Tag Archives: London.
Review: Me and My Girl, Chichester Festival Theatre
Me and My Girl
Chichester Festival Theatre (until 25 August)
Tickets: 01243 781312; cft.org.uk
Chichester Festival Theatre director Daniel Evans (also at the helm of the show) earned groans of disappointment in response to his on-stage announcement that Matt Lucas was under Doctor’s orders to rest his voice and would not be appearing. But all was not lost, he quickly reassured us. With just two hours’ rehearsal the understudy had gamely agreed to step into the role.
Ryan Pidgen can surely now step into any role he pleases. In a totally self-assured, flawless performance, had we not known that Lucas was the intended leading man then we would have been none the wiser. On note, in step and word perfect, not for a nanosecond were we even remotely short-changed.
Playing the South London cheeky chappie Bill Snibson who suddenly needs to ‘posh up’ in order to take up his birth right as the unlikely heir of Hareford, Pidgen was not merely competent. Giving Bill warmth, exuberance and sweetness, he bounced around the stage like an adorable scamp of a puppy and, as the kids say, performed like a boss.
The plot may be lightweight, but elsewhere performances are also rock-solid. Clive Rowe as Sir John twinkles in tweed, later revealing a shy and long-nurtured love for Caroline Quentin’s splendidly redoubtable Duchess. A feisty old matriarch with a good heart, by golly she can’t half hoof, too!
Alex Young as Bill’s ‘girl’ Sally is in sweetly soaring voice and balances cockney chirpiness with a touching vulnerability.
When it comes to musical numbers it is fair to say that the majority (give or take The Lambeth Walk and The Sun Has Got His Hat On) are not especially memorable, but the dazzling choreography (nice work, Alistair David) and superb singing (and you, Gareth Valentine, Doug Besterman and Mark Cumberland) make the very best of the raw material.
Lez Brotherston’s stunning set manages to be both traditional and fairy tale – Downton meets Hogwarts, interspersed with the London skyline and beautifully lit by Tim Mitchell.
The night, however, belonged to the heroic Mr Pidgen. As an understudy who endured several ‘thrust-into-the-limelight’ moments (albeit without anything like such professionalism and sheer talent) I absolutely salute you, sir.
The perfect shot-in-the-arm antidote to all things Brexit and Trump, Me and My Girl teems with Pearly kings and queens and exudes triple espresso energy. An unashamedly frothy and feel-good extravaganza, cor blimey you’ll miss out if you don’t nab a Wilson Pickett!
Stepping Out: Review
Stepping Out
At Chichester Festival Theatre until 19 November (Booking: 01243 781312; www.cft.org.uk)
At the Vaudeville Theatre, London, 1 March – 17 June 2017 (Booking: www.nimaxtheatres.com)
Directed by Maria Friedman
Cast: Amanda Holden, Angela Griffin, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Tamzin Outhwaite, Nicola Stephenson, Judith Barker, Rose Keegan, Sandra Marvin, Jessica-Alice Mccluskey, Dominic Rowan, Janet Behan, Emma Hook, Katie Verner and Nick Warnford
A weekly tap dancing class in a community hall is the setting for a story that follows the lives of a group of ladies and a solitary man. Like many adult education classes, all human life is here.
Boasting a cast that includes several popular faces from television, Tracy-Ann Oberman is on superb form as wise-cracking Maxine. Glamorous in a wardrobe of nearly new and knock-off, the more-front-than-Brighton exterior conceals a tender and vulnerable heart. Tamzin Outhwaite as is also touching in her role class teacher Mavis. With her dreams of being a dancer dramatically reconfigured and an unhappy relationship to cope with, teaching is both her salvation and a constant needling reminder that she never quite made it. Amanda Holden as posh but tactless neat freak Vera delivers some of the production’s funniest moments, admitting only towards the end that her perfect life isn’t quite so perfect after all.
Everyone, in fact, has a secret to reveal, but the audience is short changed; what the final outcome is for each of the characters is anyone’s guess. Pace, too, is a frustration. A lethargic beginning gives way to a gentle potter before coming to a rather abrupt and inconclusive ending.
But the dialogue is sharp enough, the performances are (largely) accomplished and the familiar theme of trying to get along with people with whom one has little in common will surely resonate. Touring prior to the West End next year, hopefully the tempo will pick up and settle along the way. Then, no doubt, Stepping Out will be packing ‘em in.
Statistics From Think Tank NLA Reveal Frightening Extent of London Housing Crisis
Some interesting and shocking news today on the London Housing Crisis. New London Architecture (NLA), the capital’s think tank on the city’s built environment, has today announced a series of findings from their insight study into the London housing shortage. The research gathered by former Development Director at Peabody, Claire Bennie, has formed the basis of their forthcoming exhibition New Ideas for Housing. The exhibition examines London’s housing market, past and present, as well as the results of an extensive global ideas competition, set-up with the Mayor of London to tackle the shortfall.
Current statistics show that the capital’s population has now hit record numbers and is set to keep rising. It is estimated that we need 40,000 new homes every year for 20 years to deal with the current population increase and a further 9,000 a year, on top, just to catch up on the deficit. Current delivery of new homes stands at between 20-25,000 a year, this means the delivery of new homes has to at least double from its current rate.
Earlier this year, London’s population passed its previous peak of 8.6 million people, and future projections suggest there will be 9 million people in London by 2020, 10 million by 2030 and 11 million by 2050, adding nearly 70,000 people and 34,000 jobs every year.
The comparison in quality of life between homeowners and those renting properties is creating a widening gap amongst Londoners. 40-50% of all renting households in London are living in poverty whilst 40% of owner-occupied homes have two or more spare bedrooms. The proportion of 25-34 years olds owning their own homes has fallen from 59% to 36% in less than a decade and the current population figures show that 80% of all new housing is only affordable for 20% of Londoners.
A rise in renting is a common theme throughout the research with a third of all privately owned homes now rented out. Successful European models show that long-term renting can act as a possible solution, but this would mean a large-scale change across the industry in the way that housing is funded and delivered. Developers such as Argent are already looking into large build-to-rent developments that could change the way we live in the capital.
Contrary to popular belief that many of London’s developments second-homes for foreign millionaires, only 121,000 homes are recorded to be ‘empty’. However, there has been a significant growth in properties bought as investments, currently 61% of all new homes are bought with the no intention of occupying (Molior London).
80% of households bring in less than £45,000 a year and with house prices rising by 18% last year and living wages only rising by 2.1%, a revised approached to the capital’s housing market needs addressing.
Peter Murray, Chairman of New London Architecture, rallied this call for change by saying: “There is no silver bullet to solve London’s housing crisis – we need to look at lots of smaller and innovative contributions to fill in the gap left by the traditional providers”
Claire Bennie, Architect and Housing Development Specialist, and former Development Director at Peabody, commented: ‘Housing London is the pressing issue of our time: we now need to implement the best solutions from this competition without delay so that our young people can settle and thrive in this great metropolis.’
Greater London is a relatively low-density city and covers 152,200 hectares of land. If all of London’s residents were standing in a grid, they would be spaced 14m apart but if London continues to grow upwards and outwards then there is the potential to create 470,000 new homes over the next 20 years. There is currently an estimated 75,000 hectares of available space in Greater London and with the potential to create to 100,000 homes on sites as small as 0.25 hectares the density of city must improve. The NLA exhibition New Ideas for Housing will explore some of the most innovative solutions to the housing crisis and what is next for London.
Jeans For Genes Pop Up Store
We have the latest and most exciting Free, YES Free laundrette to hit London and we ventured out to see an exclusive preview! Its open from the 11th till Monday the 14th of September from 11am – 5pm. The amazing premium washer brand Miele and the Charity Jeans for Genes have joined forces and decided to hold a pop up laundrette right in the heart of London. 8 Newburgh street…Just off Carnaby street in Soho. We nipped in for the VIP evening …A few hours ago …to see what all the fuss was about…And decided you can’t miss it..So here is the scoop, fresh off the press.
We had an amazing evening with friends and all the Miele team. We listened to a live set from DJ Roman Kemp, drank denim themed cocktails and ate delicious canapés. And as from tomorrow…(today) you can pop in free of charge with all your denim and try out the latest Miele machines. Save your favourite pair from hash washing and then enjoy a shopping while the team look after your laundry.
The money raised on Jeans for Genes Days funds a range of initiatives that improve the quality of life of children affected by genetic disorders. If you don’t even need your jeans washed by one of the top brands machinery its well worth a trip over the see them and get involved. Buy a T-shirt, donate some cash or just support this incredible charity. Help and benefit the lives of others by having a little fun. So if your out shopping for new pair of jeans over the weekend (that you really don’t need) think again….Maybe nip in and get an old pair of your favourite jeans laundered for free and donate the money you would have spent!!
What You Can Expect
- You’re invited to use the laundrette and get your jeans washed ahead of Jeans for Genes Day! All the Miele machines have a very unique denim wash cycle that cares for you’re ultimate best friends, so they are kept looking like the day you purchased them…No light streaks and patchy bits for those best buddies ever again!
- A complementary denim manicure is on offer.
- Hair braiding
- Denim-care talks from Jeans for Genes and Miele ambassador and X Factor stylist Gemma Sheppard.
- Jeans for Genes merchandise will be available to buy.
What’s On Friday 11 September
- Styling advice from Gemma Sheppard – 11am-12pm
- You will see exclusive upcoming trends for 2016.
- You will learn how to keep your clothes in top tip condition and how to best wear your denim.
- There will be a Q&A on everything you could ever need to know about style and fashion
- Mavala Denim Nail bar – 11am-5pm
What’s On Saturday 12 September
- Orelia Temporary Tattoo Applications 11am – 2pm
- British jewellery brand Orelia will be on demand to help you get inspired. You might just leave with the feeling you need to got to an amazing festival.Or feel the indian summer revival is overdue!
- Timur Kim Denim Customisation in collaboration with La Redoute 2pm – 5pm. To help you revitalise your fave denim pieces!
What’s On Sunday 13 September
- Hair braiding by Joel Benjamin – 11am-5pm.. free hair braiding with a twist!. Pop by at any time to get your hair braided in a unique way.
What’s On Monday 14 September
- Hair braiding by Joel Benjamin – 11am-5pm. Joel has worked with the likes of Nike, Adidas and Harvey Nichols, and has now joined Miele and Jeans for Genes Day to offer unique, denim braids. Pop by at any time to get your hair braided in a unique way.
- Trend talk with Lauretta Roberts – 6pm-6.30pm
Make sure you book in advance to avoid disappointment. Email miele@frankpr.it
Have a blast this weekend!
Salomé, by Oscar Wilde, at The Space
‘She is monstrous thy daughter’
As a teenager, one of the first classic books I read, incidentally, was by Oscar Wilde after a friend recommended ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’. Wilde captured the true horror of a person’s character; physically Dorian was a picture of youth and moral standing, but in the portrait that represents Dorian’s soul, his spirit is decaying and putrefying.
And princess Salomé, the daughter of Herod and Herodias is a thing of beauty where many in the kingdom are told ‘not to look at her like that’.
However, just like Dorian, her mind is full of darkness and sin and her wicked motives are reflected in the changing moon – her skin is as pale as the shining sphere in the sky and throughout the play, it turns a deeper shade of red, symbolising that blood will be spilt by sundown.
After we hear the treacherous murmurings of prophet Jokanaan from the depths of the cistern, Salomé becomes intrigued and asks her servants if she can speak with him.
Despite refusing her request, a Syrian who is so taken aback by Salomé’s beauty grants her wish.
But Jokanaan does not succumb to her charm – he won’t let her touch his skin or kiss his lips and here the play becomes slightly erotic, as Salomé caresses herself below her waist.
The scene then turns to the banquet at the palace where Herod requests Salomé to dance for him and he promises to give her anything, even half his kingdom, if she will fulfil his wish.
Salomé, played by Liza Weber, gives an empowering, potent and sensual display to the delight of Herod.
All that she requests is the head of Jokanaan in return, and despite Herod’s pleas that something bad would happen, he is a man of his word and the deed is done.
He shouts ‘she is monstrous thy daughter’ to his Herodias as Salomé can finally kiss Jokanaan’s lips and stroke his skin as she dances with his head dripping with blood.
Salomé, a production by Théâtre Libre is a departure from The Space’s usual plays.
Having been to a number of performances at the fringe theatre in the Isle of Dogs, the idea to run Salomé was a bold one.
Théâtre Libre attempted to approach the little-known play by Wilde from a modern, feminist angle, exploring the objectification of women and how the gaze of male eyes shapes the character. This was reflected in the prolonged, sensual dance performed by Salomé showing that in order for her to get what she wants, she must display her body to please the powerful male ruler of the kingdom.
Produced by Oran Doyle, and directed by Kaitlin Argeaux who founded Théâtre Libre, at times the audience was exposed to uncomfortable and graphic scenes – quite rightly so – and this highlights the great performance by the actors with particular applaud going to Liza Weber and Christopher Slater (Herod).
Both were impassioned and true to their characters, and Herodias, Cheska Hill-Wood, came into her own as a mother defending the actions of her daughter and defending her honour against the ramblings of the prophet Jokanaan.
The stage set-up and lighting for the production of Salomé was of particular importance, especially with all the references to the colour of the moon and this was executed well throughout the play.
Salomé is showing at The Space until 19 September, tickets cost from £10.
#5thviewbloggers Event
We attended and amazing blogger event is this Saturday. The event was held at the top floor of Waterstones near Piccadilly with amazing prizes and personalised gifts in the goody bags.
We drank superb cocktails and snaked on delicious honey bee and cheese cookies. The #5thviewbloggers event was held by 2 lovely bloggers Albertine from Dippy Writes & Jessica from LookWhatIGot. It was all about networking with brands and fellow bloggers. We met companies like Bee Good, GelTouch, Mink and Stone and Venus Concept.
These two lovely ladies had the event running so smoothly it was very impressive.
Mink and stone was one brand that blew me away. Their concept is to create your very own necklace and jewellery designs and then for others to purchase your items. If you sell your items then you are rewarded with 10% commission that you then can use to make and purchase more designs. Incredible, beautiful and stunning beads are at your fingertips. I will be doing a full article and review very soon. So keep your eyes peeled for this coming soon.
We mingled and chatted away with fantastic like minded bloggers. The event way too fast and we had the best time ever.
Visit my website www.SLBStyle.com for more about what I get up to. My fashion and beauty loves and general London life as a full time blogger.
For event photography contact Ian at www.2boxes.co.uk
Franco Manca Southfields
Living in such a nice little community here in Southfields its great to have so many cool places to eat. This amazing pizza restaurant gets a big thumbs up from us as its totally delightful and serves up exceptional and unusual dishes. It was the first time we have come across sweet potato pizza. Yep you read that right…Sweet potato slices nestled on top with bubbling mozzarella made this possibly the best pizza I have ever had. We will totally be recreating this at home.
We ate amazing freshly cooked food and drank perfect coffee. Sat and chatted about work, social media and all the new and exciting projects lined up for 2 Boxes Photography. We have some rather brilliant events coming up, and we are getting very excited about shooting at Chester races for Chi Chi London this weekend. Keep your eyes peeled for a rather fabulous article coming next week!
One last feast before a diet starts to slim into those stunning dresses….Just take a look at that beautiful pizza. Have you ever seen something so delightful? And yes I ate the lot! I really can’t tell you how delicious it was. I am going to have to avoid this place for a while if I want to get into my wardrobe! Buffalo mozzarella and cheese ravioli was incredible. I was way too busy with my amazing pizza to even try it sadly. One reason to go back don’t you think…but not too often as I really could be busting out of my skinny jeans!!
If you live near Southfields Francos is well worth a visit and we are sure you will leave very satisfied and keen to go back time after time.
Visit their website www.francomanco.co.uk for more info.