impressive Day of the Dead decorations.

And it was another chance to meet someone who thinks our World in London challenge is interesting, which certainly gives me a boost.

Read the Mexico in London entry in the World in London series on the Visit London Blog

Arts Ahead 2 - 8 November

2010-11-02T18:01:00.001Z

Arts Ahead rolls into November, with a heap of art, theatre and dance things opening this week.

I'm going to see Rob Ryan's new show at TAG arts on Dover Street tonight, (not something I chose to include in Arts Ahead, its bound to be too busy already...) but aside from that, and despite lots of nice invites, I have no other plans for going out.

The reason: CD is coming to stay. Wo-oh yeahhhh, the Will to my Grace returns to the capital once more, armed with an oyster card and an ever-increasing knowledge of how the London Transport system works. (It's not like this oop north, y'see. You want to go somewhere in Manchester, you just walk, he's fond of telling me. I know it's not strictly true. But I never argue with CD. Like I said, he's the Will to my Grace, I don't see him nearly enough and as far as I'm concerned he can do no wrong.)

Read the rest of my Arts Ahead for londonist here

Photo shows:Antonio, Joanne Landis Carnegie Hall Studio, New York Times Magazine, 1967. Part of Drawing Fashion at the Design Museum

A Meeting with the Internet Monster

2010-10-21T18:11:00.000+01:00

Internet Monster: Growl.
Internet Monster's tummy: Growwwl.
Me: What?
Internet Monster, looking forlorn: I'm hungry.
Me: What? How can you be?
Internet Monster: Dunno. Cos you're ignoring me?
Me: No way! I feed you ALL day.
Internet Monster: You do?
Me: YES! I feed you articles at work. I feed you reviews in my spare time. I even give you tweets and status updates throughout the day, both at work and at home, to keep you happy. How are you still hungry?
Internet Monster, attempting to look at shoes over jutting, overgrown monster chin: Meh, that's me. Always hungry.
Me: You are eating me up, Internet Monster. You just don't stop.
Internet Monster, points at growling tummy: Um, but, hungry?
Me: You're never satisfied.
Internet Monster, looking over shoulder into the distance, slightly distracted, mutters: Hun. Gry.
Me: It's exhausting.

Arts Ahead 12 to 18 October

2010-10-12T17:21:00.000+01:00

The combination of birthdays, wedding planning, time off and wintery weather mean I'm not up to much this week.

However, it seems my slightly self-induced lethargy is at complete odds with the rest of the world. London this week is all about theatre. No, dance. No, wait, it's all about art. No, wait, *film*.

Ah, it's one of those weeks with TOO MUCH going on. There's no way you can take in all this, and still have time to appreciate it.

Anyway, if you can bear it, here's this week's Arts Ahead from londonist

Spotted: Mel Giedroyc

2010-09-30T13:58:00.000+01:00

When: Monday night
Where: Comedy Theatre, watching Birdsong

The lovely presenter of The Great British Bake Off was at the theatre on Monday night, watching Birdsong.

I spotted Mel in the queue for the always-confusing ladies at the Comedy Theatre (queues to left and right? Blind corners with more loos hiding behind them? Mirrors that make you look like death? They're all in there...)

Mel was looking punkier than her British Bake Off image, with spikier hair, and maybe sporting some leopard print?

Last time I saw her in a theatre, she was giving an absolutely stunning performance in EUROBEAT: Almost Eurovision! at the Novello Theatre. She was brrrrilliant.

Birdsong was less good. Much longer, far fewer laughs(!), and left me strangely lacking in emotion, despite being about one of the saddest things in the world: trench warfare and WWI. Read my Birdsong review here on londonist.

Image from an orange blog on GBBO

Seeing Yes, Prime Minister with a Political Insider

2010-09-29T21:11:00.002+01:00

It was always going to be interesting, seeing Yes, Prime Minister with someone who used to be an advisor to the guy who's just been made leader of the opposition. (Of course, we didn't know this at the time, but the little insights into the workings of a similar office still stand true.)

JC's first comment was that the set was pretty damn good. "That's just about the size Ed's office used to be," he whispered, before any action had even taken place. "In fact, looks pretty like it."

The second thing he spotted about the same time as me: that David Haig's (as PM Jim Hacker) suit and shoes just weren't right. It doesn't take experience of working in Whitehall to see when someone's costume just doesn't fit the part. A sloppy, ill-fitting, tired-looking suit, and some terrible "comfy" shoes will big, fat, rubbery soles don't scream, "look at me, I'm pushing the Presidential part of my powerful position as Prime Minister of the Britain and Northern Ireland..." It was off-putting.

My betrothed(!) was also quick to give kudos to Emily Joyce's portrayal of Special Advisor Claire. "She's got exactly the right levels of arrogance and ohgodidontknowwhatimdoing for a SPAD," was JC's assessment.

But the main thing that got to JC was that it just hadn't been updated enough for his liking. Just adding references to Blackberrys and the like doesn't suddenly make a show zeitgeisty. Today, people like Sir Humphrey, far from being completely disinterested in what the electorate might want or think (as portrayed in the 80s by the TV show) are now obsessed with it, according to JC. Sure, to reinvent a character would've perhaps been beyond the desires of the audience, but it would've been nice if there was one voice onstage showing a more modern approach to taking the temperature of the people as a whole, through twitter or facebook or whatever. (But any reference to tweets or, dare I say, pokes would've been missed by the majority of the properly ancient audience on the night we saw the show...)

Which leads me to one final point on this funny but flawed play.

There was an excellent example of what I'm going to start referring to as "satire fail" on the night when we were there. You might remember me questioning the weird, I felt, inappropriate laughter at The Little Dog Laughed back in January. There was a similar incident in Yes, Prime Minister. I'm not 100% sure I can remember what the line was exactly, but it was after something about the Freedom of Information act being a bad thing, uttered by a character we should, of course, not be sympathising with. It was a piece of satire. Cue gales of agreement-based Toff laughter from the back, which can't help but leave a bit of a sour taste in your mouth. "No!" I find myself wanting to shout, "It's not funny like that. You shouldn't be laughing. Unless you agree with what's just been said. In which case, I don't like being in an audience with you..."

Satire fail, see?

Read my review of Yes Prime Minister on londonist here, or check out my Your Views piece on the Visit London Blog

Arts Ahead 28 September to 4 October

2010-09-28T18:14:00.002+01:00

October's here! The month of birthdays, Halloween, Harvest and the rest of it.

For London, October is a continuation of September's festival frenzy. Film festivals, Black History Month, Story of London, the Restaurant Festival, a Gaming Festival, and Big Draw for starters...

But I'm getting ahead of myself. There's still a couple of days left in September, and they're all about big blockbuster art exhibitions from Gauguin and Anish Kapoor. Two I quite fancy seeing, in fact.

Read the rest of this week's Arts Ahead suggestions here on londonist

Michael Crawford's Going to Be The Wizard, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!

2010-09-24T15:59:00.002+01:00

This is exciting news. If you grew up watching Mr Crawford in Hello, Dolly at your Grandpa's house like I did, you'll have a soft spot for the performer.

My sister and I also saw him in The Woman in White, but didn't realise it was him underneath the fat suit and the accent until about half-way through.

The Wizard isn't the largest part of all time, but this casting certainly suggests Lord Webber's not holding back when it comes to populating his Oz. Can't wait to find out who the Tin Man, the Lion and the Scarecrow are...

Photo by Gabrielle Crawford, showing Andrew Lloyd Webber, Danielle Hope (Dorothy) and Michael Crawford (The Wizard).

In Which I Tentatively Mention Christmas for the First Time This Year

2010-09-24T08:53:00.000+01:00

We have to be careful with our first mention of the C word at work.

People can get very upset if you start talking about the festive period too soon.

And I have to say, I'm fairly sure mid-late September *is* too soon.

But if you're a theatre show, and you've been in negotiations and rehearsals for a while, and are now looking to start selling tickets for your big seasonal show, there comes a point when you need to start shouting about it. Otherwise, no one's going to know you're putting on a panto!

So here's this week's Theatre News, with references to London's Little Opera House, an exciting new musical, and those Christmassy shows

I'm loving the news about the Pet Shop Boys working on My Dad's A Birdman at the Young Vic. It sounds brilliant, and I can imagine it'll be a show that can, ahem, fly for many years to come.

Spotted: Tim McMullan

2010-09-23T09:00:00.000+01:00

When: Saturday night
Where: Novello Theatre

I'm always pleased to see actors in a theatre. Particularly when its not press night, and they're clearly there because they love what they do.

Tim McMullan, who I've seen playing the melancholy Jaques at The Globe and in Martin Crimp's The Misanthrope in the last couple of years, was in the row in front of us at the Novello on Saturday. We were seeing A Disappearing Number. (More on that to follow, I hope.)

Tim looked brilliantly unstarry. Jeans, converse trainers, and a nicely dishevelled lineny jacket. I'm guessing he was there with his wife or girlfriend, and they made a cool-looking couple.

Hope they enjoyed the show as much as me.

Interview with Henry Goodman

2010-09-21T12:12:00.001+01:00

Photo shows Henry Goodman in Duet for One at the Almeida Theatre. By Bridget Jones

Henry Goodman is one of those actors whose faces you know, but whose names you don't.

I was lucky enough to interview him recently for work. It was over the phone, so I can't really say I've met him. However, he was pretty much charming, as well as worried he hadn't prepared, happily ready to giggle when he'd got a good answer for me, and finally, the victim of distraction.

There are so many fascinating things about carrying out interviews. (I don't think I'll ever get bored of it.)

The more you do, the more you learn, of course. This time's lesson was never, ever say "One last question...". By the time I'd finished my flawed final intro, his attention was gone, and the answer he gave was rambling and useless. Lesson learnt.

My previous lesson was to do as much research as you possibly can. (Yes, yes, I know. I should know this already.) Speaking to Jenna Russell, she told me about her husband being in Women Beware Women at the National, a show I'd seen. But I totally didn't know she was married to one of the leads: Raymond Coulthard. Oops.

So, I read and read and read about Henry. For once, I felt completely sure I'd done enough research to handle anything that came up in the interview. Ask me something about this Mr Goodman now, chances are I'll know the answer.

Was I able to talk to him about being a twin? Being born on Shakespeare's birthday? Being fired from a Broadway show? Whether his schizophrenic father had influenced his career choice? If his friendship with Imelda Staunton is as strong as it was last year? If he felt with this latest role has enhanced or lessened his feelings about being typecast as a Jew?

Nope, but that's the funny thing about the way we interview at work. The "My London" question formats are pretty much grown-up Smash Hits, to be honest. Favourites. Best. Most, etc. Sometimes I think I might as well be asking which is their fave member of Take That...

But I'm not saying that's a bad thing. Chances are Henry Goodman's been asked about his Jewishness before. And his twin. And his father.

Instead, I get the chance to get a giggle out of him while he's trying to explain his love for a yachting shop in Covent Garden. And when questions like that work, they're so much more satisfying. In this media-trained or, at least, media-savvy world, a slightly less common question can be nicely revealing of a real person behind the carefully presented persona.

Here's another picture of him looking a bit less serious as Sir Humphrey in Yes Prime Minister. Picture by Manuel Harlan

Arts Ahead 14 to 20 September on londonist

2010-09-15T18:44:00.000+01:00

Great picture, right?

I'm still desperate to see another Matthew Bourne ballet after completely loving his Nutcracker! at the New Wimbledon Theatre a couple of Christmasses ago. That time, we were lucky enough to hear a Q&A with the man himself. Despite a few years of chasing, I've never been able to secure an interview with him for Visit London... Maybe one day...

Anyway, that's only the tutu on the top of what's happening in London this week. It's a packed one, and I've got two shows to look forward to.

Complicite's A Disappearing Number with the in-laws-to-be (heh!)
AND Design for Living with Moriarty at the Old Vic

On top of that, this week's Arts Ahead gave me the chance to link to one of my fave reviews from last year: Morecambe. Sometimes these things just write themselves. This is an example of one that did. I'm still proud of it a year later. (Ah, the small pleasures of your author.)

Maaan, I hope A Disappearing Number is good. There's so much hype about this show. And you know how I can sometimes react to hype. Fingers crossed for me, everyone.

Read the rest of this week's Arts Ahead on londonist

Dulwich Park, or Why I Love South East London

2010-09-13T13:57:00.001+01:00

It's rather pleasing that, while it takes me 30 minutes to get to work in busy ol' London Bridge from my front door of a morning, another 30 minutes' walk in another direction offers me the chance to take photos like this.

Dulwich Park, to the soundtrack of Wicked, really soothed my insomnia/hangover headache yesterday.

Hurrah for home. Hurrah for Peckham Rye.

The World in One City: Philippe Sibelly's Photography Project

2010-09-10T18:32:00.001+01:00

"Where are you from?" is a question photographer Philippe Sibelly has pondered a lot. Born in Marseilles, Philippe has travelled widely, living in Sydney and Ireland before settling in London.

And it's London's multiculturalism that inspired his World in One City challenge. In 2005, in the run-up to the Singapore announcement that London would host the 2012 Olympic Games, Philippe decided to capture that multiculturalism in a photography project.

A year and a half later, Philippe had a set of 202 photographs, representing each of the countries taking part in the Olympic Games at the time. (Now there are 205). The photos are all is currently on display in Rich Mix in East London. In each Polaroid picture, the subject is holding the previous photo, creating a chain, Philippe explains, like the Olympic flame. In view of our own current World in London blog project, I felt I had to go and meet him.

Philippe turned out to be a fascinating subject to interview. I was restricted by word-length on my work blog, but I'd like to give a fuller picture here. Be warned: it's a long one. If you'd rather read less: read this.

I feel like Philippe's the sort of character that should be being written about in a weekend colour supplement, and left the interview full of ideas to pitch his story around. But at the same time, I know the drill. Is it current? No. Is it unique? Not really. Are the pictures high res? Probably not. Too many barriers, and I have a full-time job and a full-time hobby that'll mean I'm unlikely to have a straightforward time if I start pitching things half-heartedly...

Anyhoo, here's a few of the things we talked about.

"At the start [of the photography project], it was really easy," Philippe says. "I thought, 'I know people from pretty much everywhere.' I tried doing things to challenge people's perceptions. Karim from Peru, the fourth guy, is a refugee from Palestine. So he doesn't look like he's from Peru. But he is. And in the next photo, he's being held by an Israeli, Maya."

"But it became more and more difficult. It started taking so long. I spent hours on email, organising with friends, travelling around the city to meet people from different places. To New Malden to find someone from South Korea. To Woolwich to meet someone from Africa..."

"Some days, I'd travel around and only take one or two photos. It was really, really frustrating."

As well as meeting friends of friends and colleagues, Philippe says he also stopped people in the street to ask where they were from, and encourage them to join the challenge. "Very few people got annoyed," he says. "Really, despite what people say, Londoners are very open. It may be because I'm a foreigner myself, but people were open to taking part."

"Apart from people from Qatar. People from Qatar just didn't want to be photographed. I don't know why. I found one eventually." Ali from Qatar is in traditional dress, something you can spot in other photos: Karma from Bhutan wanted to be photographed in a colourful Bhutanese shirt, and Mario from Croatia in a traditional hat.

Looking through the chain of photos is fascinating. Despite the relative simplicity of the shots, there seems to be so much in each of these pictures. The little slices of London behind each subject are almost as interesting as the people themselves. Philippe seems to remember all of them, and recounts many anecdotes that stand out for him.

About Jonas, a monk from the Solomon Islands; Fredi from Mali, a footballer who played for Tottenham and West Ham; how top chef Giorgio Locatelli wanted to represent Italy, and about Magdalena from Serbia Montenegro.

Magdalena presents what Philippe finds is an interesting question. In his project, she represents a country that no longer exists. Where does she say she's "from" now? The slightly artificial construct of nationality fascinates Philippe. The boys he photographed to represent Haiti (Adam) and Pakistan (Zishaan) have never actually been to those countries. "But Adam said it would make his mother, who's from Haiti, very proud. And Zishaan, well, he thinks of himself as fully English and fully Pakistani. He said to me, 'How can I be half and half? I'm both.' I find that strong sense of nationalism, from people who've never even been to the country they say they're from, very strange."

I asked him about his young kids: part Irish, part French, living in England. "You're right. I mean, who are they going to play for, if they're sporty? If they play football?! Maybe France..." he says with a wink. Maybe they'll play cricket, I suggest. He laughs, "That would be great. I'm a cricket lover myself."

Philippe strikes me as very much an Anglophile. Or perhaps a Londonphile. We should be prouder of our food, he suggests. We're looking after our "borrobikes" better than the French. We're more open than other nationalities.

"There's something interesting in the way people respond to the photos. Londoners, you tell them someone's from Peru, but they look like a Palestinian, they're fine with that. Many other nationalities look at the pictures and they say, suspicious, he doesn't look like me, he can't be from my country. Well, how do you know? Londoners are more open to seeing difference [and accepting it]."

Of the whole list of Olympic nations (a list he chose because it's fairly neutral), Philippe only struggled to find people from about five. "For these five nations I chose someone linked in some way to this place: someone who has lived there, has family there, or even, in the case of Nauru, I settled for someone who knew where it was."

He's got one little niggle. For some reason, Philippe is confused by Darius from Tajikistan. It's almost like he can't put his finger on it, but he doubts that this one subject was telling the truth. Other people from Tajikistan have suggested this guy doesn't quite fit too. While in other cases, Philippe was pleased to challenge people's preconceptions of what different nationalities look like, there's something about this photo that stops him.

In many ways, its a classic example of everything to do with multiculturalism. Fantastic, fascinating, enriching and exciting, yes, but there's always a certain point where all that positivity stops, and something else steps in. In this case, a shrug and a slight suspicion that everything's not as crystal clear as you thought it was. And an acceptance that there will always be unknowns.

Philippe has mixed views on the complex issue of multiculturalism. "Diversity is great, but you can't be too romantic about it. It's not always a positive thing for everyone. When your local shop stops selling your sausages and starts selling samosas, it can be difficult for people to get used to.

"Europeans have lots to learn from other peoples. In the African communities, there's fantastic family cohesion: they eat all together, there's no TV, there's a real sense of respect for family members.

"The fact is, with modern developments, the world has changed. It's so easy to travel now. And communications are so much better with email and Skype. You can leave London in the morning, and be in Bulgaria by mid-afternoon. Travelling to Bulgaria now is like travelling to Guildford used to be!

"The best people can do is live with it, and get the positives out of it. Take the good."

You can see Philippe's World In One City photographs at Rich Mix, or online here.

Deathtrap: Disappointing Despite Jonathan Groff

2010-09-09T23:20:00.001+01:00

I'm so glad I posted that video yesterday. It makes last night's disappointment all the more, well, explainable, really.

You can read my review of Deathtrap here on londonist. But as you can guess, I've got a few more things to add...

Now, first up, I've nothing but praise for most of the cast in last night's performance of Deathtrap. Simon Russell Beale was suitably awesome (reminded me of MH, which is unexpected and quite funny); Jesse St James, sorry, I mean Jonathan Groff filled Cliff's boots perfectly; and Claire Skinner was just great as a fragile 70s housewife. (Estelle Parsons wasn't good, but then her part was a complete mess, so you can't really blame her.)

My quibbles, however, are many. And are mainly with the play, and the way it's been promoted over the last few months. Deathtrap the play is just SO FAR from that "theatrical trailer", I was almost convinced I was in the wrong theatre. Once again, like that Judi Dench Midsummer Night's Dream, the gulf between my expectations and the reality as it happened on stage before me has put me in a terrible mood. I was expecting something epic, filmic, inventive, modern and moody. I was waiting to feel Six-Characters levels of awestruck and breathless again.

Instead, the word that wouldn't leave my head was "kitsch". Now, watch that youtube clip from yesterday, and tell me how far from kitsch it feels.

As well as that, it was baggy and slow at times; obvious in its "get ready to jump" set-ups at others; it was smarmy and smug; and it was old-fashioned - and not in a good way.

There's also a teeth-clenchingly rubbish repeat of what's just happened at the end, with an awkward voice-over that made me feel like I was being treated like an idiot. And there's some problems with the sound; something like an echo whenever Estelle speaks in her not-that-funny accent that really should've been sorted out.

And then, my main quibble: now, I love a bit of self-reference in a play. Any sideways, knowing nodding to the audience generally sends a shiver up my spine. If there's a moment of metadrama to be found in a play, I'll be there, enjoying that particular practice of pointing at theatre through theatre. (Shakespeare does it; Stoppard does it; Six Characters blew me away with it: I'm a fan.)

But with Deathtrap, there was just TOO much. And it was the worst kind of nodding too: one with a big West End theatrey hat on. An expensive, exclusive-in-the-negative-sense (err, non-inclusive?) elitist hat. The kind that says "this is a plaay", with a long, Stewie Griffin style "aay". A witty plaay, that takes place in a thee-ater. The kind that says aren't we funny, we're sending up a sacred artform here, naughty, naughty us.

It's the kind of theatre that puts people off theatre. In many ways, the worst kind.

Perhaps I'm coming across as overly negative. I have to say, I had a pretty bad overall theatrey experience that evening (the lovely ET excepted). Uncomfy seats, coughing and whispering all around, a tall guy in front obscuring half the stage, and being plonked back in Row Q does not a happy critic make.

The funny thing is, I agree with almost all the positive points other reviewers have made. I nodded through those WEW boys - I concur with everything they've said here. But maybe while they liked those things, I didn't.

I can't help thinking I've been left feeling short-changed after watching that damn trailer and, once again, by believing the hype.

Theatrical Excitement: Deathtrap, Complicite, Design for Living

2010-09-08T14:09:00.001+01:00

Oh, what a September it's lining up to be, theatre-wise.

I have to say, I'm super-excited about the theatre I'm going to see this month. It really cures any end-of-the-summer blues that might otherwise threaten.

First up, tonight, is Deathtrap. I've just watched this trailer again at work, and I really am so excited about seeing this play. Let's look at the tick list: first chance to see Simon Russell Beale live: check. Someone from Glee: check. Actress from the TV you really admire: check. A tantalising-sounding plot: check. A chance to give a great friend a cool birthday present: check. Bring it on!

Then, later in the month, I'm going to see A Disappearing Number with JC and his parents. His dad's a retired Maths teacher, so I'm hoping this combo of theatre and numbers is going to go down well as a birthday present.

And finally (for now) it's off to the Old Vic to see Moriarty in Design for Living by Noel Coward.

I'm a very, very lucky person.

Arts Ahead 7 to 13 September from londonist

2010-09-07T18:42:00.005+01:00

I don't quite know what to think about Shoes at Sadler's Wells.

It sounded completely brilliant in its initial blurb, and then I saw a video of the show with various people singing and it rather put me off. Still, the pictures are fab, and that's why its my top pick this week. I'm looking forward to reading reviews of it tomorrow...

In the rest of this week's cultural occurences, the most exciting thing is that I'm going to see Deathtrap tomorrow with the lovely Groff-fancier, ET. I'm really looking forward to it. And desperately trying to avoid reading any reviews of it before I see it. (Damn those "second press night" tickets.)

I've also made a rare decision to turn down tickets to Bedlam at The Globe for Thursday. Sometimes there's just too much going on, and not enough vitamins in one's bloodstream. I can't help thinking that the combination of last weekend's wedding, next weekend's Go Apeing and a damp night out at the Globe in between might just scupper any "staying healthy for September" plans I might've had. I'm slightly gutted, as it means it kills any Full House ideas I had to see everything the Globe offers in one season, AND there's the small issue of it being the first play by A WOMAN ("That woman is.. a WOMAN!" etc - Shakespeare in Love) at the Globe, but sometimes your health has to come first.

Read the rest of what's coming up this week on my londonist Arts Ahead column

Theatre News: James Corden, Ruthie Henshall, Denise Van Outen and more

2010-09-03T18:43:00.004+01:00

Lots of nice celebs in the news for Londony theatrey things this week.

Of course, I can't say I know any of them personally, but I get the impression that this lot are just a nice bunch.

So we get:

James Corden back at the National Theatre
Denise Van Outen back in musicals
Ruthie Henshall back in the West End

All these sound great.

Read the rest of this week's theatre news on the Visit London Blog.

Spotted: Lisa Smosarski

2010-09-01T22:39:00.002+01:00

When: earlier this evening
Where: Tom's Kitchen, Somerset House

Yes, I'm sure there were more famous faces at the launch of Tom Aikens' new restaurant, Tom's Kitchen at Somerset House this evening.

But the only one I spotted was Lisa Smosarski, editor of Stylist magazine, and one-time drinker of tea made by yours truly at Smash Hits magazine.

It was green tea. I don't think I made much of an impression. I think I might've told her I thought green tea tasted of pond water. She was one of those nodding, smiling, indulging-the-crazies people when it came to workies. And I was one of those keep talking, keep smiling harder, force-them-to-remember-how-great-you-are-to-the-point-of-crazy workies. Not a great pairing, I'm sure.

As I said, there were probably far bigger names at the launch this evening, but I wasn't in any position to spot them. Sadly, JC had a going-to-be-sick fainty moment after about three mouthfuls of his gazpacho, and so we had to leave and get an emergency cab back to Peckham and the chance to be perpendicular.

So it seems I've still, after four years, not really engaged in those free new restaurant taster meals other people who work for VL have. It's probably just as well. I just don't think food writing is my bag.

For me, food is fuel or facilitator. You're either just eating it cos you're hungry, and if you don't you'll probably faint (ohhh...) or you're out for dinner with someone getting around the fuel thing cos you actually want to talk to them about something, or needed an excuse to invite them round to yours for more than just a chat.

Hey ho. There'll be other celebs, other invites and other Michelin-starred restaurants. There aren't any other boys I need to look after in quite the same way as JC.

Image of the super-pretty Lisa from the Press Gazette

Arts Ahead 31 August - 6 September from londonist

2010-09-01T14:00:00.000+01:00

It's September at last!

And that means stuff is finally starting to HAPPEN again.

Much as I love-love-love the summer, there's something quite stultifying about August in London. The more the month wears on, the more it becomes apparant that nothing new is really happening, and everyone's just trying to relax while they're cranking slowly up the rollercoaster readying themselves, inch by inch, click by click for the incredible drop, the sideways spin, the whoosh and the zoom of a September stuffed with new and exciting things to do. And a stomach-churning feeling that doesn't really stop until you get to Christmas.

It's a bit like Sunday Night Syndrome, only it lasts for about half a month. Not good.

So, happily, we survived, and while this week, it's mainly about how many big West End shows are closing (how many? Seriously, it's about 20!) while the theatres ready themselves for the Next. Big. Thing.

Unless you're the Royal Court. In which case, you have the next big thing already.

Read the rest of Arts Ahead on londonist

A New Statue in Potter's Field

2010-08-27T18:38:00.000+01:00

Pottering around in Potter's Field in my lunchbreak earlier today, I found this guy.

You never know what you might find in More London, I swear. Camels one week; statues of ancient tribespeople the next. I'm not sure I particularly like this sculpture: somehow it really doesn't seem to fit with the area, where there are more abstract pieces of art, and a very modern vibe. But I'm sure he'll blend in eventually. That's what London's like, right?

You can see more of my More London pics on flickr and decide for yourself if he fits in.

Theatre News: Our Kev does Dicky III

2010-08-26T18:40:00.003+01:00

There's loads of long-range theatre news about this week.

My favourite being the annoucement that Kevin Spacey's going to do Richard III at the Old Vic for 2012. And it'll be directed by none other than that chap Judi Dench described as "My dear boy" when he was about 16 and starting out, Sam Mendes.

Now there's something to get excited about in the Olympic year. There's a show I'd sign up for ticketing alerts and endure endless near-irrelevant emails in the meantime...

In my head it's all modern and twitchy, and Our Kev's grown a moustache to signify that he's a bit evil, and all the women are played by total stars. But that's just in my head.

We'll have to wait and see.

Read the rest of this week's theatre news here

Arts Ahead 24-30 August from londonist

2010-08-25T18:40:00.000+01:00

This last week of August is becoming almost farcical in its rubbishness, culturally and meteorologically speaking.

Apart from the end of the month, and at last, a move into September and some sensibleness with a return of the government, children back in their schools and proper plays opening in the West End, there's really nothing much at all to look forward to.

And the weather is utterly, relentlessly bad.

Happily, many Hendrix fans are excited about a new exhibition at the Handel House Museum, so at least other people are looking forward to something. I guess if you're a fan, this exhibition must sound completely unmissable. It's the kind of thing that the other musicy venues, like the BME and the Hard Rock Cafe can only dream about, really.

Here's the rest of this week's culture in Arts Ahead from londonist.

Photo shows Jimi Hendrix at his flat at 23 Brook Street. Copyright Barrie Wentzell. www.barriewentzell.com

Sherlock Update: What Moriarty Did Next

2010-08-13T14:02:00.010+01:00

It probably won't come as a surprise that I loved the BBC's new Sherlock mini-series.

To my mind, Sherlock had everything a good TV show should have. Fab scripts, nice twists, beautifully shot, wonderfully acted.

And, as m@ londonist has pointed out, it was saturated with shots of sexy London. OK, so the second episode of the trio was significantly weaker in my opinion, but I'm willing to overlook that for the classy quality of the rest. The third episode fight scene alone was a terrific piece of TV: it had me holding my breath in wonder...

So, too, did the the arrival of Moriarty. I was paused, waiting for a quiet moment to start breathing again. Here, to my mind, was an unknown, although clearly terrifically talented, actor chewing up the scenery like he'd been born to do it. (His performance soon disipated my all my initial disappointment that Moriarty wasn't a woman.) It was quite a surprise. I suppose I was expecting Moriarty to be played by someone as familiar to me as Sherlock, Watson, Mrs Hudson and Lestrade are.

Turns out, of course, that he's been around for a while. Of course. Andrew Scott was even credited in Saving Private Ryan. And he's been winning awards left, right and centre in London's theatres for a while now.

Researching the upcoming Design For Living at the Old Vic, I came upon this:

Rather pleasing, don't you think?

In Which I Mention Starlight Express in the Context of Work

2010-08-12T19:03:00.000+01:00

And my birthday.

I can't help it.

If I'm to bring theatre news to the Visit London Blog every Thursday, in order to increase inbound links to theatre pages, and talk about shows we'd never have the time to write about normally, I'm going to have to, as my first-ever Italian student Franciso would say, "put a piece of my heart in the pan."

Here it is. Wrapped up in sensible updates about what's happening this week in the merry-go-round of theatrical press releases, is my birthday, my first (and probably still best) West End musical experience, my fave nearly-Dorothy and a two references to actors who I happen to find quite sexy.

Be honest: it's less messy than what Francisco was suggesting, isn't it?

Thursday Theatre News: More Henry IV, Birdsong News & the Apollo Victoria's 80th

Crazy London: Camel Rides by Tower Bridge

2010-08-11T20:38:00.007+01:00

Camel Rides in More London, originally uploaded by ZoZo79.

Sometimes you head outside for a lunchtime wander around More London and Potter's Field and there's nothing of interest to distract you from the silent in-head planning of your afternoon / next big idea / wedding.

Today was different. Today, there were camels, giving kids rides around on the grass by the river. A nice stunt by easyjet.

A good photo op for your now-never-without-her-camera correspondent.

Arts Ahead 10 to 16 August from londonist

2010-08-10T21:58:00.000+01:00

It's very rainy and grey in London today: not the kind of weather that makes you make plans, book tickets, and get excited about going out, it has to be said.

Sometimes, August in London is just a bit strange. Empty desks in offices, totally unexpected weather, a weird Bank Holiday, not much going on, the feeling that you could be on holiday, but you aren't...

Nevertheless, here's the latest on what's going on in mainstream theatre, art, dance and opera-ish things from londonist: Arts Ahead.

Image shows Elena Glurdjidze as Cinderella. Photo by Daria Klimentová © English National Ballet

Educating Rita: From Liverpool's Past to Trafalgar's Present, Still Short of the Mark

2010-07-30T19:23:00.007+01:00

Let me tell you a story.

Once upon a time, many, many years ago, there was a University Drama Society, based at Liverpool University.

And one day, many, many years ago, that University Drama Society, without a hint of irony, decided to put on a play: that play was Educating Rita. A scouse play. A Liverpudlian play.

The (non-Liverpudlian) students involved worked very, very hard, but it has to be said, there was little new or interesting about the show. It was staged in quite an interesting room; the actors involved had to work very, very hard to get all their lines learnt, but when it came to the crunch, the show was distinctly average.

The End.

Incredible really, that, to my mind, there were about 100 layers of meaning, subtlety, nuance and so on that we missed. Plodding slightly thoughtlessly through in our 90s grey-scale nike trainers, I guess. But then I sometimes think, that's students for you.

The show's currently running in London. I went along with my sister. Despite similarly fantastic hard-working actors and another interesting venue (the Trafalgar Studios), once again, I felt it was an average production. (Happily, she loved it.)

I was struggling with my review for londonist one morning, when it suddenly turned into a political piece about funding. Very unlike me.

It's a shame, because I think Willy Russell is a fantastic writer. There's just something a little bit twee, a little bit stuck-in-a-time-warp, a little bit workin'-cla'ss-heroww (as EW might say) about his work. I almost wish someone would ask him to script a story that they're in charge of, and he might do better.

For delicious one liners, he's up there with Mr Stoppard. For universality of theme, timelessness of emotion, I don't think he even gets close.

Theatre News: Get Ready for the Legally Blonde Obession to Start!

2010-07-29T18:49:00.001+01:00

GREAT news this week.

Legally Blonde are finally doing what A and I have wanted for AAAAges. Bringing out a cast recording.

Finally! Instead of the four songs I've had going around my laptop from the promotional CD I got at the launch, I can now start obessing over each nuanced line, each tricky-to-decipher lyric, each swell of orchestral brilliance. OMYGOD and so on...

I can dance home imagining my life is a musical once more. And I haven't done that since I finally cured myself of the odd Wicked! obession that struck after my Roman Holiday... ("Happy is what happens when all your dreams come true", etc.)

Shame we have to wait until 16 August. It'll be worth it.

Read the rest of this week's theatre news on the Visit London Blog

Spotted: Ian McNeice

2010-07-29T18:41:00.002+01:00

When: last night
Where: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

I always think it's nice when actors go to the theatre. I think it must mean they really like it.

I'm sure half the reason they're there is to be seen, too. Like journalists who need to be seen in the right places talking to the right people, actors must sometimes feel like they're constantly in an endless audition, never knowing when someone might spot them, be inspired, cast them in something wonderful and make them rich.

Anyway, Ian McNeice, who's currently appearing in Henry VIII at the Globe, was at the theatre's world premiere of Anne Boleyn last night, watching someone else play Cardinal Wolsey (Colin Hurley), which must've been weird.

The play itself was totally ace, and Hurley actually made a better Wolsey than the one I saw McNeice portray earlier in the summer...

Read my review of Anne Boleyn on londonist

Photo of Ian McNeice as Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII by John Tramper

Arts Ahead 27 July to 2 August from londonist

2010-07-28T18:41:00.004+01:00

There's lots of theatre and dance on in London as July rolls into August.

And a perfect chance to use this fantastic image of Carlos Acosta. One day, I'll have to stop this theatrical merry-go-round and get off and onto a dance one. I'd love to see a ballet again, or something else exciting at the Coliseum or Sadler's Wells. One day...

But there's very little in the way of new art shows this week. For that, you have to wait until all the big blockbusters start up again in September.

For this week, I'm looking forward to another night at The Globe, this time seeing a non-Shakespeare play. (My third at the venue, after that Camden-set The Frontline, and Trevor Griffiths' epic A Life of Thomas Paine.)

This time, it's Howard Brenton's new play, Anne Boleyn. Starring the gorgeous one from Spooks, Miranda Raison. I'll let you know what its like...

Read the rest of Arts Ahead: What's On In London 27 July - 2 August on londonist

Spotted: Samuel Barnett, AA Gill, Michael Grandage and...

2010-07-23T18:06:00.005+01:00

When: last night
Where: at the National Theatre

Ahh, press nights at the National. I never fail to be impressed and goggle-eyed at all the various theatrey, actorly types that show up on opening night.

At last night's performance of Danton's Death, I spotted History Boy Samuel Barnett, Olivia Williams (I think), critics galore including AA Gill, and directors Michael Grandage and Rupert Goold. (The latter was almost comically tanned.)

Funnily enough, I'd spotted lots and lots of boys who looked like the could've been History Boys at one point or another throughout the evening.

Then, on the way out, I spotted Samuel Barnett, chatting to another couple in the foyer. "Ooh, look! A History Boy," I whispered to JC.

Two minutes later, he wakes up and says "Was that guy in the white shirt famous?" Ye-es. "He looked cool - very down-to-earth, and not at all showy" was JC's reaction.

Image shows Samuel Barnett, photo © Joseph Marzullo from here.

Theatre News: Good News for The Railway Children

2010-07-23T17:32:00.000+01:00

I haven't seen The Railway Children, despite going on an exciting pre-theatre-installation tour of the ex-Eurostar terminal they're using for the set, and taking some photos.

People who have been seem to have really enjoyed it. As did the reviewers.

So, the crack team behind the show have got what they wanted: an extended run that hits Christmas and all the rest. Well done, people.

Here's the rest of yesterday's theatre news from the Visit London Blog

Arts Ahead 20-26 July on londonist

2010-07-21T18:58:00.000+01:00

It's all a bit dance-heavy for London's cultural calendar this week.

And I could hardly find any decent art openings at all in London during the next seven days. (Feel free to argue in the comments if you know better.)

Well, I suppose that's the height of summer for you. Everything that's long running continues running until the big change around of September. So if you spot a change in the weather and want to head inside to a big blockbuster art gallery, you probably won't be seeing something brand new this week.

For me, it's Danton's Death at the National on Thursday. The joy of seeing the yummy Toby Stephens again (I've seen him in A Dolls House and The Real Thing, as well as other things), increased by the fact that Taylor James (JC's school mate) is also in the show. Fingers crossed it's a good one.

Off the beaten track (and my weekly Arts Ahead column is supposed to be firmly "on the beaten track", just to be clear), I am getting a bit fluttery about the possibility of seeing this at the weekend. Shall I go ahead and book tickets? Shall I?

Read the rest of Arts Ahead on londonist

Image from Over The Edge at the Barbican

Writing About Reading: Anna Karenin-on, and on, and on...

2010-07-18T22:00:00.001+01:00

It took me ages.

However, I'm proud to announce I did manage to finish the epic conversation piece that is Anna Karenin.

(Oh, and here's a blog post that contains spoilers, just in case...)

It's quite a miracle that I did make it all the way to the end. Don't get me wrong, it's a brilliant book. A gripping story. The writing style, modern, naturalistic, stream-of-consciousness stuff is amazing. And all the heavy themes in it are also engaging, of course.

But once Anna's gone, and all the complications with the soldiers and all the rest kicks off, I must admit I kinda lost interest. The final few chapters, with all Levin's philosophising, were pretty hard work.

But finish it I did. And there's a great sense of achievement in finishing your first piece of proper Russian literature, even if you are now in your 30s.

And what will I take away with me from this fantastic novel?

The wonderful descriptions of Anna's fingers, with all the references to her rings
Tolstoy's remarkable ability to write women
Levin and Kitty finally getting together over that wordgame at a party, which reduced me to tears on a train
The now-interesting passages about the atheist Levin's feelings during his religious marriage ceremony
And finally, the fact that I will never, ever, no matter how long I live, storm out of an argument and hail a sled. Ever. Which seems a shame.

Henry IV Part 1 and 2: Stunning Histories with a Gorgeous History Boy Lead

2010-07-16T18:28:00.002+01:00

What a stunning pair.

As Hal and Falstaff, Jamie Parker and Roger Allam made my day on Wednesday. They totally owned the stage, the play, the audience and all the applause with their spot-on performances.

Here's my review on londonist

Not knowing the plays, there were moments where I was completely bowled over by the brilliance of the text. Falstaff's language in particular features some incredible writing.

I loved the see-saw pairing of Hotspur and Hal in the first part; both sons, both young, both learning about life: one fun, one fanatical; one slovenly, one soldierly; one reluctant hero, one pushing too hard for heroism.

In the second, the moment when Hal took his dying father's crown, placed it on his head and runs off, only to have old Henry wake up and give him a proper telling off was amazing, particularly for someone who totally didn't see it coming...

And of course, the extraordinary, bitter moment when the gorgeous History Boy Parker's Hal grows up and rejects Falstaff... well, it has me in goosebumps now, just writing about it. I can still see Allam's limp hand starting to shake against his fat thigh as the full force of what has just happened starts to sink in.

It was a long old slog, getting through both parts of Henry IV at the Globe. Don't get me wrong: the bits that were brilliant were really brilliant, but as I always think about History plays, someone should be ruthless about the cutting.

And I almost always think they should be sharper with their pruning shears for shows at the Globe too. Everyone knows I love that theatre. It's up there in my favourite places in the whole of London. But even I have to admit its not a comfy place to be. I'm sure no one would ever complain about seeing a short, snappy version of a brilliantly acted Shakespeare play, particularly if they're standing. And yet they continue to play 3-hour versions of these shows...

I suggested to MA from SOLT that they should strip out all the extra stuff, knock the two together, and create one, funny, serious, moving and pretty epic play. I'm sure he thought I was being sacrilegious. But I think it'd work perfectly.

Photo shows Jamie Parker (Prince Hal) and Roger Allam (Falstaff). Photograph by John Haynes

Avenue Q's Closing!! (And Other, More Upbeat Theatre News)

2010-07-16T07:16:00.002+01:00

What a sad, sad day. Avenue Q is closing.

There are so many people I've imagined taking to see this show, and getting them to love it, and fall in love with musicals and theatre and all the rest of it. And now that's not going to happen. (Although there was very little likelihood it'd happen anyway, but that's not the point. Now it definitely won't.)

Ho hum. There's always the soundtrack, which I once listened to exclusively for months on end, until it made me feel a little bit seasick. (Other soundtracks I've done this with include Wicked. My sister told me she did it with Sweeney Todd. I blame our parents letting us listen to the same Joseph tape for several years' worth of car journeys. Altogether now: "Way, way back, many centuries ago", etc.)

And here's the rest of this week's theatre news from the Visit London Blog

The Curves of The Prisoner of Second Avenue

2010-07-15T18:19:00.001+01:00

There I was, just a little while back, talking about the brilliance of building dramatic tension.

And who was the writer of that perfectly crafted piece? Oh, just our old pal Shakespeare. More than 400 years ago. Turns out good writing lasts...

Sadly, the dramatic tension didn't build terribly well in Neil Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue. I'll admit that while watching the play, I felt tense. Particularly in the second half.

But that was mainly because I was worried it wasn't going to get any better than the very first, admittedly very funny, scene. And I was thinking it was going to end badly. And on top of that, I was concerned that, having dragged JC along with me, he'd be as disappointed as I was.

Happily, JC didn't dislike The Prisoner nearly as much as I did. He started to, on the way home, when I'd finally got my thoughts together and started a detailed, shall we say, "rant", about how disappointing the "storyline" was.

But it wasn't a totally awful evening. (Well, JC was there, for starters ;-) I really, really enjoyed watching Jeff Goldblum and Mercedes Ruehl. They're two fantastic actors. With a consumate grasp of how to do comedy. I could've watched the two of them messing around in a tightly-written comedy for hours.

Indeed, it's an interesting position to be in, really relishing a performance, but developing a hatred for a play.

I suppose, though, that being in that situation is hugely preferable to watching a play you love being massacred by actors you're starting to despise... which I'd never really thought about before.

Learning curves, not dramatic curves, then.

Read my review of The Prisoner of Second Avenue on londonist

Arts Ahead 13-19 July from Londonist

2010-07-13T18:57:00.003+01:00

Here's this week's Arts Ahead from londonist, with what I hope is a nicely balanced range of arty, dancey and theatrey things for you to choose from this week.

And me? Well, this week I'm seeing Jeff Goldblum in The Prisoner of Second Avenue AND the lovely Jamie Parker in Henry IV Part 1, and Part 2 at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Back-to-back Shakespeare comes around again.

Yup, it's a busy week. Here's Lyn Gardner from the Guardian giving people some good advice on surviving the six-hour Shakespeare slog tomorrow. (And check out the 47 fainters from a Macbeth show earlier this year mentioned in the comments - a Globe record! Can you believe it?)

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. Let's hope it's good.

Read the rest of this week's Art Ahead on londonist

Image shows Studies on Light: Twilight, 1859 by Camille Silvy. Private Collection, Paris

A Mary Queen of Shops for Museums?

2010-07-13T08:43:00.003+01:00

Here's Ronald Grant talking about the currently under-threat Cinema Museum in Kennington.

This guy is clearly

not camera shy(!)
a reality-TV friendly "character"
in possession of an amazing, if seemingly completely inaccessible, collection of stuff
in need of help

So, can we have a Mary Queen of Shops for museums, please?

Theatre News: Shrek, Les Mis, Sister Act, and the Young Vic

2010-07-09T17:56:00.002+01:00

Here (a day late) is Thursday's Theatre News from the Visit London blog.

Hopefully, I'll be able to write more fully about yesterday's Young Vic 40th Anniversary Season launch over the weekend.

As with most things at the Young Vic, I found it really inspiring and interesting. I do love listening to David Lan talk, even when he's in front of a reasonably big audience, as he was yesterday morning.

Anyhoo, here's the rest of this week in theatre terms:

It's a long way off, but everyone's favourite green ogre will make his West End debut next summer.

Shrek The Musical opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in June 2011, and is a stage version of the familiar film, with an original score by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire. You could pair this show with a matinee of Wicked, and have a green-themed day in the West End!

Read more from me on the Visit London Blog

Image: Brian Darcy James as Shrek, from the Broadway production

Arts Ahead 6-12 July from Londonist

2010-07-06T17:53:00.000+01:00

This week's Arts Ahead for londonist comes with a heavy dose of jealousy.

No, I don't have tickets to La Bête at the Comedy Theatre. No, I'm not seeing I Was Staring At The Ceiling And Then I Saw The Sky at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Nor am I seeing Mr Boys in Wolfboy, but I have to say that sounds slightly dubious to me...

No, I didn't go to the press preview of Jean Nouvel's amazing-looking Serpentine Pavillion Gallery. (Well done Dean and JP on their ace pieces about all that redness). But I'll probably see it soon...

I don't even have the smug feeling induced by having a review to link to in the Last Chance To See section.

But here, despite all this, is your link to what's new and cool and exciting in London this week. Aren't I selfless, giving you all this, and taking nothing for myself??

La Bête opens at Comedy Theatre tomorrow, starring big theatre names Mark Rylance, David Hyde Pierce and Joanna Lumley. It's the story of a dramatist, a clown and a princess. Also opening tomorrow is I Was Looking At The Ceiling And Then I Saw The Sky at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, about the effects of a LA earthquake on a bunch of 20-somethings.

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The Comedy of Errors at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

2010-06-30T19:00:00.005+01:00

Ahh, the Open Air Theatre. Ahh, theatre trips with your sister. Ahh, the joy of an unfamiliar Shakespeare comedy. Ahh, summer pleasures.

I don't know The Comedy of Errors. At all.

Turns out, it's hilarious. And not just in that imagine-these-ancient-jokes-being-funny-once kind of way that Shakespeare sometimes is. This felt really funny *now*. I know slapstick and visual comedy of one sort or another will always tickle funny bones. Ditto for gratuitous gorilla suits (file under "Never Not Funny"). But there are moments in the text that really sparkle for me too: Dromio's talking about the fat maid being like a map of the world could've almost been part of a Jimmy Carr sketch, somehow. And riffed nicely with the current World Cupish kind of foreigner stereotyping we'll be enduring until 11 July.

After dwelling on the show, I realise I also love Daniel Weyman's Antipholis of Syracuse. In a slightly silly way, I'll confess he reminds me of MC from school's Demetrius. It's an incredibly measured performance, building brilliantly from excited naivety to slight bemusement, to cheeky confusion, to pure bewilderment, to utter incomprehension. If he moved too soon at any point, the perfect arc of the show's comic tension would spoil. But he doesn't. Top notch.

I also love the way shows at the Open Air Theatre go for the playful, the magical, the theatrical. It's been the case in most of the things I've seen there recently. As well as a heavy dose of class and quality, everything seems to be dusted with an air of the "wonderful", in the real sense of the word.

They're full of wonder.

There's just something classic about a group of people, forming a tail behind a leader, reacting as one to a percieved threat. In his review, Charles Spencer (who hates everything I like about TCofE, including Shakespeare's story, and likes everything I don't) tired of what he regarded as the "Keystone Kops" routines. A and I, relishing the childish wonder of seeing this kind of tableau working perfectly, compare it to The Enormous Turnip, and file this sort of thing in that "Never Not Funny" drawer.

And the Open Air Theatre's actors, with their audience in daylight for at least half of the show, also seem to have perfected the "cheeky glance to the audience" to a tee. Both Dromios execute this perfectly, as do several other members of the cast. And it has me on the edge of my seat every time. Feeling their frustrations. Laughing at their expressions. *In* the play. Captivated.

It's something that I think The Globe could learn from, to be honest. (Gasp as ZJG seems to suggest something at The Globe could be improved!) Slick moments of 21st-century audience interaction seem so much more successful at the Open Air Theatre - why? Is it because these guys are on your level? Somehow feel closer? Who knows.

Anyway, I loved it. And cried at the end, which does reveal the play's aching heart, despite what Mr Spencer would have you think. And I reviewed it for londonist and for work, if you want to read more.

Spotted: Darius Campbell (formerly Danesh)

2010-06-30T08:29:00.001+01:00

When: last night
Where: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

I've spotted a fair few "faces" at Regent's Park in the past.

And while at this year's Shakespeare performance (The Comedy of Errors) there were fewer than at Hello, Dolly! last year's award-winning musical, A and I were lucky enough to spot the lovely Darius, plus bird, enjoying the summer warmth, and a fantastic show.

I wasn't around for Darius' X-pop-factor-idol TV appearances. He wasn't really on my radar when he was in the charts. But I did see him shine in that dreadful Gone With The Wind (he was the best thing about it), and A is always really nice about him, saying he's a good bloke, and v professional.

Having worked with him in the past, A was tempted to go and say hi. But he was a long way away, and we didn't really fancy interrupting his night out.

We did see him being pestered for an autograph as we left.

Theatre News: Gemma Arterton, William Shakespeare and More

2010-06-25T08:38:00.000+01:00

Here's my week's theatre news, courtesy of the Visit London Blog.

I've seen Gemma Arterton on stage in London before.

She was in The Little Dog Laughed earlier in the year, playing a fairly mundane, flaky, 20-something girl (no stretch, to be sure), but she made a pretty good job of it.

And I read an interview with her in Stylist, which painted her as a pretty down-to-earth actress with a bit of a brain. I was kind of drawn to her, which makes a change for a Stylist interviewee.

So I'm pleased to see she's scored another acting role, this time alongside Stephen Dillane, in what sounds like a pretty interesting Ibsen play, The Master Builder, at an interesting theatre, the Almeida.

Other news to make me giddy comes in the form of the RSC's announcement about the 8-plays-in-10-weeks thingamyjig at the Roundhouse. What a company. What a venue. What an idea. What a delight.

Whenever I think about A and I getting numb bums and possible DVT and slightly delirious during a day of Shakespeare during The Histories at the Roundhouse, I feel like I have to remind myself we actually did it. And it was wonderful.

Happily, I've been offered the chance to see the two parts of Henry IV back-to-back again this summer, this time at The Globe, so looking forward to that one.

Read the rest of this week's theatre news here

Arts Ahead 22-29 June from Londonist

2010-06-23T14:05:00.002+01:00

The list of things I'm missing out on this week is running high:

I said a firm no to Welcome To Thebes at the National earlier in the week
I didn't go to Sister Act last night
Or the londonist drinks
I'm not being scared to death by Ghost Stories when it transfers on Friday
I'm not seeing The Tempest as part of the Bridge Project on Monday
Nor am I seeing Richard Fleeshman make his debut in Legally Blonde, also on Monday

And the reason?

It's wedding season. Between the Saturday just gone and the coming Friday, I'm attempting to conserve my energy for yet another stonkingly long day full of fun, excitement and ultimately knackering socialising. I've also spent time buying a hat. Cilla would be proud.

And on Monday, it's all about being a good daughter-in-law to-be with a trip to the Royal Albert Hall to see my future father-in-law sing. Hurrah.

If, unlike me, you're feeling adventurous this week, here's a list of what's happening in the coming week:

It's all kicking off in the art world this week. There's the BP Portrait Award opening on Thursday at the National Portrait Gallery, Wolfgang Tillmans' London-inspired art at the Serpentine Gallery from Saturday, and Fiona Banner's Duveens Commission will be unveiled at Tate Britain on Monday.

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Image: Harry by Michael Gaskell. One of the shortlisted works for the BP Portrait Award 2010