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

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.

Arts Ahead 20-26 July on londonist

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