Someone famously remarked about a performance of Hamlet that it was full of quotes. Well, I felt the same about Carmen. It’s full of famous tunes and memorable songs. Not surprising as it’s the world’s favourite opera and has been mined by artists, composers, filmmakers, writers, advertising agencies and a hundred others seeking to exploit […]
Alan Ayckbourn’s Ten Times Table at Richmond Theatre | Review
Ten Times Table (1977) is a comedy about people who like being on committees. It arose when Ayckbourn had to relocate his theatre in Scarborough from the library to new premises. This involved spending many hours in meetings. He became fascinated with the personality types to be found there and in particular how they used […]
English National Ballet 70th Anniversary Gala | Review
What a night. English National Ballet celebrated its platinum anniversary with a feast of music, dance and reminiscence. Archive film footage showed key moments in the evolution of the London Festival Ballet (coined to cash in on the post war Festival of Britain at the Festival Hall) from humble beginnings in 1950 to the change […]
The Sleeping Beauty at Curzon Richmond Cinema | Review
This is a leaping, weeping, sleeping beauty that like Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way. The sets are gorgeous, the costumes are tremendous, the music is spine-tingling, the dancing is unmatched, the choreography is superb, the conductor Barry Wordsworth is outstanding and Ross MacGibbon’s direction for the screen catches every nuance of every […]
English National Ballet’s Le Corsaire at London Coliseum | Review
A red carpet occasion to celebrate ENB’s 70th Anniversary and a host of stars on stage and in the audience. From my seat I was in touching distance of Darcey Bussell, Fiona Bruce, Sir Ian McKellen, Bruno Tonioli and Bill Nighy to name a few. On stage we were treated to a cornucopia of delights; […]