May 28Aida, Royal Opera HouseI love an Italian opera, but this was the first one I didn’t like. Nothing to do with the artists, singing, music or that tune (so good, it got a reprise), but the staging. I didn’t know the plot of Aida, and with a good view for a standing £11…Opera7 min readOpera7 min read
May 26Harrumble! Bleak Expectations, Criterion Theatre, LondonSpoof Dickens with voluminous complicated plots, satire, and a narrator writing his memoirs to pay off a tax bill — it can only be comedy Bleak Expectations. The Bin family — Pip (Flip Top Bin) and his sisters Pippa and Poppy have a happy existence with their devoted mother and…Theatre Review4 min readTheatre Review4 min read
May 21Retrograde, Kiln TheatreHollywood royalty. Impeccable gentleman. Talented actor and director fighting stereotypes, tropes and racism in Hollywood and promoting better parts for actors of colour. …Theatre Review3 min readTheatre Review3 min read
May 19The Other Fellow (2022)Whilst the debate continues about who would make the best Bond, what about those whose name actually is James Bond (and have to live with it?) Especially if you aren’t a suave super spy, or desire to be associated with the extreme smoking, Aston/Bentley loving, womanising ‘blunt instrument’ franchise. …James Bond4 min readJames Bond4 min read
May 18Brutal Comedy: Private Lives, Donmar Warehouse, LondonNoel Coward’s take on love literally equaling death has impossibly glamourous Elyot (Stephen Managan) and Amanda (Rachael Stirling) as a divorced couple who can’t live with or without each other. Unfortunately for them, and their new spouses, they end up in the same hotel, honeymooning right next to each other…Theatre Review4 min readTheatre Review4 min read
May 11Kingdom of Heaven: The Director’s CutUnfairly known as the Ridley Scott that’s a bit of a turkey and clunky? Prince Charles Cinema’s season of long player films restores Kingdom of Heaven’s reputation through a showing of the Director’s Cut version. Whilst I can’t recall the original film detail for detail, there is more nuance now…Movie Review7 min readMovie Review7 min read
May 8Peter Doig @ Courtauld Gallery, LondonColour popping portraits. Sublime use of colours, textures and layers of paint to suggest people and place. Characterful. I went in not knowing a lot about the art or the artist; just saw an advert and liked what I saw. Which sums up Peter Doig — a Scottish painter who…Art Exhibition Review3 min readArt Exhibition Review3 min read
May 7Mike Nelson: Extinction Beckons @ Hayward Gallery, LondonAnd well, extinction can be fun. I relished this series of installations. Plus Hayward Gallery staff were super nice, informing calmly when you needed to queue and what was needed. I didn’t know anything about the exhibition or Mike Nelson before I went. I’d just seen the picture of the…Art Exhibition Review5 min readArt Exhibition Review5 min read
May 4Underground Car Park Odyssey: A Tour of the City of London With The Gentle AuthorIt teemed with rain, I slopped my way to St Paul’s Cathedral, London through slithering puddles. Thankfully the Gentle Author wears a recognisable hat, and we were able to shelter under the expansive porch. When we were ready to move (at high speed) the sun shone — hooray! …The Gentle Author4 min readThe Gentle Author4 min read
May 3Further Than The Furthest Thing, Young VicPerformed in the round, this delicate and acutely felt drama draws you in with music, excellent lighting and the use of a cloth as the sea. Something isn’t right on the island — a change in the water has been noticed by Bill (Cyril Nri). Francis (Archie Madekwe) has also…Young Vic5 min readYoung Vic5 min read