Sunday 15 June 2014

My Week With London, Photos : LOCAL LOVES

Hello, hello! It was quiet week this week. Just the one theatre trip and some riverside catch ups with friends. I spent the weekend having some drinks in the garden (which turned into jagerbombs in Brixton, deary me), doing some life-admin and pretending I'm a grown up by buying peonies from Marks and Sparks. 

The weather was lovely though so here are some sunny snaps...


Embankment footbridge

Covent Garden rickshaws

Bobbing along the Thames

National Portrait Gallery
Next week is looking fun - seeing my new fave band in Soho, drinks with an old school friend and a football bbq at mine!

xXx

Friday 13 June 2014

Skylight, Bill Nighy & Carey Mulligan at Wyndham's Theatre : LOCAL LOVES

I saw Skylight starring Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan last night and it was WONDERFUL. I’ve been walking past the theatre for weeks, gazing at the posters and dreaming of getting a ticket so I was absolutely over the moon when a little email pinged up in my inbox inviting me along!
 

 
Skylight centres around Kyra and Tom – a young woman and older man – who brought an end to their six year affair after Tom’s wife discovered their illicit relationship. The play joins them three years after this, in which time Tom’s wife has died of cancer without giving him the forgiveness he so craved and Kyra has dispassionately removed herself from the situation.

In Kyra’s cold London council flat in late December, Tom and Kyra reminisce, flirt, argue, shout and throw. It’s thrilling to see them slipping back into their old and familiar relationship while past tensions quickly rise to the surface. 

Bill and Carey are utterly convincing in their roles – Carey has a maturity to her performance (I think it’s that amazing voice of hers) that makes the age gap completely plausible. And there’s a youthfulness to Bill’s portrayal of Tom's desire for forgiveness and poorly concealed feelings of ownership.

The show is directed by powerhouse director Stephen Daldry, who recently directed Helen Mirren in The Audience and also created the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony with Danny Boyle. Yeah, pretty big-time hey?!

Skylight is one of those shows that feels like a pure master class in acting. Bill and Carey act their socks off and I suggest you find a way of getting a ticket. 


Tickets...

It’s on until 23rd August 2014 at the Wyndham’s Theatre by Leicester Square/Covent Garden. There is the odd ticket left still and they can be booked here.  Or alternatively you can queue very early in the morning on the day you’d like to see the show and try and get Day Seats at 10am – these are a bargain at £15 and usually on the front row of the Stalls so well worth the early rise!

Or, if your can’t get yourself down to the box office, there is an NT Live broadcast of the show on 17th July. That’s right - an actual live performance will be played in lots of cinemas in London! All the info is here.  There’s been a fair bit of controversy surrounding NT Live broadcasts as some people believe it discourages people from physically going to the theatre as they can see a show on the cheap at their local cinema. Personally I disagree – I think it’s the perfect way for people to access what they usually couldn’t, then tempt them into the theatre to see the real deal. What do you think?

So yes, there you have it gang, another bloody good play is on in fair London town. Get yourself along and witness the wonder.

Have any of you seen it already? I’d love to know your thoughts!

xXx

Sunday 8 June 2014

My Week With London, Photos : LOCAL LOVES

Hi again gang! Hope you've all had lovely sunny weekends - how frickin' good has the weather been?! I am writing this in a slouchy sun dress sitting in my little garden and waiting for my hangover-busting wagamamas delivery to arrive. It was my sister's engagement party last night so I'm feeling a little worse for wear after tottering home at 4am when it was starting to get light and the birds were singing VERY loudly.

It's been a mega busy week again folks - two theatre trips, a friend's gig, an evening at the Oval watching the cricket and a lot of family celebrations. I'm pooped! I think a visit to the outdoor pool in Holborn may be in order in the coming week for a bit of healthy rejuvenation. But let's finish this week first shall we? Here you go...


Amazing breakfast at Dishoom in St Martin's Court - been dreaming about the chai ever since

Coffee on New Row in Covent Garden

Late night tubing after an evening at the Southwark Playhouse

Little lunchtime friend in Leicester Square

Wondering Westminster after a visit to the Savoy Theatre

Sunny signs

Essex vs. Surrey at the Oval, 20 20 

Industrial beauty

xXx

Tuesday 3 June 2014

The Roof, Fuel Theatre : LOCAL LOVES

On Friday I was lucky enough to attend the opening night of The Roof – the brand spanking new show from Fuel Theatre. Fuel make great shows by taking risks and this was a big one that totally paid off.

Sitting snugly behind the National Theatre it’s performed in a car park – yes, a car park! Who’d have thought it?? Bugger off cars, we’re going to make some theatre hereNow, what they’ve done is put free-running, contemporary dance and gaming into a big pot, mixed it together and thrown it out onto a ring of rooftops with an audience wearing headphones standing in the middle. True 360 degree theatre. Does it sound like anything you’ve seen before? Didn’t think so!

Because of my job I get to see a lot of theatre (jammy git) but I’ve never seen anything like this. There was such a buzz in the air as we crunched our way across the gravel of the car park and donned our headphones. Walking under an arch and into the ring of roofs we turned up the volume and got in the gaming mood as Nintendo songs were played into our ears.

After a couple of headphone-selfies, and some excellent posing from my sister and her pal...


 .....the lights dimmed and the game began.....

Out of a chimney-like box a player in a red jumpsuit appeared and Level 1 began. He ran and jumped and flipped and climbed over the roofs, killing monsters and winning prizes, buying energy and shooting guns. It was so damn exciting! The skill of the performers was incredible, every single movement was done in the style of a gaming character. Blank faces as they fought, stiff backs as they ran.




I won’t spoil it too much but I have to say the best bit for me was the sound (created using incredibly clever Binaural sound technology) and the way the entire show timed in with it. Absolutely everything you hear is pre-recorded but you’re forever looking over your shoulder and spinning on the spot to see who shouted out from the crowd or shot a gun, led by your ears. The performers had their timing spot on, it must have taken forever to perfect.




It’s on until Saturday 28th June and you can buy tickets here - tickets for performances before 8th June are £24.50, then it’s £29.50 thereafter, but if you’re unemployed, a full-time student or under 26 you can get the concession rate of £19.50.

Performances don’t start until 9.30pm as they have to wait for the sun to go down so its the perfect opportunity to explore the Southbank! I’d suggest having dinner or drinks at one of these fine establishments:
  • The BFI has two awesome places under it's roof and is the closest place to the show – The Riverfront which is nice and casual or Benuga which is pretty snazzy. Go for burgers and pints.
  • The Roof Garden bar at the Southbank Centre – stunning views of the city. Go for pimms.
  • The Swan Bar at Shakespeare's Globe, lovely buzzy place – leave about 20mins for the walk back to the show. Go for a gin and tonic.
  • The Oxo Tower – if you’re feeling flash! Check out the blog I wrote when I went for my birthday. Go for a cocktail.
  • Gordon's Wine Bar – just across the river (so not strictly the Southbank, cheeky). Go for wine and cheese.

If you're going to The Roof or have been I'd love to hear what you think of it so leave a comment below! Has anyone ever seen anything like it?

xXx

Sunday 1 June 2014

My Week With London, Photos : LOCAL LOVES

It's been a busy, busy week in London town. I went to the press night of Bakersfield Mist starring Kathleen Turner, saw Nick Helm at the Soho Theatre, had drinks on the Southbank, went to the first night of The Roof (blog post about that to follow...) at the National and went to a blogging workshop at the Finchley Literary Festival! 

What have you been up to this week? Did you get any good snaps? Leave your instagram links in the comments, I'd love to see them!


Words of wisdom at Embankment Station

Drinks at the BFI on the Southbank

Book stall under Waterloo Bridge

Skatepark under the Southbank Centre

My wonderful chum Ilayda got some great news so flowers were in order

1984 at the Playhouse Theatre

London's north bank, taken from Embankment footbridge
Excited for next week....

xXx