Tag Archives: Edinburgh

The Knight Residence Serviced Apartments Review

Posted on by

logo-tkr1.png.284x60The Knight Residence is a modern 6-storey townhouse on a quiet street between the two main train stations in Edinburgh, Haymarket and Waverley. There are two topiary balls in silver sparkling pots on either side of the front door. And a buzzer entry system for residents who have not yet checked in. Colin Stone MA, the General Manager of The Knight Residence, greets us from the concierge desk, situated in the lobby between the front and inside doors, and gives us a tour of the facilities and our city two-bedroom apartment.

Coffee & DVD’s

First things first: the keys. We are given a front door key and a key to our apartment as well as an electronic key ring sensor that opens the inside door of this townhouse. A nifty safety feature that I like.

The ground floor of The Knight Residence is a cosy living space full of newspapers and DVD’s. There is also a press and go coffee machine incase residents want a cappuccino to go. My partner is instantly drawn to the smell of roasted beans and makes us each a coffee before taking a seat on one of the two armchairs.

“We offer free wifi,” says Colin while calling the lift to take us to the 2nd floor. “But you can rent any of our DVD’s for £2.00 if you want a change from Netflix or Blinkbox.”

I often get lost in big hotels and forget where my room is. But that won’t be an issue here. When Colin ushers us from the lift to our apartment, we notice that all the doors have namecards on them. Ours says ‘Miss M Volpi,’ which makes us smile.

Colin opens the door and deposits our bags in the first bedroom. This apartment has a video ID entry system (incase you are expecting guests), laminate floor in the hall, one twin bedded room and one double room (each with a wardrobe, dressing table, set of two white bathrobes and slippers, alarm clock and TV),  bathroom, lounge, dining room and kitchen. Every room looks chic and clean. And there is plenty of natural light.

The Kitchen

“We’ve stocked the kitchen with a few breakfast essentials for you,” says Colin while walking into the open plan sitting room and dining area that adjoin the kitchen at the back of our apartment. “Just to make you feel at home.”

The fridge contains two large cartons of fruit juice (orange and cranberry) and there is a sliced white loaf ready for toasting in the bread bin. But what impresses me is the selection of cereals, biscuits, jams, spreads, teas and coffees all displayed in a large wire storage rack on the kitchen counter.

There is Alpen, Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, and Weetabix. Shortbread that looks homemade. Good quality raspberry and strawberry jam and orange marmalade. There is a choice of either Lurpak butter or Flora spead and teas ranging from herbal to traditional. There are fairtrade sachets of instant hot chocolate and freeze dried coffee (both strong and decaf) alongside a large 4-cup cafitiere with one pouch of freshly ground coffee. I often have trouble deciding what I would like to eat for breakfast. But The Knight Residence really does offer a selection of morning food to suit all palates.

The kitchen is fully equipped with toaster, microwave, hob, oven, fridge, sink and washing machine. There is a selection of cutlery and ceramic plates/mugs as well as plastic plates, cups and bowls for children. You could easily prepare a home cooked meal here. And we are sad that we have pre booked a table at Amarone restaurant instead.

The Bathroom

Colin shows us where the bathroom is before leaving us to get ready for our evening out in Edinburgh.

The bathroom is lit by spotlights and has a mirrored back wall. It’s a big space with a neat toilet basin and a sink big enough for two people to use at the same time. There is a bath with an electric shower overhead on the far side of the room and a heated towel rail next to the door.

The Knight Residence is big on protecting the environment. Not only are their profits from the car park used to plant native trees in Scotland (www.trees4scotland.com), their choice of toiletries are all eco-friendly and in eco-friendly packaging. I’ve never come across the ‘BeeKind’ range of products from Gilchrist & Soames before. But it’s a snazzy concept in looks, logo and logic.

“BeeKind to yourself by not using products with parabens, phthalates or artificial colours. BeeKind to your neighbours, animals, waiters and waitresses. Most importantly, BeeKind to the environment so future generations can enjoy your planet’s breathtaking beauty.”

The 30 ml bottles are all made from paper and the main ingredient in each product, whether it be shampoo, conditioner or body lotion, is honey. A portion of BeeKind’s proceeds are used to support honey bee and sustainable pollination research.

The Knight Residence also encourages you to re-use your towels instead of having them washed ever day of your stay.

The Personal Touch

“If you need anything at all, just ring down to reception,” says Colin before exiting our apartment. “We can order you a taxi for later or provide you with personalised directions and a map of how to get to where you want to go in Edinburgh on foot.”

My partner and I veg out in front of the TV for an hour to unwind, before phoning Colin and asking him to book that taxi…

The Knight Residence is much more than a home from home. It’s a haven of efficiency and environmentally friendly living. ALL your worries are obliterated from the moment you step through that door with your name on it. And ALL you can do is relax and let the pampering begin.

If the personal touch is what you’re looking for, then The Knight Residence should be on your accommodation list for that next trip to Edinburgh. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

 

*Our City two bedroom apartment was £402.00 per night. It accommodates 4 adults and 1 child.

Other prices are as follows:

City studio apartment: £264.00 per night
City one bedroom apartment: £287.00 per night
City two bedroom apartment: £402.00 per night
Comfort one bedroom apartment: £264.00 per night
Comfort two bedroom apartment: £402.00 per night
Comfort three bedroom apartment: £598.00 per night

*Rates quoted are inclusive of utilities, service and VAT. Ancillary services, such as phone, fax or newspapers, will be charged as taken.

Car Parking is charged at £7 per night. Profits from car parking are used to plant native trees in Scotland. www.trees4scotland.com

 

We like…

 

THE LOCATION

 

THE BUILDING

 

THE STAFF

 

YOUR NAME ON THE DOOR OF YOUR APARTMENT

 

THE SECURITY

 

KNIGHT KNIGHT SLEEP TIGHT TEDDY BEAR

 

THE KITCHEN SUPPLIES

 

THE ECO TOILITRIES

 

THE SERVICE

 

 

Contact details:

 

The Knight Residence

12 Lauriston Street

Edinburgh

Scotland

EH3 9DJ

United Kingdom

 

Telephone number: +44 (0) 131 622 8120

Email: info@theknightresidence.co.uk

Website: http://www.theknightresidence.co.uk/

 

Welcome To The Cinema of Childhood | Film News

Posted on by

Filmhouse, Edinburgh has announced a UK-wide film season, Cinema of Childhood, curated by filmmaker Mark Cousins and inspired by his latest feature documentary, A STORY OF CHILDREN AND FILM, released in cinemas April 4th (Dogwoof).

boot

The Cinema Of Childhood season will launch April 11th at Filmhouse, BFI Southbank, and other key venues across the UK. The season, which will tour the UK for a year, includes 17 brilliant films from 12 countries, spanning 7 decades. Most have rarely been seen in the UK – some are totally new to UK audiences.

“These are some of the best films you’ve never had a chance to see,” Cousins says. “Films about childhood take us on fantastic voyages. E.T.: THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL was a magical bike ride across the moon. THE JUNGLE BOOK showed us the bare necessities.  A boy in THE RED BALLOON stole our hearts.  But beyond these mainstream and arthouse classics, there’s a world of great cinema about kids which is hardly known, but just as brilliant.  Welcome to that world.  Jump into it.”

“Fly to the moon on gossamer wings with the little boy in Astrid Henning-Jensen’s PALLE ALONE IN THE WORLD from 1949.  Get close to the flame of life with Renko, in Shinji Somai’s 1993 masterpiece, MOVING.  Body-swerve the bullies in Karel Kachyna’s Czech cinematic wonder, LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC, from 1965. See LITTLE FUGITIVE, the American film from 1953 which helped inspire the French New Wave. Discover the work of one of the world’s greatest movie-makers,
Mohammad-Ali Talebi from Iran with three of his best films – THE BOOT, BAG OF RICE, and his poetic masterpiece WILLOW AND WIND.” Mohammad-Ali Talebi will visit the UK for the first time in April, as a guest of the British Council to launch the season with Mark Cousins at BFI Southbank, Filmhouse and other venues to be announced.

Most of the titles in the season are featured in Mark’s documentary A STORY OF CHILDREN AND FILM, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year to 5-star reviews, and has since been acclaimed at many other major festivals worldwide, including Edinburgh, Karlovy Vary, Telluride, Toronto, Stockholm and Dubai.

The season opens up a world of wonder for audiences of all ages who are keen to explore beyond Hollywood’s idea of childhood. The films are both specific to their own time and culture, but also universal in their depiction of childhood emotions, hopes and fears. Children everywhere have so much in common – only the worlds they inhabit are different.

Emotionally engaging with audiences from 8 to 80, Cinema of Childhood invites filmgoers to go on a global adventure with Mark, to discover previously unknown movie masterpieces and to see the world anew through young eyes. Uplifting and exhilarating, these are films to brighten your day.

 

The season is managed by Filmhouse, which has licensed the films for a year, and is creating new digital materials where necessary to make the films available to the widest possible range of cinema venues.   Filmhouse has also licensed the VoD rights for many of the titles, enabling audiences to watch these titles at their own convenience from home or on the move via Filmhouse Player.

The project is backed by the BFI’s Programming Development Fund, awarding funds from the National Lottery. The producer of the season is Adam Dawtrey, who also produced (with Mary Bell) A STORY OF CHILDREN AND FILM.
Filmhouse (Edinburgh) and BFI Southbank (London) will programme the entire season from April to June. Other venues already confirmed to host Cinema of Childhood include Queen’s Theatre (Belfast), Chapter Arts Centre (Cardiff), Broadway (Nottingham), Dundee Contemporary Arts, Glasgow Film Theatre, Eden Court Theatre (Inverness), the Roses Theatre (Tewkesbury), Duke of York’s (Brighton), Watershed (Bristol), Cornerhouse (Manchester) and Showroom (Sheffield),along with selected Picturehouse and Curzon cinemas nationwide. Films from the season will also screen at special festival events, including the Glasgow Youth Film Festival screening ofThe White Balloon on 9th February, Zoom International Youth Film Festival and WoW Festival in March, and the Brighton Festival in May.
Further venues will be announced in due course.

In addition there are plans to screen films from Cinema of Childhood in partnership with several organisations concerned with child welfare. These screenings, which will be targeted at a mixed audience of childcare experts and the general public, will explore representations of childhood from a professional perspective, looking at issues from different cultural and global viewpoints.

 

The full list of titles screening in the Cinema of Childhood season are:
• “Willow and Wind” (Bid-o Baad). Iran, Japan, 1999. D. Mohammad-Ali Talebi. 77 mins. A boy breaks a school window, and must mend it himself before he’s allowed back in class.

• “Bag of Rice” (Kiseye Berendje). Iran, Japan, 1998. D. Mohammad-Ali Talebi. 80 mins. A little girl and an old blind lady decide to carry a sack of rice across Tehran.

• “The Boot” (Chakmeh). Iran 1993. D. Mohammad-Ali Talebi. 60 mins. A little girl craves a new pair of red wellies – but then loses one.

• “The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun” (La petite vendeuse de soleil). Senegal, Switzerland, France, Germany 1999. D. Djibril Diop Mambety. 45 min. A feisty crippled girl tries to improve her life by selling newspapers on the streets of Dakar.

• “Hugo and Josephine” (Hugo och Josefin). Sweden, 1967. D. Kjell Grede. 82 mins. The lonely daughter of a rural pastor makes friends with a wild boy who lives in the woods.

• “The King of Masks” (Bian Lian) China, Hong Kong, 1997. D. Wu Tian-Ming. 91 mins. An old illusionist buys a young boy to become his apprentice – but the boy isn’t quite what he seems.

• “The White Balloon” (Badkonake sefid) Iran 1995. D. Jafar Panahi. 85 mins. A stubborn little girl wants a new goldfish, and won’t let anything get in her way.

• “Tomka and his Friends” (Tomka dhe shokët e tij) Albania, 1977. D. Xhanfise Keko. 78 mins. A gang of Albanian boys in WW2 become secret agents for the Resistance when German troops occupy their village.

• “Palle Alone in the World” (Palle alene i verden). Denmark 1949. D. Astrid Henning-Jensen. 25 min. A boy wakes up to find Copenhagen deserted, and it becomes his giant playground.

• “Ten Minutes Older”. (Par desmit minutem vecaks). Latvia 1978. D. Herz Frank. 10 mins. One close-up, 10 minutes long, of a small boy’s face as he watches a thrilling puppet show.

• “Long Live the Republic” (At’ zije republika) Czechoslovakia, 1965. D. Karel Kachyna, 134 mins. A bullied boy tries to survive in a Czech village as the Germans retreat and the Russians advance.

•  “Moving” (Ohikkoshi) Japan, 1993. D. Shinji Sômai. 124 mins. A girl struggles to come to terms with her parents’ divorce.

• “Forbidden Games” (Jeux interdits). France, 1952. D. René Clément. 86 mins. A boy and a girl retreat into a fantasy world to escape the horrors of WW2.

• “Crows” (Wrony). Poland, 1994. D. Dorota KÄdzierzawska. 63 mins. A neglected girl steals a younger girl to become her surrogate mother.

• “Little Fugitive”. USA 1953. Dir Morris Engel, Ray Ashley, Ruth Orkin. 80 mins. A 7-year-old boy runs away to Coney Island when he thinks he’s killed his older brother.

• “Children in the Wind” (Kaze no naka no kodomo) Japan, 1937. D. Hiroshi Shimizu. 88 mins. The idyllic village life of a Japanese boy falls apart when his father is falsely imprisoned.

• “The Unseen” (NespatÅené). Czech Republic, 1997. D. Miroslav Janek. 53 mins. Documentary about Czech blind kids with remarkable talents, including taking photos.

 

Amarone Edinburgh Restaurant Review

Posted on by

HPlogoAmarone restaurant is majestic inside and out. It is situated in Edinburgh’s financial district, St Andrews Square and is a former safe – known as the ‘Vault.’ The high domed ceiling and archways are the two centrepieces and the tall windows fill the place with light – albeit street lights, as we are booked in at 7 pm.

We are greeted by two male hosts near the entrance and pass the bar and open kitchen, on the way to our romantic candlelit booth – situated right at the back of Amarone, on an elevated dining area. The restaurant is completely full, with an eclectic mix of diners from students to sophisticated retirees.

The white walls compliment the dark walnut floor and the drop lighting, ceiling decorations and rows of gallery style photographs, give that contemporary look which Amarone promise on the website. Our Italian waitress offers to take our coats as we get settled in the booth and hands us the wine list and a la carte menu.

Vino e mangiare

The wine list is the best that I have seen in a UK Italian restaurant. Not only do they offer six different versions of Amarone (a rich, Italian dry red wine that is 15-16% alc/vol), their house whites and reds are better than the norm and still reasonably priced.

We ask our waitress what is most popular by the glass and opt for the house white Sauvignon – Altana di Vico Sauvignon Triveneto – and the house red Merlot – Ardesia Merlot IGT Veneto – both £18.95 per bottle and £6.45 per large, 250 ml glass.

Browsing the starters, we see classic favourites like minestrone, crostini, homemade chicken liver pate and beef carpaccio. I like to eat locally sourced food where possible and choose the Capesante con Pancetta – seared Scottish king scallops served with grilled pancetta ham, with a sun dried tomato and chilli dressing. My partner opts for seafood too, to allow space for a carbohydrate-laden maincourse, and picks the Cozze Vapore  – mussels with white wine, flat leaf parsley, garlic and olive oil.

I can’t visit an Italian restaurant and not have a pizza or pasta dish, so we decide to share the pizza verdi – fresh spinach, rocket, ricotta cheese and shaved parmesan with garlic and chilli oil – and the Petto d’Anatra all’Amarone – pan seared duck breast, served pink, with an Amarone wine sauce, braised Savoy cabbage, sautéed potatoes, pancetta and confit of figs.

Focaccia

As our waitress walks off with the food and drinks order, another appears with a focaccia. We look at this pizza plate of Italian bread, topped with Parma ham, parmesan shavings and rocket, and wish we had not ordered a pizza for maincourse…

Our second Italian waitress sees the ‘I don’t know how I’m going to eat all of this’ look on our faces and provides some encouragement.

“Compliments of the house,” she says. “Mangia, mangia!”

 ’Mangia, mangia!’ is my most treasured Italian phrase and the first word that I could truly understand without translation when I visited my father’s family as a child – it means ‘eat.’ I have not heard it for some time now though. My nonna (grandmother) used to repeat this during every meal that we spent together in Florence and you could see the joy in her emerald eyes as we tucked into her four lovingly prepared courses with enthusiasm. I smile at the memory and look at the focaccia. It smells too good to waste, so we each take a slice.

I am not easily impressed when it comes to Italian restaurants in the UK – after being brought up on my father’s and nonna’s cooking – but this bread is exceptional. It’s lighter than traditional focaccia, but the dough is flavoursome and the consistency is just right. I try not to eat half – as I want to enjoy the rest of this meal. My partner, however, cannot restrain himself and ends up eating three quarters of it himself.

Antipasti

The scallops and mussels arrive in large white bowls, with an extra bowl set aside for the empty mussel shells.

There is a handful of spinach and rocket separating my four scallops and each one has a teaspoon of dressing on top. It’s a simple arrangement that works. I have a tendency to overcook scallops – a cooking trait that I get from my mother, who overcooks most food – so it is a real treat to eat scallops that slide down the throat just like oysters. Yum.

My partner is almost finished the mussels by the time I have eaten two scallops – my nonna would be proud of his enthusiasm – but manages to show me a novel way of eating them before they are all gone. He uses an empty shell to pick out the rest of the mussels. It’s a unique idea that’s much easier than using a fork – and one that I must remember.

Pizza e carne

I’ve been looking forward to the maincourse – as I’ve not tried duck in Amarone sauce before. But when our waitress places this plate of carne in front of me, I notice how thin the sauce is. Instead of allowing it to simmer into a heavy reduction, which I like, it looks like the chef has just splashed some Amarone straight from the bottle onto my plate.

I keep an open mind though and tuck in. The sauce does not stick to the meat, like I thought, but the duck is tender and tasty nonetheless – and the sautéed potatoes are addictive.

Happy, contented sounds come from my partner’s side of the booth – making it obvious that he is enjoying the pizza verdi. But he gives up after two slices – this selection of Italian food has defeated him. I taste a slice of pizza and immediately fall in love with the soft ricotta cheese. It’s too good to leave.

“Could you box this up for us,” I ask our waitress. “We’ll have it tomorrow for lunch.”

Dolce

Being used to large portions of carbohydrates, I have left just enough room for il dolce.

There are 7 desserts on offer in Amarone and all are traditionally Italian. The prices are reasonable, with the most expensive being the Formaggi Misti at £6.95 – a selection of Italian cheeses served with oatcakes and honey. The Tortino di Formaggio – mascarpone, honey and ginger cheesecake on a crushed gingernut biscuit base – sounds unusual and delicious. But I opt for the pannacotta – as it’s light.

Pannacotta con Lamponi

Our waitress puts down the plate in front of me – but leaves two spoons, which makes my partner smile. This is a simple dessert, arranged simply on the plate. No fuss or embellishments – just the vanilla pannacotta with 5 large dabs of raspberry compote surrounding it. My partner puts his spoon in first.

“Mmmm,” he says with closed eyes.

I scoop a piece of pannacotta – and do the same.

Not everything in Amarone is as perfect as the focaccia, seafood, pizza, duck breast and pannacotta. The red wine list, however good, is pricy when you opt for something other than the three house reds. The restaurant could do with an Italian host at the door who oozes my nonna’s love of food and wine. And the Amarone sauce that drenched my duck, could have had more substance…

BUT, Amarone is all the more charming for a couple of imperfections. It is the only Italian restaurant that I’ve tried in the UK so far – bar my father’s – that is worthy of my nonna’s cooking. Most Italian restaurants have front of house charm. Fewer have food with charm.

Amarone’s food is made with love and is the perfect place to take your love. Well done to owners, Mario Gizzi and Tony Conetta. As they say in Italy, a dopo (see you later)…

 

Editors note: We did eat the pizza for lunch the following day – and it was just as good cold.

 

Our meal for two:

1 x Focaccia di Parma £7.95

1 x Cozze Vapore £6.75

1 x Capesante con Pancetta £7.95

1 x Pizza Verdi  £10.25

1x Petto d’Anatra all’Amarone £16.95

1 x Pannacotta con Lamponi £5.25

1 x Altana di Vico Sauvignon Triveneto 250ml glass £6.45

1 x Ardesia Merlot IGT Veneto 250ml glass £6.45

Total: £68.00 + tip (£34.00 per head for two people having starter, maincourse and dessert + one large glass of house wine each)

 

We like…

 

THE LOCATION

 

THE BUILDING

 

THE ITALIAN WAITRESSES

 

THE WINE LIST

 

THE FOCACCIA

 

THE SEAFOOD

 

THE PIZZA

 

THE PANNACOTTA

 

THE FOOD PRICES

 

 

Contact details:

Amarone
13 St Andrew Square

Edinburgh

EH2 2AF

Telephone number: 0131 523 11 71

Email: info@amaronerestaurant.co.uk

Website: http://www.amaronerestaurant.co.uk/edinburgh_amarone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In The Middle With You – Trinity Laban Theatre | Theatre Review

Posted on by

In The Middle With You – Trinity Laban Theatre
Reviewed 23/01/2014

Trinity Laban Theatre, London, SE8 3DZ

A broken watch can be two things. For two seconds a day it is perfectly right, and in its own internal world it stretches each of those seconds to 12 hour lengths. This broken watch lives its entire life repeating the same cycle of movement, repeating itself every second, every hour, every 12 hours but now it’s frozen in this single moment. Hagit Yakira’s In The Middle With You has echoes of this concept, focusing on the repetitive nature of our lives and exploring what happens when we need a break from it.

img_3582LR

Yakira has designed the piece to be an exploration of the subtle moments between “depression and boredom”, between explosive emotion and mundanity, between the everyday and the real or imagined breakout paths that one can take to recharge ones soul. These moments are often tiny, but here we can luxuriate in the idea of a single moment stretched to breaking point. We can let a emotion run its course rather than have it constrained by discourteous time cutting it off.

The five performers use expansive physicality, loud movements, to take us through what could be a person’s lifetime in microcosm, or a single moment crammed with twitching, reflexive thoughts. Loneliness, friendship, reliance on others, grinding repetition of daily tasks set against frequent desires and thoughts of escape to a more colourful and spontaneous world. That grinding nature of life is shown holistically through the spoken words of the piece, the dance and the music. Persistence is the name of the game here in the face of bleak odds. In the extraordinary “swimming” scene, we see Sisyphean repetition from one dancer which is then supported, replicated and experienced by the rest. Time again here is stretched so the repetition and occasional moments of beautiful synchronicity become hypnotic before we crash into the exuberant and uplifting ending.

Each of the five performers (Takeshi Matsumoto, Sophie Arstall, Mariana Camiloti, Ben McEwen, Kiraly Saint Clare) has a distinct personality, and it is an interesting choice to let their true personalities shine through rather than create characters for them. It’s refreshingly honest to see the dancers become tired, to see them laugh, to embellish and to support each other so fully. Throughout the performance there is a motif of interpersonal support, catching each other when spinning out of control, steadying each other when falling (vital to point out that they are, of course, not actually falling over and bumping into each other and are, in fact, graceful and highly proficient dancers) which provides a warm bedrock above which the cold repetition of the mundane can exist without damaging the characters too much.

Review of In The Middle With You.

With permission granted to the audience by Hagit, by the music and by the performers to let go of time and revel in its disruption, the lack of control is an odd feeling. There will be a divide between an anxiety that a moment has been overextended and a serenity that comes from having all the time in the world to just look at people doing powerful things in front of you. The various movements, or sections, are quite different from each other which is, unfortunately, at times a little jarring. It takes a little while to regain the shows theatrical momentum when the sections shift but it’s not really a problem to worry about.

It’s a dynamic piece that allows an audience and performer the time to reflect on what each movement means to them. At times it’s funny, at times quite sad. It is a well thought out and intelligently realised bit of work and at under an hour for a performance it is one that affords no excuse to decline an opportunity to witness it.

The show had been shown in full at Laban Theatre in November 2013 to a sold out audience and this showcase was a way to raise press interest and get more momentum going before the British Dance Edition in Edinburgh next week.

There are two more dates confirmed after BDE:

Wednesday 5th February 2014, 7.30pm
Quad South Hall, York St John University, York, Yorkshire, YO31 7EX Arts Faculty
Box Office 01904 876433

Thursday 13th February 2014, 8.00pm   
Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, 10 Square Rd, Halifax, HX1 1QG
Box Office 01422 349422

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqsHisQ-B24
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVP57YfQArM

 

Images by Rachel Cherry

Laurence Clark Inspired | Comedy

Posted on by

If you want to catch some comedy, Laurence Clark might be what you are looking for.

Laurence-Clark inspired

From mountain climbing to Doctor Who, via the Swedish chef from The Muppets, this consumate comedian sorts out once and for all what’s truly inspiring. In his inimitable style Laurence flips our idea of what’s inspirational on its head. After a sell out Edinburgh run last year, the show now takes to the road. Expect absurd logic, death-defying stunts and unusual varieties of crisps… just don’t expect to come away ‘inspired’!

 

“Blackly funny.” Daily Telegraph

Inspired focuses on how Laurence is often told he’s “inspirational” for doing ordinary, everyday activities. ‘It’s my pet hate’ says Laurence, ‘whether it’s for being married, doing stand-up or having kids, it just seems like they thought I’d never amount to much. I love to inspire people with my stand-up comedy but don’t call me inspirational for just getting on with my life!’

 

“I would not only recommend this show but urge everyone to go out and buy a ticket immediately” ««««« Edinburgh Guide

 

In 2012 Laurence featured in the BBC1 Documentary, We Won’t Drop the Baby, which was Pick of the Day in The Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday and The Telegraph. Laurence has also topped Shortlist magazine’s Britain’s Ten Funniest New Comedians.  He has appeared on BBC’s Newsnight in an authored feature, and as a talking head in the BBC2 documentary Are You Having a Laugh? He is regularly called upon to comment on social issues on radio, TV and in the press and regularly writes for the Independent. He consistently has successful Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows, all of which have garnered a multitude of 4 and 5 star reviews and Inspired matches this existing high standard.

 

“Any vaguely sentient being ought to leave this stupendously funny and thought-provoking show with their sides split and their minds buzzing.” The Stage [MUST SEE]

Amused Moose Laugher Award Finalist 2012

«««« Time Out «««« Scotsman «««« Metro

«««« The List «««« Chortle «««« Fest «««« ThreeWeeks

«««« Broadwaybaby.com «««« Edinburgh Evening News

««««« Adelaide Advertiser ««««« National Student

««««« Edinburgh Guide

 

Inspired was commissioned by the Unlimited programme, part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Laurence was the only stand-up comedian to have been commissioned by the Cultural Olympiad programme.

 

Laurence Clark: Inspired

Canada Water Culture Space

21 Surrey Quays Road

London

SE16 7AR

21st September 2013

7.30pm

Tickets: £10/8

Box Office: 020 7525 2931

http://canadawaterculturespace.org.uk/

 

HotelTonight, the app for last-minute hotel stays, launches new destinations

Posted on by

hotelHotelTonight, the app for last-minute or spontaneous hotel stays,

launches new destinations in France, Italy, Spain and Mexico

 

HotelTonight, the first ever last-minute hotel booking app, has recently added more than fifteen new destinations to its roster of vibrant cities worldwide. This brings the total reach of the app to 12 countries and 100 destinations worldwide.

 

To tie in with the peak travel season in Europe, HotelTonight is adding popular European destinations, including Lille, Lyon, and Marseille in France; Barcelona, Madrid, and Malaga/Costa del Sol in Spain and Florence, Rome and Milan in Italy. The last minute hotel booking app is also offering its over five million global users new destinations in Ireland, Mexico and for those who prefer holidaying closer to home, HotelTonight has added Brighton to its list of best UK hotel deals.

 

This recent international expansion is part of its pledge to be ubiquitous and accessible to all last minute travellers and follows last week’s global announcement of new features including “Snap Your Stay” which allows customers to photograph and share images of their hotel with friends and other HotelTonight users, and the “HT Price Guarantee,” which guarantees its rates against competitors’ offerings.

 

HotelTonight is now partnering with almost 2500 hotels across the globe in the  ‘hip’, ‘luxe’, ‘charming’ and ‘solid’ categories. Hotels include the stunning 5 Star The First Luxury Hotel in Rome, and the charming Palazzo Vecchietti in Florence, the Kempinski Hotel Bahia Estepona on the Costa del Sol and the hip Music Hotel in Marseille. These hotels and others across Europe are perfect for an impromptu weekend break. There are also many more hotels more on the mid to basic level which are perfectly suited to business travellers’ needs.

 

At the same time as adding these new destinations, the company has also expanded its European operations, relocating to a new, larger office in London’s Covent Garden and building out the team with new Country Managers for Italy and Spain.

 

The Hotel Tonight app offers unbeatable deals on hand-picked hotels, with bookings opening at midday and closing at 2AM. Last minute travellers can book a hotel in less than ten seconds with three taps and a swipe, starting that day for one night or more.

Visit www.hoteltonight.com for more information and to download the free app.

 

For staycations, in the UK, cities include Birmingham, Brighton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester.

What’s On At The Pleasance Theatre

Posted on by

LAMDA Presents Summerfolk by Maxim Gorky

Theatre

Pleasance London » Tuesday 24th April – Friday 26th April, 2pm & 7:30pm

 

At the turn of the 20th Century a group of Russian friends retreat for their annual summer holiday in the countryside. United by their place in history as an emergent Russian middle class, but disparate in their political views and private lives, their friendship will never be the same again come autumn.

Maxim Gorky’s naturalistic masterpiece depicts Russia as it teeters on the edge of social upheaval – exploring the dreams, fears and vanities of one group of friends as they question their value in a transient society.

 

Free

 

 

 

LAMDA Presents Earthquakes in London

Theatre

Pleasance London » Wednesday 25th  April – Friday 26th April, 2pm & 7:30pm

 

How can you live in a state of constant impending catastrophe? Is hope possible, responsible even, when scientists and politicians are predicting an environmental apocalypse? Earthquakes in London tracks the tremors of hedonism, terror and activism through the lives of three sisters and their estranged, misanthropic father.
Written by award-winning Mike Bartlett (Love Love Love), the play premiered at the National Theatre in 2010.

 

Free

 

 

Robert Newman’s Theory Of Evolution: Work in Progress

Comedy

Pleasance London » Wednesday 24th April, 8pm
Join Rob as he tries out material in advance of a major new UK tour. Watch it evolve in front of your very eyes!

“I am completely in awe of Robert Newman. Of his talent, his passion, his intelligence, and the way he turns them to comedy with real firepower. If this world could be saved by a Superhero whose Superpower was Comedy, that hero would be Robert Newman.” Kate Copstick, The Scotsman

 

Tickets £10

 

 Joe_and_Eleanor

Joe Lycett / Eleanor Thom: Work in Progress

Comedy

Pleasance London » Thursday 25th April, 8pm

 

Joe Lycett Celebrity Juice & 8 out of 10 Cats):

Join award-winning sparky stand up Joe Lycett as he workshops material for his second hour show. Expect it to be rough round the edges, interactive, potentially slightly awkward, but most of all bloody good fun. Last year’s show got nominated for Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer so it can’t be all bad.

Eleanor Thom (Lady Garden, Absolutely Fabulous & Live At The Electric)

 

“The BBC said to me, ‘Bev, you need a vehicle’, so I’ve got one. Inclusive of drinks trolley. Get onboard.”

 

‘Britain’s funniest woman’ Sunday Telegraph

 

Tickets £5

 

 

Alan Davies: Work in Progress

Comedy

Pleasance London » Friday 26th April – Sunday 19th May, 8pm

 

Alan Davies returns to the Stagespace where, in 2011, he spent several evenings developing his last stand-up show. Life Is Pain toured throughout the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and will be out on DVD in time for the PGP (Prime Gifting Period or Xmas).
It’s now time to see whether there is any new material coming along that may be worth taking out of the borough in 2014…

 

Tickets £5 – £6

 

 

Ben Miller – My Million To One

Comedy
Pleasance London » Friday, 3rd May

What is My Million To One? – Well, you know your ‘bucket list’ or ‘100 things to do before you die?’ My Million To One is about helping you to achieve those goals/dreams. So we’ve asked lots of industry leaders to help us and they have. In Ben’s case: he wants to offer confidence to the UK’s aspiring comedians.

 

Tickets Free

 

 

The London Cuckolds

Theatre

Pleasance London » Wednesday 1st May – Sunday 12th May, 4pm & 7:45pm

 

Let Them Call It Mischief present
The London Cuckolds by Edward Ravenscroft
The London Cuckolds tells the story of three City boys, their bored housewives and two frisky young cads, all intertwined in a caper filled with sex and intrigue.

 

Calamitous and bawdy, this is a rarely performed gem from the restoration era transported to the sparkle and glamour of 1920s London.

 

Tickets £10 – £12.50

 

 

Adam Kay and Enemies

Comedy

Pleasance London » Friday 10th May, 7:30pm

 

Amateur Transplants frontman Adam Kay is delighted to bring his brand new monthly residency to The Pleasance. Alongside his uniquely depraved pop music re-imaginings, Adam is joined on stage by special guests he doesn’t particularly get on with, but are funnier than him. He’ll probably do the London Underground Song.

This month’s guests are comedy superstar Ardal O’Hanlon and the supremely talented Adam Hess. 

“Bracingly intelligent… enormous fun.” * * * *  Times
“This made me very, very happy” Stephen Fry

Tickets £12.50

 

 

 

Murray Lachlan Young – The Incomers

Theatre

Pleasance London » Monday 13th May – Saturday 18th May, 7:30pm

 

It’s Gordon and Celia’s wedding anniversary.  They’ve asked their oldest and dearest friends Zach and Jane down from London.  The only problem is that Zach and Jane aren’t Zach and Jane anymore.  Jane has gone and Julia, the twenty five year old, French burlesque dancer, has taken her place.

Written entirely in his characteristic verse by BBC 6 Music poet in residence Murray Lachlan Young it will have you gasping and roaring with laughter in equal measures!

 

Tickets £10 -12

 

 

Finding Libby

Theatre

Pleasance London » Tuesday 14th May, 7:45pm

 

At the heart of Finding Libby is one of the many heartbreaking stories of young women for whom the 1960s were less swinging than swingeing – a hidden pregnancy, a premature birth, the death of a tiny scrap never referred to again and a life stalled. Pauline is now in her early sixties and has been persuaded by her neighbour to take her first holiday, on a canal boat. We follow her from worrying whether anyone will meet her at the station, to the unexpected turn in the journey that forces her to face her past and to finding that it is never too late for a fresh start.

 

Tickets £8 – £10

 

 

Rehearsed Reading of Making News

Theatre

Pleasance London » Wednesday 15th May, 7:45pm

 

Rehearsed reading of Making News the new play by Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky.
It’s the start of a 24-hour news cycle and Rachel Clarke has been promoted as the BBC’s newest Head of News. When a crisis erupts, she has to confront rivals from within and without, and decide how to report on a story that could bring down the Corporation itself.

A fast-moving satire about the BBC starring Suki Webster, Hal Cruttenden, Sara Pascoe, Liam Williams, Dan Starkey and Phill Jupitus as the Director-General.

 

Tickets £5

 

 

Tiny Tempest

Theatre
Pleasance London » Monday, 20th May – Sunday, 26th May, 4pm & 7.45pm

 

Shakespeare’s fantastical tale of magic, murder and monsters retold in an explosive new actor-musician adaptation. Tiny Tempest is a visual feast featuring thrilling physicality,slapstick storytelling and live music and songs. Mini Mall present their world premiere production that promises to be a Tempest like no other.

 

Tickets £7.50 – £9

 

 

Voices in Your Head: The Phill Jupitus Experiment

Comedy

Pleasance London » Sunday 26th May, 8pm

 

Deborah Frances-White’s fringe hit returns to London, but this time with only one special guest performer taking to the stage.

Phill Jupitus goes head to head with a disembodied Voice on a microphone who will interrogate, provoke and cajole him to create dark-hearted comedy mayhem. See the hidden depths of the human unconscious pushed to their illogical conclusions in this unforgettable, unmissable, electrifying and hilarious show. Voices in Your Head just got even freakier.

“Inventive, funny and wildly ambitious – you’ll never see anything quite like it.”’
* * * * * The Skinny

 

Tickets £12

 

 

The Trench

Theatre
Pleasance London » Tuesday 28th May – Thursday 30th May, 7:30pm

 

After a sell-out five star run at the Edinburgh Festival Les Enfants Terribles tour the UK with their new award-winning show, The Trench. From the team behind The Terrible Infants, Ernest and the Pale Moon and The Vaudevillains, comes a new play inspired by the true story of a miner who became entombed in a tunnel during World War One. As the horror threatens to engulf him, he finds that not everything in the darkness is what it seems as he starts to discover a new, strange world beneath the mud and death. Setting off on an epic journey of salvation, the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur as he questions what’s real, what’s not and whether it even matters?

 

‘The overall vision stays with you like a strange, significant dream.’ Times

 

Tickets £10 – £12

 

 

Voices In Your Head

Comedy
Pleasance London » Friday 31st May, 8pm

Deborah Frances-White’s fringe hit returns to London as a cast of comedic performers go head to head with a disembodied Voice who will interrogate, provoke and cajole them to create comedy mayhem. Previous guests have included Phill Jupitus, Hannibal Buress, Russell Tovey, Mike McShane, Sara Pascoe, Humphrey Ker among many others.

This time the line-up includes Miles Jupp (star of Rev, The Thick Of It & Have I Got News For You) and Thom Tuck (Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee & star of Radio 4’s The Penny Dreadfuls) plus special guests.

Tickets £10

 

 

Laugh Your Farce Off

Theatre
Pleasance London » Sunday, 2nd June, 7pm

 

After its second sell-out show ‘Laugh Your Farce Off’ is back in Pleasance Main House, with another smash lineup…

 

Little Bear has challenged 5 award winning writers each to write a short but perfectly formed farce.

 

The only brief: ‘3 doors…’ – imagine the trouser dropping, mistaken identity mishaps and general all round chaos that will ensue!

Curated by Ursula Early with sensational new work from: John Luke-Roberts, Andrew Doyle, Caitlin Shannon, Charlie Partridge and Hannah Rodger – this is a night of sheer lunacy you can’t afford to miss!

Tickets £9 – £10

 

Parade

Theatre
Pleasance London » Friday, 14th June – Sunday, 16th June, 2:30pm, 3pm & 7:30pm

 

The tragic, true story of the trial and lynching of a man wrongly accused of murder is brought to emotional and theatrical life by acclaimed playwright Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy) and Jason Robert Brown (13, Songs for a New World). Daring, innovative and bold, PARADE won Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score, as well as six Drama Desk Awards.

 

Tickets £12 – £15

 

The Fantasist

Theatre
Pleasance London » Tuesday, 25th June – Wednesday, 26th June, 7:30pm

 

In the mind of the fantasist, the real and the fanciful become dangerously blurred. As Louise gazes into the night her fancy takes form. Objects move, time changes … and a seductive stranger opens up a world of exhilaration and magic.

 

Tickets £10 – £12

 

Inspiring Culture in Edinburgh

Posted on by

Walking through the streets of Edinburgh it’s clear to see why the city has been accredited as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As Scotland’s famously bonny capital, it blends modern and historic culture, and is renowned the world over for its annual festivals, from the highbrow performances of the International Festival to the giddy melting pot of indie theatre and music at the Fringe – all topped off with the world’s most famous street Hogmanay party, where revellers dance in the new year under a firework-lit castle. If you’re lucky enough to pay a visit, here’s our guide to getting the most bang for your cultural buck.

A perennial fixture on World’s Best Cities lists, Edinburgh is lauded as one of the most culturally significant places to visit and as well as being named a World Heritage Site, it’s also the very  first City of Literature. This title is hugely significant for Edinburgh as it credits the city for its contribution to international literature. And it’s easy to see why – the city is simply bursting with beautiful libraries, independent bookshops and literary events, including the sellout International Book Festival that sets up shop against the backdrop of stunning Georgian architecture in the city centre’s Charlotte Square. It’s also home to a whole host of renowned authors who work out of and take inspiration from the city: Irvine Welsh, JK Rowling, Iain Banks and Ian Rankin are all celebrated contemporary authors local to Edinburgh.

Beyond literature Edinburgh has many other avenues of culture to explore. Art is another area that is bursting with activity in the city and with over 50 galleries peppered across Edinburgh’s historic cobbles, you’re truly spoiled for choice. See the Guardian’s online guide 10 of the best contemporary art galleries in Edinburgh for the pick of the bunch, although our favourite has to be The Fruitmarket Gallery. Nestled in the centre of the city just moments walk from the Castle, his gallery boasts a well-stocked calendar of exhibitions from both Scottish and international artists and art groups. The Scotsman Steps commission by Martin Creed has been the most popular exhibition in the galleries’ history and successfully brought contemporary art into the public eye, from the gallery to the steps of Edinburgh. The Stills Gallery on Cockburn Street and the Edinburgh College of Art exhibitions are also a fantastic place to see new upcoming artists in Scotland. For thought-provoking pieces on a grander scale, check out the weird and wonderful installation art at summer outside exhibition extravaganza Jupiter Artland.

Then of course there’s the Festival Fringe itself – the biggest and best performing arts festival in the world. It spans an entire month each August and welcomes more than 2,500 shows from countries all around the world. Over the past few years, theatre, dance and musicals have been fighting hard to compete with the overpowering presence of comedy at the festival, and is happily succeeding with diverse and ever-increasing menu of acts to whet any cultural appetite. But even outside the heady festival period, the performing arts thrive in the city (despite the recessions) with the Traverse, the Lyceum and the Festival Theatre all playing host to an eclectic variety of local and internationally-acclaimed theatre, dance and opera.

Modern culture is also happily evident in Edinburgh with a dynamic shopping and food scene bursting with independent boutiques, cafes, delicatessens on every corner. Try the upmarket shopping district of Thistle Street for the best gems, such as shoe emporium Pam Jenkins and Vogue-celebrated designer clothing boutique must-visit Jane Davidson , which offers a carefully-curated collection of international collections as well as exclusive Scottish luxury designers. Alternatively head down to “village within a city” Stockbridge for interior design and gift boutiques galore.

If you’re looking for cultural things to do in Edinburgh it’s a promise that you won’t struggle for choice, whether you’re interested in art, dance, literature or fashion, the city has something to offer in every direction – it truly is a city inspired by culture.

 

By Jane Sommerville